• Home
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • EASY RECIPES
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • BY CUISINE
    • Asian Fusion
    • Chinese
    • Peranakan/Nyonya
    • CAMBODIA
    • LAOS
    • INDONESIAN
    • Indonesian Chinese
    • MALAYSIA
    • MYANMAR
    • SINGAPORE
    • Singapore Hawker Food
    • THAILAND
    • VIETNAM
  • BY COURSE
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • SOURDOUGH
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • BREAD & BUNS
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • CAKES/COOKIES/PASTRIES
    • Cakes
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Cookies
    • Kue/Kueh
    • No-Bake Dessert
  • DIETARY
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Cooking
    • Christmas Baking
What To Cook Today
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • Pantry
  • Shop
  • subscribe
  • Home
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • EASY RECIPES
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • BY CUISINE
    • Asian Fusion
    • Chinese
    • Peranakan/Nyonya
    • CAMBODIA
    • LAOS
    • INDONESIAN
    • Indonesian Chinese
    • MALAYSIA
    • MYANMAR
    • SINGAPORE
    • Singapore Hawker Food
    • THAILAND
    • VIETNAM
  • BY COURSE
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • INGREDIENTS
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • SOURDOUGH
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • BREAD & BUNS
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • CAKES/COOKIES/PASTRIES
    • Cakes
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Cookies
    • Kue/Kueh
    • No-Bake Dessert
  • DIETARY
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Cooking
    • Christmas Baking
What To Cook Today
What To Cook Today
  • Home
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • easy recipes
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • ingredients
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • sourdough
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • bread & buns
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • cakes/cookies/pastries
    • Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Cookies
    • No-Bake Dessert
    • Kue/Kueh
  • dietary
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Baking
    • Christmas Cooking

Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd’s Pie)

written by Marvellina Updated: April 29, 2020
9.4K
PIN RECIPE COMMENTS VIEW RECIPE RECIPE VIDEO
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Indonesian shepherd’s pie is a fusion of East and West flavors all in one dish. It is incredibly delicious and such great comfort food.
Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

Pastel tutup is what they call this shepeherd’s pie it in Indonesia. This dish is highly popular, especially among the Javanese community. This is quite different from the pastel ayam (Indonesian Empanadas). Pastel tutup has a stir-fried filling usually consists of ground meat, veggies, bean thread noodles (soun), wood ear mushrooms, seasonings, and spices, sandwiched in between layers of creamy mashed potatoes and then baked. Now you can see why it’s a marriage between the East and the West. It bears a lot of similarities with Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie. The difference is in the filling, which has been adapted to more Asian flavor.

Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

HOW TO MAKE PASTEL TUTUP

1. SOAK NOODLES AND WOOD-EAR MUSHROOMS
Soak the noodles and mushroom separately in warm water. The noodles will soften and the mushrooms will triple in size. Cut the mushrooms into strips and cut the noodles into shorter strands


1. COOK POTATOES
If you boil: Peel the potatoes and cut into smaller pieces. Boil them in a saucepan with water enough to cover the potatoes for about 10 minutes or so or until they are fork-tender. Drain off water and return it to the pot to let it dry off the extra liquid
If you choose to pressure cook: pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of Instant pot. Place a trivet and put the cut potatoes on top of it. Pressure cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. If you cut the potatoes smaller you may only need 3 minutes. The time depends on the size of the potatoes
2. MASH THE POTATOES
Mash the potatoes while they are still warm with butter, coconut milk, salt, pepper, and yolks until they are well-combined

3. COOK THE FILLING
Preheat a skillet/wok. When it’s hot. Add butter. It will melt

Add diced onion and stir fry until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes

Add the ground meat (if using, I used leftover chicken meat which I added towards the end later) and stir fry until they turn color and cooked through, about 3 minutes or so
Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour, mushrooms, noodles, edamame, carrots, corn, seasonings and spices and broth


Bring to a gentle simmer and then cover to let it slowly simmer for about 10 minutes. Uncover and add cooked chicken meat (if using)

The sauce has thickened slightly. Have a taste and adjust by adding more salt if necessary

4. ASSEMBLING
Preheat oven to 400 F (204 C). Use a 7 x 11 inch glass baking dish. Spread half of the mashed potato mixture on the bottom of the dish

