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Plough Monday Shepherd's Pie

Plough Monday is a traditional English folk holiday that marks the first Monday after Twelfth Night (January 6) and symbolically represents the return to agricultural work after the Christmas period.


Shepherd's pie in a white dish, text overlay "Shepherd's Pie for Plough Monday," warm tones. Website text: hisgirlsunday.com.

Historically, it was the day when farmers went back to the fields after the long winter festivities. In many rural communities, it was treated almost like a mini-festival:


  • Farm laborers would decorate a plough and parade it through the village

  • They’d ask for donations of food, drink, or money

  • There were often morris dancers, folk performances, and plays

  • The money raised would support the workers or community events


It was both practical and symbolic: a way to bless the tools, mark the start of the working year, and bring people together after winter.


Today, it’s mostly remembered in folk traditions and seasonal food culture—making it a perfect excuse for hearty, warming dishes like shepherd’s pie, stews, and baked puddings.


This Plough Monday Shepherd’s Pie is exactly that: rich, savory, and built to warm you from the inside out. With a deeply flavorful filling and a cloud of buttery mashed potatoes, it’s the kind of dish that feels like a reward after a long day’s work—and a reminder that some traditions are worth keeping, especially the delicious ones.


I filmed this recipe for social media so if you'd like to see this in action click below!





Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Yields: 6 Servings


Beef Ingredients


  • 1 lb ground beef

  • 1/2 cup chopped carrots

  • 1/2 cup frozen peas

  • 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

  • 3 tbsps butter

  • 1 cup beef stock

  • 2 tbsps flour

  • 1/2 tbsp thyme

  • 1/2 tbsp rosemary

  • 1/2 tbsp parsley


Potato Ingredients


  • 2 lbs russet potatoes

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 3 tbsps melted butter

  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese


Directions


  1. Brown 1 lb beef in a skillet on high heat until fully cooked


Ground beef cooks in a black skillet on a stove. A spatula is beside the meat. A lit candle and knife block are in the kitchen background.

  1. Drain excess beef fat leaving the bottom of the pan slightly coated


  1. Add in 1/2 cup chopped carrots and cook for about 10 minutes or until they are soft. You can season the meat and carrots while cooking with salt and pepper.


Ground beef and diced sweet potatoes in a blue pan on a countertop. Knife block, candle, and green pepper decor in the background. Cozy ambiance.

  1. Pour in 1/2 cup frozen peas and 1/2 cup frozen carrots and cook for a few quick minutes


Ground beef, peas, corn, and carrots are cooking in a skillet, with a spatula on the side. Bright veggies add color to the dish.

  1. Add 3 tbsps butter to the pan and combine all ingredients until the butter is melted


  1. To thicken the mixture add in 2 tbsps flour, 1/2 tbsp thyme, 1/2 tbsp rosemary, and 1/2 tbsp parsley


  1. Stir everything together until the flour disappears


  1. Pour in 1 cup beef stock and turn the heat up to high until the broth thickens. I stirred the ingredients through this part so that nothing stuck to the bottom of the pan


  1. Once you see a sauce develop remove the pan from the burner and pour it into an 8x8 baking dish.


Person in plaid oven mitt pours a colorful veggie and meat mix from a pan into a blue dish on a wooden table with decorative candles.

  1. It's time to make our mashed potatoes. Skin and cube the potatoes and put them in a pot filled with cold water. You want your water to slightly cover your top later.


A person slices potatoes on a wooden table with a knife. A vase with red decorations and a loaf of bread are in the background.

  1. Cook for about 8-10 minutes over medium to high heat or until potatoes are tender. If a fork easily goes through them they are finished.


Chopped potatoes in a pot of water on a stove, with a lit candle nearby. The scene is warm and inviting, with a granite countertop.

  1. Drain the potatoes and let them cook for a minute or two. Go ahead and heat your oven to 425 degrees.


  2. Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes until they are still slightly chunky. I think this is part is key, if you over mash here then adding all the wet ingredients will only make them mushy.


  3. Stir in the 3 tbsps melted butter, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup milk, and 1 cup grated cheese.


Mashed potatoes with cream in a metal pot on a wooden table. A fork is in the pot, and a measuring cup with grated cheese is nearby.

Person in black jacket adds cheese to mashed potatoes in a pot on a wooden table, resting on a red-checkered cloth, in a kitchen.

  1. Cover your meat mixture by spreading the potatoes over the top. This doesn't have to be perfect!


Hand spreading mashed potatoes in a white dish on a stovetop. Oven knobs and kitchen utensils are visible in the background.

  1. Bake for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown on top.


Baked shepherd's pie with a golden-brown crust inside a blue dish on a granite countertop. The pie appears freshly cooked.

  1. Serve in a bowl, especially one with a handle if you want to be cozy, and sprinkle a little more grated cheese on top.


It is such a joy to cook with you! I once heard that you know Catholic culture is healthy when it makes its way to the table. And I hope that is true for your home too, because food is a natural way to connect our families back to God and His Church.



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