#shepherds-pie

#shepherds-pie

A good shepherd's pie is the definition of hearty, but it must come together in a vessel that supports its needs from start to finish. According to Danielle Turner, a highly experienced chef and cooking instructor, choosing the wrong pan is one of the most frequent mistakes everyone makes when cooking shepherd's pie. Her advice is to choose a baking dish that conducts heat evenly and gives the filling enough space to burble without erupting.

For the uninitiated, shepherd's pie is an old-school classic. It's a casserole consisting of meat and mixed veggies, topped with fluffy, mashed potatoes. According to the History Channel, shepherd's pie is a traditional Irish dish, though the British and Scottish have also made claims to it. A similar version called cottage pie, in fact, pre-dates it. The main difference between the two, as any stickler will tell you, is that shepherd's pie uses ground lamb, whereas cottage pie uses ground beef.

Goulash is not just a dish but a cultural symbol originating from Hungary, crafted by gulyás, or cattle herders, who made hearty stews to sustain their travels.

While some may argue that shepherd's and cottage pie fit the description of pies due to their crust, they are fundamentally casseroles defined by their ingredients rather than structure.