Spread the filling evenly on top of it after that

Cover the filling with the rest of the mashed potato mixture starting from the edge to prevent the filling from bubbling up while baking. Smooth it with a rubber spatula

5. BAKE
Place the dish in the oven, third rack from the top and bake for about 25 minutes until the top just lightly golden brown

If you want a deeper golden brown, you can turn on the broiler (top heat) and broil it for few minutes until you are happy with the color, but watch it closely or it may create burn spots later

6. SERVE
Remove from the oven and let it cools down for 15 minutes before serving
Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

VARIATIONS

Veggies: you can use frozen mixed veggies for convenience. Make sure to thaw them and add them after you uncover the lid. You can pretty much use any vegetables and cut into small pieces, preferably ones that don’t have high water content.
Meat: you can use any type of ground meat or leftover meat like shredded or diced chicken meat, ham, or turkey
Meatless: you can use cubed extra-firm tofu or tempeh that you have pan-fried if you choose to
Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT LEFTOVER

STORE: Cover them with cling wrap and it can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, portion them into serving portions and wrap them individually in aluminum foils and then keep in a freezer bag for up to 2 months.
Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

DID YOU MAKE THIS PASTEL TUTUP RECIPE?

I love it when you guys snap a photo and tag to show me what you’ve made 🙂 Simply tag me @WhatToCookToday #WhatToCookToday on Instagram and I’ll be sure to stop by and take a peek for real!
Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Shepherd's Pie)

Prep Time 45 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Servings 8 servings
5 from 7 reviews
REVIEW & RATE PRINT

Ingredients

For mashed potatoes:

  • 800 gr Russet potatoes 1.7 lbs
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup coconut milk or use heavy cream
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground white pepper
  • 2 egg yolks

Filling:

  • 80 gr dried bean thread noodles 3 oz, soak in warm water
  • 30 gr wood ear mushrooms 1 oz, soak in warm water
  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 700 gr ground meat (chicken, turkey, beef,) I used about 350 gr leftover rotisserie chicken meat
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 80 gr diced carrots 3 oz
  • 80 gr peas or shelled edamame 3 oz

Seasoning and spices:

  • 1 ½ tsp salt or more to taste
  • ¼ tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp nutmeg powder
  • ¼ tsp coriander powder

Instructions
 

Cook the potatoes (boil or pressure cook):

  • Peel the potatoes and cut into smaller pieces. Boil them in a saucepan with water enough to cover the potatoes for about 10 minutes or so or until they are fork-tender. Drain off water and. If you choose the pressure cook, pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of Instant pot. Place a trivet and put the cut potatoes on top of it. Pressure cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. If you cut the potatoes smaller you may only need 3 minutes. The time depends on the size of the potatoes

Mash the potatoes:

  • Mash the potatoes while they are still warm with butter, coconut milk, salt, pepper, and yolks until they are well-combined

Prepare the filling:

  • Soak wood ear mushrooms and noodles separately in warm water until softened. The mushrooms wil double or triple in size. Cut into thin strips. Cut the noodles into shorter pieces, about 4-5 inches
  • Preheat a skillet/wok. When it's hot. Add butter. It will melt. Add diced onion and stir fry until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the ground meat and stir fry until they turn color and cooked through, about 3 minutes or so. Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour, mushrooms, noodles, seasonings and spices and broth. Bring to a gentle simmer and then cover to let it slowly simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the mixed veggies and give it a stir. The sauce has thickened slightly. Have a taste and adjust by adding more salt if necessary

Assembling the pastel tutup:

  • Preheat oven to 400 F (204 C). Use a 7 x 11 inch glass baking dish. Spread half of the mashed potato mixture on the bottom of the dish. Spread the filling evenly on top of it after that. Cover the filling with the rest of the mashed potato mixture starting from the edge to prevent the filling from bubbling up while baking. Smooth it with a rubber spatula

Baking:

  • Place the dish in the oven, third rack from the top and bake for about 25 minutes until the top just lightly golden brown. If you want a deeper golden brown, you can turn on the broiler (top heat) and broil it for few minutes until you are happy with the color, but watch it closely or it may create burn spots later

Serving:

  • Remove from the oven and let it cools down for 15 minutes before serving
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how you like this recipe and consider rating it! Tag me @whattocooktoday I'd love to see your photos/videos on Instagram

previous post
How To Make The Best Beer-Battered Fish and Chips
next post
Laksa Ayam Betawi (Jakarta Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup)

8 comments

Rhina April 13, 2023 - 9:54 am

Hi, once i did this recipe, it became my fav. it reminds me of my fav childhood meal back in Indonesia. your website is helpful. cheers from Sweden!

