Cooking in the Kerkhof Kitchen

🥧 Shepherd’s Pie with French Onion & Butcher’s Secret

Made with A Spice Affair blends + Chick’n-free broth
Serves 6–8 |

🧂 You’ll Need

🥕 Meat (or Veggie) Filling
   •   1 ½ lb (≈ 680 g) ground lamb or beef (or use lentils/veggie crumbles for a vegetarian version)
   •   1 medium onion, diced
   •   2 cloves garlic, minced (I USED OUR GRANULATED GARLIC)
   •   2 carrots, diced
   •   1 stalk celery, diced
   •   ¾ cup frozen peas
   •   3 tbsp tomato paste
   •   1 cup chick’n-free broth (I ADDED A BIT MORE SINCE I HAD SO MANY VEGGIES0
   •   1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
   •   1–1½ tbsp A Spice Affair French Onion Dip Mix 🧅
   •   1–1½ tsp A Spice Affair Butcher’s Secret Blend 🥩
   •   1 tbsp flour or cornstarch (for thickening)
   •   1 tbsp olive oil or butter
   •   Optional flavor boost: 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari 🌿
   •   Salt & pepper, to taste

🥔 Mashed Potato Topping (PLAN AHEAD AND USE SOME LEFTOVER MASHED POTATOES)
   •   2 lb (≈ 900 g) potatoes, peeled & cubed
   •   ¼ cup (60 ml) milk or cream (plant-based works great)
   •   2 tbsp butter
   •   1 tsp French Onion Dip Mix 🧅
   •   Salt & pepper, to taste
   •   Optional: ½ cup grated cheddar or Gruyère

Step-by-Step

1️⃣ Boil the Potatoes
   •   Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (15–20 min).
   •   Drain well, then mash with butter, milk, and 1 tsp French Onion Dip Mix.
   •   Taste and adjust seasoning — keep warm.

2️⃣ Cook the Filling
   •   Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
   •   Sauté onion, carrots, and celery for 5–7 min until softened.
   •   Add garlic; cook 1 min more.
   •   Add ground meat and brown fully, breaking it up.
   •   Stir in tomato paste, French Onion Dip Mix, and Butcher’s Secret — let cook 1–2 min to bloom the flavors. 🌶️
   •   Sprinkle in flour and stir to coat. (I DID 1 TBSP CORNSTARCH WITH 1 TBSP WATER)
   •   Pour in chick’n-free broth and Worcestershire sauce (plus soy sauce if using).
   •   Simmer 5–10 min, stirring, until the sauce thickens.
   •   Stir in peas, taste, and adjust seasoning.

3️⃣ Assemble
   •   Transfer filling to a casserole dish.
   •   Spread mashed potatoes evenly over top.
   •   Rough up with a fork for crispy peaks.
   •   Sprinkle cheese if desired. 🧀

4️⃣ Bake
   •   Bake uncovered at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 min, until golden and bubbling at the edges.

5️⃣ Rest & Serve
   •   Let rest 10 min before serving so the layers set.
   •   Garnish with fresh herbs, chives, or crispy fried onions. 🌿✨

⸻

💡 Tips & Twists
   •   Veggie version: Use lentils or finely chopped mushrooms instead of meat — they soak up the blends beautifully.
   •   Extra comfort: Mix a spoonful of sour cream or cream cheese into the mashed potatoes.
   •   Make ahead: Assemble and refrigerate up to a day before baking.

⸻

🍽️ The result:
✨ Comforting, herby, onion-forward flavor with a cozy roast undertone from the Butcher’s Secret.
✨ A luscious filling that tastes “beefy” even with chick’n-free broth.
✨ A golden, fluffy potato topping that melts in your mouth