Irish · main

Traditional Irish Shepherd’S Pie

Traditional Irish Shepherd’S Pie reads umami 9.2, richness 6.4 and salinity 4.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Irish main, about 33 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 9.2 · Richness 6.4 · Salinity 4.5 · Sweetness 4.5 · Sourness 3.1 · Funk & Ferment 3.0 · Allium 2.6 · Bitterness 2.4 · Earthy 2.4 · Fruity 2.1 · Nutty 2.0 · Herbaceous 1.8 · Warm Spice 0.9 · Floral 0.9 · Citrus 0.6

What's in it (16)

Time & effort: about 33 min (15 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 98.8 kcal, 6.1 g protein, 3.6 g fat, 10.4 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (5 steps)

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saute pan until hot. Saute carrots in the olive oil until starting to get tender, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in onions and saute for a minute or two, then add ground beef; season with salt and black pepper. Add thyme and cook until the meat is browned; drain.
  3. Reduce heat to medium heat. Add butter and peas; stir until butter is melted. Sprinkle with flour and stir until well blended. Add tomato paste, wine and Worcestershire sauce.Cook until the mixture reduces slightly, then add the chicken broth. Allow the filling to thicken and season with more salt and pepper if desired. Remove from heat.
  4. Transfer the meat filling to a lightly greased baking dish. Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes over top. Brush surface with the beaten egg and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if using.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown. Enjoy!

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →

Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.