Just take GROUND BEEF and POTATOES! You’ll be surprised how easy it is!

Ingredients:

For the ground beef mixture:

800 grams ground beef

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 bell pepper, chopped (optional)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon paprika

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

400 grams chopped tomatoes

100 ml water

2 bay leaves

For the potato topping:

1 kg potatoes, peeled and quartered

1/2 cup milk (or vegetable broth for a vegan option)

25 grams butter

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

100 g shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit).

Make the ground beef mixture: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.

Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.

Add the chopped garlic, bell pepper (if using), oregano, and paprika to the pot.

Cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly, to allow the flavors to meld.

Pour in the chopped tomatoes, water, and bay leaves.

Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened slightly.

While the meat mixture simmers, prepare the potato topping: In a large pot, cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil.

Cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot.

Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or hand mixer. Add the milk or vegetable broth and butter. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Transfer the ground beef mixture to a baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, spreading them evenly to cover the meat mixture completely.

(Optional) Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the mashed potatoes.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and bubbly.

Let the shepherd’s pie cool for slightly before serving.

Tips:

You can use any type of ground meat you like for this recipe, such as ground lamb, ground turkey, or even ground sausage.

If you don’t have fresh bell pepper, you can omit it from the recipe.

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days