Shepherd’s Pie

INGREDIENTS

• 3-4 potatoes (or sweet potatoes)
• 1 lb ground meat

  OR

• 1 package Vegetarian crumbles
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 packet gravy mix
• 2 cans mixed vegetables
• Oil
• Salt and pepper

PREPARE INGREDIENTS

1. Wash, peel and quarter the potatoes (If you like potato skins in your mashed potatoes, feel free to skip the peeling.)
2. Peel and dice the yellow onion
3. Peel and chop 2 cloves of garlic (or more to your taste)
4. Open and drain the 2 cans of mixed vegetables
5. Make the gravy according to the package instructions.  If you don’t have a whisk, stirring with a fork is fine.  When done, set aside.
6. Preheat your oven to 375 F

MAKE THE SHEPHERD’S PIE

1. In a large pot, boil water for the potatoes. Once boiling, add the potatoes and cook until soft – roughly 20 minutes depending on the size of the pieces. Use a fork to test if they are soft.  Once the potatoes are done, strain them, put back in the pot, and set aside.
2. While the potatoes are boiling, heat a large pan or skillet on the stove. Add oil and heat the pan on medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and onions, cooking until soft. Add salt and pepper and any other spices you like.
3. Add the ground meat or vegetarian crumbles to the pan with the onions and garlic.

• • If using ground meat, cook until there is no pink remaining. Drain the fat from the pan when cooked through.
  • If using vegetarian crumbles, cook until warmed. You may need to add water if it seems too dry.

4. Add the mixed vegetables and the gravy. Stir well. Turn off the heat.
5. Using a food processor, handheld potato masher or a fork (and some elbow grease), mash the potatoes. For softer potatoes, add water, milk or broth.  Salt and pepper to taste.
6. Transfer the filling mixture into an oven-safe casserole dish / baking pan. Spoon the mashed potatoes across the top in an even layer. If you feel like you have too many mashed potatoes, save them for a side dish for another meal.
7. Bake the shepherd’s pie for 30 – 40 minutes. Watch the potato topping for browning to determine when the dish is finished.
8. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 – 10 minutes. Serve.

CARROT TIPS

• Beef, lamb, turkey, ground chicken and even tofu make great fillings for this dish.
• When adding the gravy to the mixture, add BBQ sauce, hot sauce, or any other sauce you like.
• Use any fresh vegetables you love to boost this dish further – mushrooms, parsnips, turnips, carrots and rutabagas are great winter options. Just make sure to cook any hard vegetables before adding to the meat mixture.
• You can add cheese to the top of the shephards pie for the last 5 minutes of baking.

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