Reply
Marvellina April 13, 2023 - 8:51 pm

Hi Rhina, happy to know that you enjoyed this 🙂 and thank you for trying and for letting me know! Cheers!

Reply
Kathrin January 24, 2023 - 4:20 am

Hi Marv,
It’s super yummy! I’ve made it four times already 😃. I added a layer of sliced hard boiled eggs and sprinkled the surface with grated cheese. Thanks for sharing 😊

Reply
Marvellina January 24, 2023 - 3:50 pm

Hi Kathrin, yay!! I’m happy you like it! I bet it’s even more delicious with a layer of the sliced eggs and cheese!

Reply
Ratna April 10, 2020 - 6:03 pm

Hi Ronny,
They might craziest combination of the ingredients, but they are yummy for us (Indonesian) and hope you will like them too!
If you think coconut milk in the potatoes is crazy, you try this Indonesian Mud Cake and I am sure you will like it 😉
https://www.dianandariskia.com/2015/11/indonesian-mud-cake.html

Hi Marv,
Thank you for sharing a beautiful and yummy home cook! I hope you don’t mind I share someone else’s blog here just to show Ronny how beautiful mashed potatoes combined with the coconut milk 🙂
Thanks heaps.

Reply
Marv April 11, 2020 - 9:27 pm

Thank you Ratna, no I don’t mind the sharing 🙂 I love Indo mud cake too 🙂

Reply
Ronny April 3, 2020 - 6:58 am

While popular in Indonesia, this has to be the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of! Rice noodles with mashed potatoes? Coconut milk in the potatoes? Btw, subbing coconut milk in place of dairy is surprisingly awesome, e.g. your creamy wild rice soup.

What I’m saying is that I gotta make this and will report back haha!

Reply
Marv April 3, 2020 - 8:33 pm

Ha..ha..I know right? mung bean noodles (bean thread noodles) with mashed potatoes are not very common or popular combinations (if at all) 🙂 surprisingly common in Indonesia though LOL! (we eat weird stuff for sure!). It’s easy for me to say it’s delicious, but for others who have not have this sort of combination before, it would be interesting to see what you think.

Reply
5 from 7 votes (5 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Please feel free to ask questions here or leave your comments and ratings if you have tried the recipe! Your Email address will not be published!




Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello! I'm Marvellina!

I’m passionate about food—especially bold, comforting Asian flavors—and I love sharing approachable recipes and creative bakes with an Asian twist. So glad you’re here! LEARN MORE...

Our Favorites

  • How To Make Soft and Fluffy Pandan Chiffon Cake (Complete Guide)

  • How to Make Basic Asian Rice Porridge (Congee)

  • Zha Jiang Mian (炸酱面) (Chinese Fried Sauce Noodles)

  • Easy Hokkien Bak Chang (Zongzi-Sticky Rice Dumplings)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

©2025 - What To Cook Today. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy & Disclosure Policy


Back To Top
  • Home
  • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • SHOP
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • RECIPE INDEX
  • easy recipes
    • Easy Dinner
    • One-pot
    • Instant Pot
  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dim Sum
    • Main Course
    • Soups/Stews
    • Salad
    • Sides
    • Condiments
    • Snacks
    • Desserts
  • ingredients
    • Rice & Grains
    • Noodles
    • Eggs
    • Tofu & Tempeh
    • Poultry
    • Red Meats
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • sourdough
    • Sourdough Bread Recipes
    • Recipes Using Sourdough Discard
  • bread & buns
    • Steamed Buns
    • Bread with Yeast
    • No-Knead Bread
    • Quick Bread
  • cakes/cookies/pastries
    • Cakes
    • Pastries
    • Chiffon Cakes
    • Sponge Cakes
    • Cookies
    • No-Bake Dessert
    • Kue/Kueh
  • dietary
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegan
    • VEGETARIAN
    • CONFINEMENT
  • celebrate
    • Chinese New Year
    • Easter
    • Hari Raya
    • Dragon Boat Festival
    • Mooncake Festival
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter Solstice
    • Christmas Baking
    • Christmas Cooking

Let me know how you like the recipe and consider rating it!

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.