Shepherd's Pie with a Twist/ Pai Shepherd Pedas

What twist you ask? It is simply the addition of curry and paprika powder. I first saw a recipe for shepherd's pie with addition of curry powder in the Australian Women's Weekly Magazine (July 2010 issue) by celebrity chef Pete Evans. Since then, I am dying to try this twist to shepherd's pie. You might be surprise how such a small addition makes the biggest difference, taste wise. Don't worry, it is not alarmingly spicy. The chilli and paprika just add a little kick to the pie. Trust me :)


Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

The beef filling:
500g mince beef*
2 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced*
1 tablespoon oyster sauce* (you may use Worcestershire sauce) 
*Mix all the ingredients above and let sit while you prepare the potato 
1/2 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped (80g)
1 tomato, cubed
1 teaspoon (meat) curry powder
1 teaspoon chilli or smoked paprika powder
2 tablespoons tomato puree/ paste
1 teaspoon of sugar
1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce *omit this if you use Worcestershire sauce to marinade the beef
200g mixed vegetables *you can use frozen. I use some broccoli,carrot,sweet peas and capsicums
salt and pepper to taste  
 

The mashed potato:
600g potato (peeled and cubed to even sizes)
2 tablespoon fresh milk
2 tablespoon yogurt/sour cream *you may use all (4tbsp) milk
2 tablespoon soft butter or margarine 
salt and pepper to taste

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To sprinkle on top:
1 teaspoon of curry powder
Grated cheddar cheese *optional, I did not add


Method:
Prepare the mashed potato:
1. Boil the cubed potatoes until soft and tender (about 25 mins). 
2. Drain the potatoes and put in a large bowl. Add in the milk, yogurt, butter, salt and pepper and mash until smooth. You may add more or less liquid to achieve a fluffy mashed potato with spreadable smoothness, depending on your potatoes. 

Prepare the filling: 
1. Preheat the oven at 200C.
2. Saute the chopped onion in butter until fragrant. Throw in the chopped tomato and cook until soft.
3. Next, add in the curry and chilli powder. Lower the heat and add a sprig of water if the mixture is too dry. Simmer for a minute.
4. When the spices are fragrant, add in the marinated mince beef, oyster sauce (if using), tomato pure and sugar. Stir well and cook for 2 minutes. 
5. Add the mixed vegetable and stir well. Season with salt and pepper (Be careful with the seasoning as the oyster sauce is already salty. You may or may not need more salt, adjust the taste to your liking).

Assemble the pie:
1. Spread the filling in a casserole dish. Top with the mashed potato and smooth the top. Sprinkle with curry powder and grated cheese if using. 
2. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 mins. I add another 5 min to grill the top. 

Pai Shepherd Pedas

Bahan-bahan:

Inti Daging:
500g daging cincang*
2 ulas bawang putih dicincang halus*
1 sudu besar sos tiram* (boleh juga guna sos Worcestershire)
*Satukan semua bahan-bahan di atas dan biar seketika sementara menyediakan kentang lecek
1/2 sudu besar butter
1 biji bawang merah dicincang halus (80g)
1 biji tomato,dipotong kiub
1 sudu kecil serbuk kari daging
1 sudu kecil serbuk cili atau paprika *boleh juga guna cili mesin. kalau nak pedas lagi, tambah cili
2 sudu besar puri/pes tomato
1 sudu kecil gula
1/2 sudu besar sos tiram *tak perlu guna kalau dah marinade daging tadi dengan sos Worcestershire
200g sayur campur (boleh guna sejuk beku)
garam dan lada sulah secukup rasa
 

Kentang lecek:
600g kentang (kupas kulit dan potong kiub)
2 sudu besar susu segar
2 sudu besar yogurt atau sour cream (krim masam) *boleh juga guna semua (4 sudu besar) susu
2 sudu besar butter atau marjerin
garam dan lada sulah secukup rasa

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Bahan-bahan taburan:
1 sudu kecil serbuk kari
Parutan keju cheddar untuk ditabur *x letak pun xpe

Cara-cara:
Sediakan kentang lecek:
1. Rebus kentang sampai empuk (lebih kurang 25 minit). 
2. Toskan kentang dan letak dalam mangkuk besar. Masukkan susu, yogurt, marjerin, garam dan gula. Lenyek sampai halus. Kalau kentang masih belum halus, boleh dimasukkan sedikit lagi susu.

Sediakan inti daging: 
1. Panaskan oven pada suhu 200C.
2. Tumis bawang dengan butter hingga wangi. masukkan tomato cincang dan masak lagi sampai lembut.
3. Masukkan serbuk kari dan serbuk cili. Perlahankan api dan masukkan sedikiy air jika tumisan kering. Biar rempah garing seketika.
4. Selepas itu, masukkan daging yang diperap dengan bawang putih dan sos tiram tadi bersama-sama sesudu besar sos tiram (jika guna), puri tomato dan gula. Gaul sebati dan masak selama 2 minit atau hingga daging empuk.
5. Masukkan sayur campur dan perasakan dengan garam dan lada (Garam xperlu letak banyak sebab sos tiram dah masin).

Penyediaan untuk membakar:
1. Letak inti daging tadi dalam bekas kaserol. Letak kentang lecek di atas inti daging dan ratakan permukaannya. Tabur serbuk kari dan parutan keju jika guna. 
2. Bakar dalam oven yang dipanaskan selama 25 minit. Untuk 5 minit berikutnya, tukar fungsi oven kepada grill dan grill selama 5 minit.