Monday, March 23, 2009

Mashed Potato and Picadillo Pie

At first glance this looks like a Shepherd’s Pie and maybe it is…but with a twist. The traditional Shepherd’s Pie consists of ground lamb. This one is made with ground beef. I guess you could call it the Poor Man’s Shepherd’s Pie. The ground beef is cooked with diced onion, diced tomatoes, garlic, green chile, and spices to your heart’s content.

Of course it is still topped with a thick layer of mashed potatoes flavored with butter, cream, salt and pepper. On top of the potatoes sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese, or whichever cheese suits your fancy.

After layering the picadillo (ground meat mixture), the potatoes and the shredded cheese, bake in a 350-degree oven for about 35 to 40 minutes, until the potatoes are slightly browned and the cheese is melted. Make some Pico de Gallo and top it off when it comes out of the oven. This is not a heavy dish, but rather a hardy one and inexpensive. Enjoy.

Pico de Gallo

4 medium tomatoes, chopped
6 green onions, chopped with some of the tops
2 to 3 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients and stir well. Chill before serving. Makes 2 cups.

Simple Picadillo

1-pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
½ cup diced tomatoes
½ cup green chile, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
half a packet of taco seasoning
Salt, pepper, garlic, cumin to taste

Brown ground beef until no longer pink. Add remaining ingredients and continue cooking until onion and celery are soft.

11 comments:

Maria said...

The picadillo sounds delicious and this sounds like a great combo with the mashed potatoes--I do love mashed potatoes ... yum!

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Hi, I'm Mary - popping over from Mommy's Kitchen.

You have some yummy food here - I'm following you now!!

Now this is a nice twist on Shepherd's Pie! I've always known it to be made with ground beef, so I didn't even know that ground lamb was traditional. I love how you piped the potatoes on with swirls and twists! Very nice and looks delicious.

Gloria Chadwick said...

This looks wonderful! Love the swirlies on the potatoes. :) It's dinnertime and I'm really hungry and this looks good so I'm going into the kitchen right now to make it.

Reeni said...

I didn't know that it was made with lamb traditionally. I like your version!! It seems so flavorful and comforting!!

Kiezie said...

This looks warm and wonderful and I want to just eat it!!!! Love the swirls too, how fun!!

Finla said...

Delicious yeah you are correct in the first glance it is indee dlike a sheperds pie.

Varsha Vipins said...

Simply great n yum..This pie is just my kind of food..I just wana dig into it now..Slurppp..!!!

Kelly said...

I love the twist you put on it. It sounds absolutely delicious and I'm thinking it would even be good with sweet potatos instead of regular. Yum!

Arlene Delloro said...

Mmmm! I don't eat lamb, so this sounds like a much more delicious version of Shepherds' Pie. Love those mashed potatoes.

Alicia Foodycat said...

That sounds so delicious! Cottage pie (which is what we call it when it is cow not sheep) can be so stodgy but the pico de gallo and spices would give it such a lift. And your mashed potato is so pretty!

Ivy said...

This sounds delicious and I definitely prefer it with beef.