What to Serve With Shepherd’s Pie

Posted on 2024-05-152024-05-16 by Bert Swope

Shepherd’s pie is an unforgettable classic comfort dish, featuring flavorful ground meat and vegetables topped with velvety mashed potatoes for a creamy layer. Although often eaten alone as an entree, this pie pairs perfectly with various side dishes for an exceptional meal experience.

Crusty bread makes an excellent accompaniment to Shephard’s pie, providing the ideal vehicle for sopping up its delectable gravy. A rustic baguette or flavorful rosemary focaccia adds satisfying crunch and bold flavor notes.

Vegetables

Shepherd’s pie is an irresistibly hearty dish made up of succulent meat and delicious vegetables layered on creamy mashed potatoes, but for even greater enjoyment you can add other side dishes for a complete meal experience. From delicious vegetable sides to refreshing salads, these companion items can take the classic shepherd’s pie experience even further!

Shepherd’s pie can be made with any meat you prefer; traditionally it has been associated with lamb or beef; however, you could easily swap out ingredients to suit any taste you might have in mind. When selecting ingredients, keep in mind that an ideal combination should include both sweet and savory elements – mushrooms can provide vitamin D while spinach and asparagus provide folate-rich nutrition.

At its core, this dish features onions, carrots, and peas but feel free to experiment with other veggies to achieve different flavor profiles. To do so, cook in small, uniform pieces so as to achieve an equally tasty outcome – caramelizing onions will add sweetness while blanching or sauteeing carrots and peas will add freshness and crisp texture.

While it can be tempting to create your shepherd’s pie all at once, preparing each layer separately is preferable for optimal results. By doing this, the filling and mashed potatoes have more time to soak up flavor while developing rich and robust notes in both layers of the pie. Once complete, top the filling off with another layer of mashed potatoes before placing both into the oven until both layers have turned golden brown.

Shepherd’s pie makes an enjoyable meal any time of day when served with a glass of wine, pairing perfectly with its earthy undertones and savory components. An earthy red Languedoc-Roussillon from France would be an ideal pairing; typically composed from Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre grapes to produce full-bodied wines with notes of dark fruit, pepper, earthiness and earthiness.

Shepherd’s pie is always an irresistible crowd-pleaser at any dinner gathering, whether with friends or just family. To ensure everyone can eat together, serve the shepherd’s pie in individual greased ramekins or springform pans; use a spatula to transfer each one directly onto plates for optimal eating!

Bread

As with any hearty meal, crisp pieces of bread or loaf are always welcomed on the plate to offset its richness while adding crunchy textures. Whole wheat or rye toast would pair nicely with vegetables and potatoes found within your pie while providing heartiness to this classic pie recipe.

Cornbread is another delicious addition to shepherd’s pie, made with flour, milk, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar and butter. Easy and satisfyingly satisfying on its own or toasted with butter for breakfast or brunch; serve alongside apple cider for extra deliciousness.

If you are making a vegan Shepherd’s Pie, instead of using butter you may want to opt for oil-free vegetable margarine as this provides added vitamin D benefits that can benefit both bone health and overall wellness.

Make an easy vegetarian version of this dish using your air fryer by creating green bean air fryer recipes seasoned with garlic powder and salt – they add delicious crunchiness that adds quick preparation time and provide delicious meals!

Shepherd’s pie is a substantial meal that’s packed full of vegetables and meat, and can easily fill you up. If you want to lighten it up a bit, pair it with a leafy salad for added lightness – try Mediterranean-inspired ones, such as fresh romaine lettuce topped with juicy tomatoes, tart Kalamata olives, and creamy feta cheese; these will not only satisfy but transport you directly back to its sunny shores!

Shepherd’s pie pairs nicely with wine, particularly full-bodied red varieties such as an Argentinian Malbec with its high tannins that will complement the hearty ingredients in the dish, while its fruity flavors and spice hints balance out any savory elements in it. A Cotes du Rhone made up of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre grapes is another delicious option to consider for this pairing.

Salad

A crisp, leafy salad adds the perfect balance of tangy crunch to a satisfying shepherd’s pie. Finish it off with either a light mustard dressing or homemade vinaigrette to enhance its flavors and bring out all its depth.

Add some zest to this classic dinner with a Moroccan Beet Salad dressed with an orange vinaigrette for a vegan spin! This salad boasts colorful veggies full of health-promoting plant pigments like beta carotene and phytochemicals such as lycopene and quercetin; also filled with vitamin C and folic acid for maximum nutritive benefit, making this dish perfect for anyone following gluten-free diets or experiencing intestinal inflammation.

As an alternative, why not pair your Shephard’s pie with a traditional Greek salad? This meal-enhancing salad boasts abundant nutrients like iron, potassium and vitamin C as well as protein and healthy fats – not to mention parsley and thyme for an aromatic touch that enhances its flavors!

Pair your Shepherd’s pie with a delicious bowl of creamy mushy peas for an additional delicious option that provides fiber, vitamin A, minerals and helps lower cholesterol. They’re also low in calories and fat – perfect additions to any diet!

If wine is part of your dining experience, pairing your Shepherd’s pie with either red or white wine would make an excellent combination. Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon wines boasting medium body would complement its meaty and vegetable filling perfectly, providing ample tannins that balance out its savory elements.

After enjoying a satisfying Shepherd’s pie meal, why not finish off your meal with something sweet and refreshing like strawberry shortcake or lemon meringue pie for dessert? These indulgent treats provide the perfect counterpoint to its savory components; or opt for something refreshing such as fruit smoothie or mixed berries drizzled with honey instead for something lighter?

Dessert

Shepherd’s pie can be satisfying without becoming overwhelming, so to complete the meal it’s wise to pair it with light and refreshing desserts such as fruit salad infused with citrus zest or mixed berry parfait topped off with creamy yogurt layered parfait. Both options can add delicious depth of flavor while still remaining easy enough for preparation that your guests will be impressed by the elegant dinner you prepared for them.

Glazed carrots make an excellent side dish to go along with Shepherd’s pie, and can easily be made within 20 minutes in the oven. Perfect for children of all ages and sure to please even pickiest eaters on your menu – their combination of savory and sweet is sure to warm you right through winter.

Add some spice and smokey flavors to your meal by serving some delicious smoky fried cabbage and bacon as a side dish. Easy to prepare and perfect for accompanying almost any casserole, this tasty side will bring comforting feelings with every bite.

Mushy peas make an ideal side dish to complement Shephard’s pie, an old English recipe which is both straightforward and delectable. A great way to use up leftover ham while providing nutritional filling satiation!

An intriguing Mediterranean-inspired salad is another delectable accompaniment for Shepherd’s pie. This delightful dish consists of crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, tart kalamata olives and creamy feta cheese tossed together with lemon and olive oil dressing for an exuberant and zesty bite that complements its rich counterpart perfectly.

If you’re serving Shepherd’s pie for a special event, pairing it with red wine could make an elegant presentation. Malbec from Argentina will complement its savory elements while its deep flavors help cut through any potential richness in the pie itself. Or consider serving it alongside Cotes du Rhone made up of Grenache Syrah Mourvedre grapes; either will work perfectly.