Shepherd's Pie
Made Ashton’s favourite for dinner tonight; Shepherd’s Pie or “Eps Pie” as he calls it. My version is really just a glorified bowl of meat and 7 veg but it’s a crowd pleaser every time it’s served. You can easily make this a vegetarian or vegan meal using the swaps I’ve mentioned or omit the pumpkin and cauli mash and sub in potatoes for a more traditional take.
You’ll need:
3 Tbsp cooking fat, I use beef tallow. Use coconut oil for vegetarian/vegan
500g finely chopped veggies (I generally use a combo of onion, carrot and celery. Mushrooms and zucchini are good here too)
500g mince (lamb for traditional but beef is good too) Use 200g raw red lentils for vegetarian/vegan
2C broth, I use lamb but beef or chicken would also work. Use salt reduced vegetable stock as an alternative.
1C finely chopped spinach
3/4C frozen peas
Optional: 1-2 Tbsp coconut aminos or tamari
Optional nutritional supercharge: 2 Tbsp chicken pate or 1 frozen chicken liver, finely grated
Pumpkin and Cauli Mash
1kg peeled and chopped pumpkin
1/2 head chopped cauliflower
3Tbsp cooking fat
Salt, to taste
Preheat oven to 180C
Half fill a large pot with water and set on high heat to boil. Once the water is boiling add the pumpkin and cauliflower and cook until soft, about 10min. Drain and set aside.
On medium heat sauté the chopped veggies in the fat for about 10min. Don’t rush this step, the browning of the veg here is important in building layers of flavour.
Add mince, breaking up with the back of your spoon as you go. Saute for about 10min or until all brown.
Add broth and simmer for about 15min or until the liquid has reduced by half.
Add spinach and peas. Stir through and take off the heat. Optional: add 1-2 Tbsp coconut aminos or tamari here. Also add the pate or liver, if using.
Mash the pumpkin and cauliflower with fat and salt. Or process in food processor until smooth.
Spoon the pumpkin and cauli mash over the mince mixture and use the back of a spoon to spread evenly.
Bake in the oven for 30min or until the top is starting to brown you can skip this step and eat it all as is, but if you have the time cooking it in the oven does add to the flavour).
