Padma Lakshmi's Shepherd's Pie

Chef notes

This dish was inspired by Top Chef Colorado's meat and potatoes challenge. It is what I consider to be American comfort food at its finest. It's the perfect dish for this time of year when it's cold outside and you're craving something supremely satisfying.

Technique tip: Ginger gives an Indian twist to the more classic English version. If you can't find lean ground beef and only have 80/20 meat-to-fat ratio, use a slotted spoon to transport the meat without excess grease into the baking dish.

Swap option: Ground turkey can be subbed for ground beef, or cooked lentils can be added at the end of the vegetable cooking process to make this dish vegetarian. For vegans, use olive oil instead of butter/milk in the potatoes and omit the cheese. To jazz up presentation, serve in individual ramekins instead of using a baking dish.