British · main
Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's Pie reads umami 7.4, richness 6.4 and allium 3.7 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a British main, about 1 hr. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 7.9 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 3.9 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 2.8 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.3 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.6 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.2 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Umami 7.4 · Richness 6.4 · Allium 3.7 · Sweetness 3.4 · Salinity 3.3 · Herbaceous 2.9 · Sourness 2.6 · Funk & Ferment 2.3 · Earthy 2.2 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Fruity 1.4 · Floral 1.3 · Bitterness 1.1 · Heat 0.8 · Citrus 0.7
What's in it (15)
- 1 1/2 lbs ground lamb
- 2 onions
- 2 carrots
- 2 stalks celery
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 cups lamb
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 2 lbs floury potatoes
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup milk
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Time & effort: about 1 hr (25 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 197.8 kcal, 7.7 g protein, 3.7 g fat, 34.3 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Soften vegetables in oil, add lamb and brown, then stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and stock and simmer 20 minutes until thickened.
- Transfer filling to a baking dish.
- Top with creamy mashed potato, rough up the surface with a fork, dot with butter, and bake at 190C for 25 minutes until the top is golden.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Irish Lamb Stew with Root Vegetables — Irish
- Ali Nazik Kebabı (Smoked Aubergine under Lamb) — Turkish
- Palócleves (Palóc Soup with Lamb, Green Beans and Dill) — Hungarian
- Bosanski Lonac (The Bosnian Pot) — Bosnian
- Classic Beef Stew with Potatoes and Carrots — American
Keep reading: what umami, richness, allium mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.