Japanese Curry Shepherd’s Pie with Turkey and Crispy Panko

This comforting casserole layers savory ground turkey simmered with Japanese-style curry paste, tender carrots and sweet peas beneath a cloud of creamy mashed potatoes. A golden panko topping adds irresistible crunch when broiled, while a drizzle of tangy katsu sauce brings sweet-savory balance. It’s shepherd’s pie with an unexpected twist!

Perfect for weeknight dinners, this dish comes together in under an hour and uses simple ingredients. The curry paste infuses the meat filling with deep umami, while the buttery mashed potatoes provide a luscious contrast. Serve it straight from the pan for a cozy, family-style meal.

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Ingredients

3 ounce CarrotView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon Katsu SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon CornstarchView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground TurkeyView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Panko BreadcrumbsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Tomato PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

16 ounce PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 ounce PeasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Beef Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 ounce Garlic-Ginger Scallion PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 unit ScallionsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 ounce Japanese-Style Golden Curry PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

3 tablespoon (tbsp) ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Adjust rack to top position and heat broiler to high. Wash and dry produce. Peel and dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Trim, peel and dice carrot into ½-inch pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with 2 TBSP water (4 TBSP for 4 servings) until combined. Set aside.
2. Place potatoes in a medium pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes. Reserve ⅓ cup potato cooking liquid (⅔ cup for 4 servings), then drain and return potatoes to pot. Mash with 2 TBSP butter (4 TBSP for 4) until smooth and creamy, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as needed. Season with salt and pepper. Keep covered off heat until ready to use in Step 5.
3. While potatoes cook, heat a drizzle of oil in a medium, preferably ovenproof, pan (large, preferably ovenproof, pan for 4 servings) over medium-high heat. Add carrot; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. Stir in garlic-ginger scallion paste; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
4. Add scallion whites and beef* to pan with carrot; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 30-60 seconds. Stir in peas, curry paste, stock concentrate, cornstarch mixture and ½ cup water (1 cup for 4 servings). Bring to a boil; cook until mixture is very thick, 1-2 minutes. Turn off heat; taste and season with salt and pepper. (If your pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer mixture to a baking dish now.)
5. Place 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a medium microwave-safe bowl; microwave until melted, 30 seconds. Stir in panko until combined. Top beef filling with an even layer of mashed potatoes, leaving a gap around edge of pan. Top with panko mixture, lightly pressing into potatoes to adhere. Broil on top rack until panko is golden brown, 2-3 minutes. TIP: Watch carefully to avoid burning.
6. Drizzle shepherd’s pie with katsu sauce. Garnish with scallion greens; serve family style directly from pan.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use ground beef instead of turkey?

Yes, ground beef works perfectly in this recipe. Simply substitute an equal amount.

What is katsu sauce and where can I find it?

Katsu sauce is a Japanese condiment similar to Worcestershire sauce but thicker and sweeter. It’s available in the international aisle of most grocery stores or online.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the shepherd’s pie without the panko topping, refrigerate and then add the panko and broil just before serving.