A rich, savory ground beef filling with caramelized vegetables, fresh herbs, Marsala wine, beef stock, and Worcestershire sauce, topped with creamy Parmesan mashed potatoes and baked until golden.
The ingredient amounts below are suggested proportions based on your description, with the 2 pounds of ground beef and 2 egg yolks you confirmed.
Ingredients
For the Beef & Vegetable Filling
For the Parmesan Mashed Potato Topping
Instructions
1. Brown the Ground Beef
Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and spread it into an even layer.
Allow the meat to sit undisturbed for several minutes so it develops a deep, caramelized crust before breaking it apart. Continue cooking until browned. Season with salt and pepper. Drain excess fat if necessary.
2. Add the Vegetables & Herbs
Add the diced onion, carrot, celery, and sweet potato to the browned beef.
Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften. Add garlic and tomato paste, if using, and cook for another minute.
Stir in the fresh thyme, rosemary, and parsley.
3. Build the Flavor
Pour in the Marsala wine, scraping up all those flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Let the wine simmer for 2–3 minutes before adding the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the filling has thickened. The mixture should be moist but not watery. Add a little more stock if needed.
4. Make the Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
While the filling simmers, peel and cut the potatoes into even chunks.
Place in a pot of salted water and boil until fork-tender, approximately 15–20 minutes.
Drain thoroughly and mash until smooth. Add the butter, warmed milk, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
Allow the potatoes to cool slightly before mixing in the two egg yolks. Whip until smooth and creamy, but avoid overmixing so they don’t become gummy.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Transfer the beef filling to a large baking dish, approximately 9 × 13 inches.
Add the mashed potatoes to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe generously over the filling.
Alternatively, spoon the potatoes over the top and create rustic peaks with the back of a fork.
Those little ridges and peaks are what become beautifully crispy in the oven.
6. Bake Until Golden
Bake at 400°F for approximately 20–25 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the mashed potatoes have developed a beautiful golden crust.
For extra crispy edges, broil for the final 1–2 minutes, watching closely.
Allow to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Kendra’s Kitchen Tips 🌿
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Don’t rush browning the meat. Letting the ground beef develop a caramelized crust is one of the best ways to create rich, savory flavor.
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Use what you have. Carrots, sweet potatoes, celery, peas, mushrooms, or other vegetables can work beautifully in this dish.
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Fresh herbs make a difference. Thyme and rosemary complement the richness of the beef.
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Choose your wine. A dry, full-bodied red wine gives a classic savory flavor. Marsala works too, although sweet Marsala will make the filling noticeably sweeter.
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Use a larger piping tip. A large star tip makes it easier to pipe the potatoes and creates more golden, crispy edges.
