Thinking about introducing some new proteins to your diet but unsure where to start? This recipe for shepherd’s pie does an excellent job incorporating not-as-common elk meat into an established dish that’s full of other flavors.
This is a great way of trying a new type of meat while still having some familiar tastes around it. Although the ingredients list and prep time may seem like a lot, keep in mind that this is a true one-dish meal – no need to spend a lot of time or energy on extra sides.
Traditional shepherd’s pie dishes are usually cooked with lamb or beef, so keep in mind that this dish will have a distinctive, “elkier” flavor than what you might be used to. It’s also important to note that finding elk, or any kind of game meat, in your local supermarket may be a bit of a challenge.
If you’re located in the Northern United States, purchasing elk meat (or getting it yourself) can be fairly easy if you connect with a hunter’s group.
In other parts of the country, check out specialty grocery stores, butcher counters, or online ordering. If you're unable to source elk, bison, or even beef would taste just as well.
If you do want to round out this meal a bit, we think adding a simple dish like this fresh vegetable salad is a perfect idea to save time while still filling up your plate.
Elk Shepherd's Pie Recipe
Serves: 4 Prep: 20 min Cook: 1 h
Ingredients
- 2 lbs elk meat or bison, cut into cubes
- 3 to 4 russet or sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced thinly
- 2 to 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup dry red wine or beef stock
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 2 tsp. paprika
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. allspice
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp. cooking fat
- Green onions, sliced
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350 F.
- Melt cooking fat in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the meat to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Brown the meat on all sides for 1 to 2 minutes and remove from the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the garlic, onion, tomato paste, and spices; stir everything and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the carrots and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Pour in the red wine or beef stock and bay leaves and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan until the liquid is dissolved.
- Add the elk back to the skillet and add in the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes; mix everything and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves and top the skillet with sliced potatoes, season with salt and pepper to taste, and place in the oven.
- Alternatively, you can leave the bay leaves in the skillet. Just make sure you know where to find them and remove them before serving.
- Bake in the oven until potatoes are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Serve topped with fresh sliced green onions.
📖 Recipe
Elk Shepherd's Pie Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs elk meat or bison cut into cubes
- 3 to 4 russet or sweet potatoes peeled and sliced thinly
- 2 to 3 carrots peeled and chopped
- 1 onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- ¼ cup dry red wine or beef stock
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 2 tsp. paprika
- ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- ¼ tsp. allspice
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tbsp. cooking fat
- Green onions sliced
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F.
- Melt cooking fat in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat.2 tbsp. cooking fat
- Season the meat to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Brown the meat on all sides for 1 to 2 minutes and remove from the skillet.2 lbs elk meat or bison
- Reduce heat to medium and add the garlic, onion, tomato paste, and spices; stir everything and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1 cup crushed tomatoes, 2 tbsp. tomato paste, 2 tsp. paprika, ¼ tsp. allspice, ¼ tsp. cinnamon
- Add the carrots and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.2 to 3 carrots
- Pour in the red wine or beef stock and bay leaves and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan until the liquid is dissolved.¼ cup dry red wine or beef stock, 2 bay leaves
- Add the elk back to the skillet and add in the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes; mix everything and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.2 lbs elk meat or bison, ½ cup tomato sauce
- Remove the bay leaves and top the skillet with sliced potatoes, season with salt and pepper to taste, and place in the oven.Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, 3 to 4 russet or sweet potatoes
- Alternatively, you can leave the bay leaves in the skillet. Just make sure you know where to find them and remove them before serving.
- Bake in the oven until potatoes are tender, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Serve topped with fresh sliced green onions.Green onions
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