• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact Us

Tiffin And Tea logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact Us
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact Us
ร—
Home ยป Recipes ยป Dinner

Published: Mar 17, 2021. Post Updated: Nov 18, 2024

Home ยป Recipes ยป Dinner

Indian Shepherd's Pie

Sharing is caring!

151 shares
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Indian Shepherd's Pie - This Indian Shepherdโ€™s Pie is the most delicious, creamy , satisfying, comforting and joyous dish ever!  The filling is rich, the potato is creamy and there is even a slight crunch at the top. I love both the traditional version and this Indian version that is made in many Indian households!

Indian Shepherd's Pie in a casserole dish with a portion in a plate at the side

Indian Shepherdโ€™s Pie

Imagine all the flavour and comfort of Shepherd's Pie but with some warming spicing. That is essentially what this is!

It makes for the BEST comfort food. Basically it is lamb and optional veg, served with a rich saucy base and topped with creamy buttery mash. The recipe comes together in about an hour and is easy to make,

The difference between Shepherdโ€™s Pie and Cottage Pie

This is a question that is asked all the time and the simple answer is:

Shepherdโ€™s Pie is made with lamb;

Cottage Pie is made with beef.

How to make Indian Spiced Shepherdโ€™s Pie

Full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the page:

Step 1 - Make the Base

Heat Oil in pot and add Onions. Once golden brown and Ginger, Garlic and Green Chilli. Saute then add Ground Spices.

Onions, ginger and garlic in pot with oil

Ground spices added to pot

Step 2 - Brown the Meat and add Tomato

Add the minced ground meat and cook for 5 minutes before adding the pureed Tomato and cooking for another 5 - 10 minutes.

Minced meat added to pot

Tomato added to pot

Step 3 - Thicken the Sauce

Add flour if the sauce is runny and needs thickening.

Ground spiced added to pot

Step 4 - Add another layer of flavour.

Then add Garam Masala and Curry Powder.
You can also add peas at this stage if you like.

Simmer until the sauce is thickened, then spread in a baking dish.

Step 5 - Make the Mash

Make the Creamy Mash and stir in the Cumin.

Potatoes after draining in pot

 

 

Milk being poured into mashed potatoes in pot

Step 6 - Assemble and Bake

Top the Meat in the dish with creamy Cumin Mashed Potato. Use a fork to create a ridged pattern.  
Bake in preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes.

Mashed potato being added on top mixed lamb in casserole dish

Indian Shepherd's Pie in a casserole dish with a portion in a plate at the side

What to serve with Indian Shepherdโ€™s Pie

Shepherds Pie is best served with Veg. Here are some suggestions:

  • A dente, salted and lightly spiced buttered Peas, Carrots, Mange Tout.
  • Finely shredded Cabbage.
  • Buttered Leeks.

Tips for making Indian Shepherdโ€™s Pie

This is a very simple recipe and therefore there isn't much that can go wrong! Here are my top tips:

Cool Meat - To stop the Mash sinking into the meat, allow the meat to cool a little before adding mash.

Leftover Mash - You can use Leftover Mash in this recipe for a quicker option.

Lump Free Mash - To make your Mash lump free, use a potato ricer to mash the potatoes. Although not essential, it does help ensure that you have a smooth mash.

Potatoes - Mash Potato needs a floury fluffy potato. My favourite for this is Desiree, King Edwardโ€™s or Maris Piper's. Or use Yukon Gold in America.

Variations

There are ample ways to make Shepherd's Pie. Here are some suggestions:

Omit Ghee - Ghee can be replaced with additional Oil. Ghee does add flavour though!

Make a sofrito - Saute diced onion, garlic, carrots and celery sautรฉed on a low heat at the beginning for the base.

Add a Cheese topping - Cheese makes everything better. Add a sprinkling of Cheddar or Red Leicester Cheese for added flavour.

Storage and Reheating

Fridge - Indian Shepherd's Pie keeps well covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat from the fridge, simply microwave.

Freezer - It also freezes very well for up to 2 months. To cook from frozen, cook at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot in the centre. 

More Recipes you may enjoy:

Keema Matar

Tandoori Masala Lamb Chops

Lebanese Chicken Shawarma

Chicken Tikka Biryani (Restaurant Style)

**if you make and enjoy this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating. please tag us on instagram. we love to see your creations and your feedback helps us to shape future content! we love to hear from you. donโ€™t forget to add your email address below for exclusive content and tips. thankyou!
Indian Shepherd's Pie in a casserole dish with a portion in a plate at the side

Indian Shepherd's Pie

Safira
Indian Shepherd's Pie - This Indian Shepherdโ€™s Pie is the most delicious, creamy , satisfying, comforting and joyous dish ever! ย The filling is rich, the potato is creamy and there is even a slight crunch at the top. I love both the traditional version and this Indian version that is made in many Indian households!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine british, Indian, Indian fusion
Servings 6
Calories 736 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoon Oil
  • 2 tablespoon Ghee

