I often make shepherds pie with beef. It depends what I have in my freezer. I like the idea of half beef half lamb. There are so many flavors going on with shepherds pie that there is not much of a difference between beef or lamb.
You could always try making a Cottage Pie instead - basically the same bit made with beef instead of lamb. You still get a dose of comfort food and your boyfriend will be happy too! I'm not a fan of lamb in general but I do like it in flavourful, slow-cooked dishes like curries.
Perhaps ask what your boyfriend does not like about lamb? I used to say the same thing because of a terrible experience once. Discovered it wasn't the lamb, it was the preparation. The cook presented something that was tough and acidic tasting.
My husband told me for years he didn't like lamb. Turns out his mother always cooked it with a lot of rosemary. Once I figured out that he didn't like rosemary, which can be overpowering in large amounts, I made a great lamb dish with no rosemary. He now loves lamb.
Guys are like kids. You have to give them the same food 12 times before they'll like it. Keep putting it on the plate and one day he'll out of town eating some crap hotel food and he'll be thinking about that lamb.
He wouldn't get mad. I've presented him with amazing dishes with lamb and if he knows he won't eat it. I think he had a bad experience or bad tasting lamb when he was younger. I like the half and half method!
Thanks Tasha for telling us more. Here, then, are two ideas...one, start with a ratio of less lamb than beef, say 1 to 3 or 1 to 4, so the lamb doesn't dominate at first, and he has some chance to get used to it. Another way to go (with this recipe or others) is to use lamb with spicing/flavors that you know he likes.
Not what you asked, but looking at this question, there are risks here to more than taste. When he finds out about the disguised food (whether he likes it or not), maybe many things will lost. Another way to go? Make a known delicious lamb recipe as part of a meal, let him try (or not) as he wishes. No matter his reaction, no tricks or disguises there.
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