A classic casserole of Britain and Ireland done “American-style.”
Ingredients
1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
3 large (1 1/2 to 2 pounds) potatoes , peeled and quartered
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, divided
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 to 2 cups mixed vegetables, such as diced carrots, corn, or peas
1 1/2 pounds ground round beef
1/2 cup beef broth
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Pepper and/or other seasonings of choice
Instructions
Boil the potatoes: Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in medium sized pot. Cover with at least an inch of cold water. Add a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender (about 20 minutes).
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Sauté the vegetables: While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large sauté pan on medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until tender, about 6 to 10 minutes.
If you are including vegetables, add them according to their cooking time. Carrots should be cooked with the onions because they take as long to cook as the onions do.
If you are including peas or corn, add them toward the end of the cooking of the onions, or after the meat starts to cook, as they take very little cooking time.
Add the ground beef, then the Worcestershire sauce and broth: Add ground beef to the pan with the onions and vegetables. Cook until no longer pink. Drain the pan of excess fat, if necessary (anything more than 1 tablespoon). Season with salt and pepper.
Add the Worcestershire sauce and beef broth. Bring the broth to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, adding more beef broth if necessary to keep the meat from drying out.
Taste the cooked filling and, if needed, add more salt, pepper, Worcestershire, or other seasonings of your choice.