Filling

  • 1 Onion Diced
  • 1 tablespoon Ginger Paste
  • 6 cloves Garlic Crushed
  • 1 teaspoon Green Chilli Paste
  • 1 - 2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
  • ยฝ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoon Cumin Powder
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoon Coriander Powder
  • 500 g Minced Lamb I used Shoulder
  • 2 large Tomatoes Pureed or 200 g Passata
  • 1 tablespoon Tomato Puree
  • 200 ml Lamb Stock
  • 1 - 2 tablespoon Plain Flour if needed to thicken sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Madras Curry Powder Optional
  • 30 g Peas Thawed, Optional, I use Petit Pois

Mash

  • 900 g Potatoes I used Desiree, Peeled and diced
  • 90 g Butter
  • 3 tablespoon Milk
  • ยผ teaspoon Cumin Powder

Instructions
 

  • Heat Oil and Ghee in pot. Add Onions. Cook for 10 minutes or till golden. Once golden brown and Ginger, Garlic and Green Chilli. Saute for a minute.
  • Add Salt, Chilli Powder, Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder. Cook for 2 minutes adding a splash of water if neeed.
  • Addย the minced meat and cook for 5 minutes breaking as you go before adding the pureedย Tomatoes, Tomato Puree and stock. Cook for another 5 - 10 minutes.
  • Now you can add flour if the sauce is runny and needs thickening.
  • Then add Garam Masala and Curry Powder. You can also add peas at this stage if you like.
  • Simmer covered on low until the sauce is thickened (30 - 40 minutes) and spread in a baking dish.
  • Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.

Mash

  • Boil the potatoes in salted water for 12-15 mins until tender.ย Drain then mash with butter and milk. (Optional step - Put through a potato ricer for lump free mash). Stir in Cumin Powder.

Assemble

  • Add the creamy cumin mashed potato on top of the mince in the casserole dish. Use a fork to create a ridged pattern. ย 
  • Bake for 20-25 mins until the top is starting to colour and the mince is bubbling through at the edges.

Notes

What to serve with Indian Shepherdโ€™s Pie

Shepherds Pie is best served with Veg. Here are some suggestions:
  • A dente, salted and lightly spiced buttered Peas, Carrots, Mange Tout.
  • Finely shredded Cabbage.
  • Buttered Leeks.

Tips for making Indian Shepherdโ€™s Pie

This is a very simple recipe and therefore there isn't much that can go wrong! Here are my top tips:
Cool Meat - To stop the Mash sinking into the meat, allow the meat to cool a little before adding mash.
Leftover Mash - You can use Leftover Mash in this recipe for a quicker option.
Lump Free Mash - To make your Mash lump free, use a potato ricer to mash the potatoes. Although not essential, it does help ensure that you have a smooth mash.
Potatoes - Mash Potato needs a floury fluffy potato. My favourite for this is Desiree, King Edwardโ€™s or Maris Piper's. Or use Yukon Gold in America.

Variations

There are ample ways to make Shepherd's Pie. Here are some suggestions:
Omit Ghee - Ghee can be replaced with additional Oil. Ghee does add flavour though!
Make a sofrito - Saute diced onion, garlic, carrots and celery sautรฉed on a low heat at the beginning for the base.
Add a Cheese topping - Cheese makes everything better. Add a sprinkling of Cheddar or Red Leicester Cheese for added flavour.

Storage and Reheating

Fridge - Indian Shepherd's Pie keeps well covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat from the fridge, simply microwave.
Freezer - It also freezes very well for up to 2 months. To cook from frozen, cook at 160C/fan 140C/gas 3 for 1 hr-1 hr 20 mins until piping hot in the centre. 

Nutrition

Calories: 736kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 25gFat: 63gSaturated Fat: 26gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 141mgSodium: 2065mgPotassium: 710mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1388IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 4mg
Keyword Indian Shepherd's Pie, Shepherd's Pie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Dinner

  • Cooked Lamb Curry with Potatoes in pot
    Aloo Gosht โ€“ Traditional Pakistani Lamb & Potato Curry
  • Mujadara with caramlised onions on top
    Mujadara - Lebanese Rice and Lentils with Caramelised Onions
  • Shorbat adas with fried samosa leaves on top
    Shorbat Adas - Ramadan Lentil Soup
  • Roast Pumpkin with Sauce on top in tray
    Spiced Roast Potimarron (Hokkaido) Pumpkin with Zhoug Dressing

Reader Interactions

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Picture of site owner Safira

hey...Iโ€™m safira! I share accessible Global Recipes as well as Baking recipes for home cooks. One of my passions is to teach home cooks to become more confident in the kitchen and this comes with time and experience.

More about me โ†’

Recipes

Footer

About

  • About
  • Privacy Policy

Browse Recipes

  • Recipes

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright ยฉ 2025 Tiffin and Tea

151 shares

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.