Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower Mash
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 500 g (1 lb 2 oz.) lean minced (ground) lamb, organic if possible
- 2 anchovies, chopped
- 1/2 x 400 g (14 oz.) tin chopped tomatoes (sugar and additive free)
- 125 ml (4 fl oz./1/2 cup) tomato passata (puréed tomato)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt & ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid stevia (optional)
Cauliflower mash
- 1 cauliflower cut into florets
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, or organic butter (if tolerated)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan.
Add the onion, garlic and celery and sauté over medium–low heat for 8–10 minutes, or until the onion is golden brown.
Add the lamb and anchovies and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring often to break up any lumps in the meat.
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, passata, salt and pepper, then cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes.
If there is excess liquid in the pan, turn the heat up and simmer, uncovered, for a few minutes more.
Stir in the stevia, if using. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 220ºC (425ºF/Gas 7) and make the cauliflower mash.
Put the florets in a steamer over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, covered, until tender — the florets can be verging on soft, but shouldn’t be falling apart.
Transfer the cauliflower to a blender or food processor and add the olive oil, yeast flakes, a pinch of sea salt and a few grinds of black pepper.
Blend until smooth.
Transfer the cooked lamb mixture to an 18 cm (7 inch) square baking dish and level the surface. Gently spoon the cauliflower mash over the top, scraping a fork across the surface to create little trenches in the mash.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the mash has a crispy top.
This is delicious. Love it. I add a parsnip to my cauliflower mash and it just adds a lovely flavour, a bit of sweetness. Being English originally, I have to add worchestshire sauce to my sheperds pie, must read the label and see what’s actually it in.
The parsnip idea is a really good one 🙂
Do you think I could use other meats in this pie instead of lamb? Like beef, pork or chicken? Thanks
Yes definitely
just had this for tea, it was fab, added peas to sweet potato mash as i had no cauliflower , really tasty , thank you Lee
My pleasure! x
Hi Lee,
This recipe was a hit with all the family, including my son who doesn’t eat “healthy” foods!
How fantastic! Thanks for reporting back x Lee
Can you leave out the yeast flakes?
Yes you can 🙂
Hi
Can you tell me what the purpose of the yeast flakes is please
cheers
They are rich in B vitamins and give it a cheesy nutty flavour without the need for dairy. Lee 🙂
This is delicious!! I actually much prefer it to using potatoes! And I looove the nutritional yeast flakes.
Thanks, Lee.
Great! Lee