Cooking Lesson #1005: Paddy’s Shepherd's Pie Tater Tot Casserole

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? This is a fun, kid-friendly St. Patrick’s Day dinner idea. Paddy’s Shepherd's Pie Tater Tot Casserole is a hearty ground beef casserole and a delicious twist on classic Shepherd's Pie. For some reason foods made with Tots are always perfect for the children (of any age).
 
You probably have most of the ingredients in  your freezer, refrigerator and pantry—ground beef and frozen vegetables simmered in a richly seasoned beef broth base, topped with crispy golden brown tater tots, and then finished off with shredded cheddar cheese. It will be done in an hour from start to finish.  What could be simpler?
 
Prep time:  20 minutes
Cook time:  40 minutes
Yield:  8 servings

Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1 pound ground beef
1 cup finely diced white onion
2 tablespoons jarred minced garlic
2 cups frozen mixed peas and carrots
1/4 cup red wine
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons beef base (I prefer Better Than Bouillon)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt (less if you’re using a beef base with sodium)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 bag (32 oz) frozen tater tots
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
 
Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 400℉.
2. Spray a 9 X 13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
3. In a large skillet pan, over medium-high heat, crumble and cook the ground beef until it's no longer pink; about 6-8 minutes.
4. Add the finely diced onion and garlic cloves to the skillet and continue cooking, while stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent; about 5 minutes. Turn down the heat to prevent burning the onions.
5. Drain any excess fat/grease from the pan if needed.
6. Stir in the frozen peas and carrots, wine, water, beef base, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer just barely boiling.
7. Sprinkle the flour over top of everything and stir to combine and thicken.
8. Continue to cook, while stirring, for 1-2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste and to thicken the mixture.
9. Transfer the shepherd's pie mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
10. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the ground beef mixture, covering it completely with the tots.
11. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tots.
12. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the tots are golden brown, crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
13. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
14. Adjust the amount of salt as needed depending on the salt content of the beef base. If you use regular beef base then you may find that the full 1 teaspoon is too much, so use less if needed or preferred. 

Store:  Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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ChefSecret:  If you don’t want to use the wine add an extra 1/4 cup of water.

Quip of the Day:  How old are leprechauns? Old enough to remember when rainbows were black and white.
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Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.
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