Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Greek-Style Shepard's Pie & A Giveaway!


I wish I could give away a dutch oven to each and every one of you. Seriously, I do. I love these things. To me, dutch ovens absolutely symbolize cold weather cooking. Though they are very heavy pieces of artillery, my two LeCrueset's have become an incredibly vital part of my kitchen. As soon as the weather turns brisk, my mind starts scheming to come up with new things to make in Big Red (that's what I call my 13-quart red Dutch oven, and yes I realize I am a huge nerd). 

Alas, I cannot give you a dutch oven, but I can do something to help those of you who are in need of one (or anything else in your kitchen artillery that you find you are missing). I am giving away a $45.00 gift card for CSN stores online! They have a huge selection of cookware and kitchen gadgets, and you can use this gift towards any of it. 

All you have to do is:

Leave me a comment on this post, telling me what your favorite thing to make in your dutch oven is? Or, if you don't have a dutch oven, what would be the first thing you would make if you did?

You have until next Friday, November 12th at midnight to enter. I will pick a winner at random, and you will be contacted by CSN stores to redeem your gift! 

Now, lets get on to the goodies. This may not be the most beautiful or photogenic dish, and it may not be the most fancy dish, but it is so so delicious. Tender eggplant and big chunks of beef, tons of oregano and a pecorino-garlic spiked mashed potato topping...I can barely handle it. I spied this on the cover of bon appetit about two years ago, and finally got around to making it this week, I can't believe I waited this long. It is chocked full of vegetables, tender cubes of braised beef, and topped with a creamy, starchy topping, it has all the things you want out of a traditional shepard's pie, with a few twists. 

I found my favorite way to eat this particular dish is in a mug. Preferably with a snuggie on. (I almost tried to smuggle home the snuggie I got my parents as a gag-gift for Christmas) Yes, I am ashamed. You can curl up on the couch and let this pie warm your hands and your belly. 

Greek - Style Shepard's Pie
serves 8-10

1 1/2 - 2 pounds eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
coarse salt
6-7 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 pounds beef, cubed into 1 inch pieces (I usually just buy the 'stew beef', pre-cut into small square pieces)
All-purpose flour
5-6 carrots, diced
3 cups chopped onions (I used about 2 1/2 large vidalia onions)
1 cup dry white wine
1 - 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
3 cups beef broth
8 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cups whole milk
1 1/4 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese (if you can find the Greek Kasseri cheese, use that, I couldn't find any)

Spread the eggplant on a baking sheet and sprinkle with a small handful of coarse salt. Let sit at room temperature for about 1 hour, to pull the excess moisture out of the eggplant. Rinse eggplant with water to remove salt, and pat dry with paper towels. 

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large heavy pot over high heat. Add eggplant, and saute until tender and browned, about 12-15 minutes. Transfer to bowl, and set aside. 

Season beef with salt and pepper, then toss with enough flour to lightly coat all the pieces. Heat a few tablespoons of oil in the same large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, if necessary, brown meat on all sides, about 8-10 minutes for each batch. Transfer beef to a bowl, and set aside.

If pot is dry, add another tablespoon of olive oil then add the onions. Saute the onions until tender and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the wine to the pot and scrape up all the brown bits on the bottom of the pot. Cook for about 5 minutes, until most of wine has evaporated. Add tomatoes with juice, beef broth, garlic, and oregano, and bring to a boil. Add beef with any accumulated juice and carrots to pot, and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Uncover and simmer over low heat for another 45 minutes.

While the filling is simmering, place your potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are fork tender, about 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Meanwhile, heat the two tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute just a minute, until fragrant. Add milk and bring to a simmer and turn off heat.

When the potatoes are cooked through, drain and return to pot, cooking over medium heat for a few minutes until excess water has evaporated. Crush potatoes with a potato masher, and add the milk, mashing until smooth. Stir in the cheese, season with salt and pepper, and keep covered until filling is done. 

You can either bake the pie in the dutch oven the you prepared the filling in if it is oven proof, or you can transfer the filling into a 9 x 13 baking dish. Top the filling with spoonfuls of the mashed potatoes, and spread gently into a even layer to seal in the edges. 

Bake until filling is bubbling and topping is golden brown, about 45 minutes. 


49 comments:

  1. I so want a dutch oven--it's on my wishlist. The first thing I would make is braised chicken, or coq au vin. This shepherd's pie looks divine!

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  2. I am currently in the market for a dutch oven so this is perfect! The first thing I wanted to make was this apple crisp/pie dutch oven thing I saw the other day... I'm sure it can be made in the oven, but since I was shopping for the dutch oven (ouch on the price) it seemed like it was destiny to cook it in said piece.

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  3. Oh, short ribs. Definitely short ribs. Except when I'm in the mood for beef bourguinon!

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  4. Oh, I would love to make Russian style brisket!

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  5. CLEARLY I would make that Shepherd;s Pie, in honor of your fabulous blog!

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  6. Oooh, I believe I convinced mom and dad to get me a dutch oven for Christmas - hopefully they got the hint. I think I would make short ribs - I've been scared to do them without a dutch oven, so this would be great!

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  7. Ooh dutch ovens! I love making no-knead bread in dutch ovens!

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  8. I've never had a dutch oven! I would make brisket, and ribs, and... Chili!

