Shepherd's Pie with Ground Venison

Servings: 8 Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 4 hours

Venison Shepherd's Pie redefines the perfect comfort food, featuring a decadent savory meat mixture with a pillowy mashed potato topping creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. To add a touch of sophistication, Jarlsberg cheese crowns this gourmet twist on the classic shepherd's pie, resulting in a dish that effortlessly combines rustic charm with elevated flavors. Give it a try today!

Ingredients: – ground venison – bacon, diced – garlic – shallots – yellow onion – fresh parsley – tomato paste – red wine – salt and pepper – all-purpose flour – stock (wild game or beef) – Yukon gold potatoes – half and half – salted butter – fresh thyme sprigs – nutmeg – whole peppercorns – jarlsberg cheese

Heat a Dutch oven or large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook bacon in a Dutch oven or skillet until it is browned and the fat has rendered out, about 5-10 minutes. Remove bacon to a plate.

Add in shallots, onion, and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add in meat and season with salt and black pepper. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon. Brown meat for 5-7 minutes.

Add bacon back in. Reduce heat to medium. Add in the wine and cook until the liquid has reduced by half, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to scrape the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in parsley and tomato paste.

Sprinkle flour over the meat mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, add in stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Partially cover the pot and simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally. Some of the stock will evaporate and will thicken into a nice gravy consistency. Taste and add salt and pepper to your liking.

See recipe link below for mashed potato recipe. In a greased casserole dish, spread mashed potatoes on the bottom of the pan. Top with meat mixture. Top with mashed potatoes and Jarlsberg cheese.

Bake uncovered at 450°F for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and slightly crispy.

Serve hot and enjoy!