    -Jen
    jen.kemp@yahoo.com

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  9. I do not have a dutch oven but I have a recipe for a cherry cobbler that is made in a dutch oven and I love cherry.
    msgb245 at gmail dot com

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  10. We'd make pot roast! -Hez and Matt

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  11. I actually bought a dutch oven this past weekend to make Boeuf Bourguignon for the first time! It was delicious and I am now completely in love with my dutch oven.

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  12. Might be a little boring, but a simple pot roast! It's the ultimate comfort food in my book (granted, every time I came home from college, it's what my mom made - so maybe that's why). Not to mention, leftovers make a great modified version of Shepard's Pie!

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  13. Beef cheeks braised in stout!!!

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  14. Chicken and dumplings! Thanks for the giveaway
    sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com

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  15. I have always wanted a Dutch Oven. I have never had Shepards pie,maybe I would make that! Or maybe I would make chicken and dumplings or pot roast?? I just don't know! So many things I could do
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  16. I make roasts in my dutch oven (beef or pork, usually), along with roasted vegetables.

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  17. Some no-knead sourdough bread!! A dutch oven is the only way to get that perfect crust.

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  18. I have a Dutch oven that I got as a wedding gift per the pushing of our registry assistant. I am not much of a cook, but we got one, and I have used it once! I made a brisket that was so tender and juicy...AMAZING!

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  19. I want a dutch oven so bad! I would make french onion soup, the kind we made in a french cooking class I took that I dare say I can never replicate in my poor pots.

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  20. How delicious does that recipe sound! Thanks for posting, Bria! I'm a big fan of Morroccan lamb tagines. Also curious to try making South African Babotie. Dinner anyone?

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  21. My favorite thing to cook in my dutch oven is Mediterranean baked lima beans. They're so delicious!

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  22. My wife has been wanting a Dutch Oven.I don't know what they are but I should get her one for Christmas

    truthhole@gmail.com

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  23. I like to take mine camping and make cake in it!

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  24. If i had a dutch oven, which I do not. i would most definitely use it to make an apple pie crumble that I would put over vanilla ice cream and serve at my thanksgiving meal!

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  25. I would make no-knead bread! I've been wanting to for so long!

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  26. If i had a dutch oven, the first thing I would make is pot roast.

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  27. mmm brisket...i love the dutch oven for holiday meals!

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  28. I would absolutely make my mother-in-law's brisket. It's so yummy and my husband loves it...

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  29. My mom used to make a pizza casserole in her small dutch oven when I was younger. I'd love to make it myself!

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  30. I've never had one but I'd make a nice pot roast. Thanks!


    Chris

    zekks at yahoo dot com

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  31. My favorite thing to make is rosemary olive oil bread in my dutch oven. I also use my dutch oven to deep fry stuffing balls. They make a great appetizer on thanksgiving! I fill the bottom with about an inch of olive oil, and then take a mozzeralla ball, coat it in premade stuffing, then eggwash and bread it, then deep fry until golden!

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  32. OH I would make some chili!

    lilaznjewel@yahoo . com

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  33. I do not own a dutch oven, but if I did I would make cranberry apple crisp with sweet butter sauce.

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  34. I would love one! I have a recipe for southern smothered chicken.

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  35. I agree--a dutch oven is a cold weather must. I love to make a great beef stew in mine (which needs to be replaced)...

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  36. My favorite thing to make in our dutch oven is beef stew. Perfect for fall nights!

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  37. I actually haven't used my new Dutch Oven yet, but I'm planning to use it to make a lamb and sweet potato pot pie in a week or two.

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  38. A herb de provence & lemon roasted chicken with root vegetables. Seriously fall off the bones/yummy/comfort meal!

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  39. I, sadly, do not own a dutch oven. The first thing I would make if I won this one would be a roasted chicken with lots of garlic (in the spirit of the popular chicken with 40 cloves of garlic) and vegetables (turnips, carrots, onions, and celery). I've also came across some no knead bread recipes that are supposed to be baked in a heavy pot, I would love to try that out!

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  40. I don't have a dutch oven but I would love to have one=) I would most likely make a delicious roast!
    Thanks so much~
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

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  41. Though I have a dutch oven, it's cheap and on it's last leg. A le creuset dutch oven has been on my wish list for 10 years, but this year I'm asking for a new digital camera. I'm still using a film camera from the 1970s (canon AE-1)

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  42. I love love love making macaroni and cheese in the dutch oven! I can cook it first on the stove and then throw the whole thing in the oven for the final bake! YUMMMM!!! It's perfect for my favorite Thanksgiving side!

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  43. I have been wanting a new Dutch Oven. A good beef roast or lamb roast would be the perfect receipe.

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  44. I would love to have a new Dutch Oven. A good lamb roast would be my first receipe.

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  45. I've never had a Dutch Oven.. it's on my someday list... I would make a good homestyle pot roast.. Yummy!!

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  46. The first thing I'd make would be french onion soup. Yum!

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  47. I do not have a dutch oven. It is something that I have longed to have for YEARS! I love cooking and will try just about any kind. The only cultural food that intimidates me is INDIAN food. So with this dutch oven I would definitely push up my sleeves and dive in to some tasty indian dishes!

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  48. I've never had a dutch oven so to get one would be a great! The first thing I would make is ratatouille!

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