Absolutely Delicious Classic Shepherd’s Pie

I like to have my dinners planned out at the start of the week, but sometimes I find something extra special at the grocery store that I want to make right away. 

That’s what happened this week. I was shopping in the meat section when I found several packages of ground lamb pretty reasonably priced. I’ve never seen ground lamb there before so I immediately scooped up three pounds, knowing exactly what I would make with it: shepherd’s pie!

What’s the difference between cottage pie & shepherd’s pie?

I’ve made cottage pie in the past, but never shepherd’s pie. Cottage pie is made exactly the same way as shepherd’s pie except with ground beef instead of lamb. Well, here was my chance to finally make this classic English dish.

I love when I can make tasty food that is also good for my family. The savory lamb and homemade mashed potatoes are the perfect combination of protein and carbs for my two teenage boys. Like my husband John when he was their age, they have a little difficulty gaining weight.

Since they’ve been working out for about a year now, they’re burning calories even faster. We may not need the extra carbs, but growing and exercising teenage boys certainly do. This is the ideal dish for them.

So here we have one happy mom. I get to make a dish I’ve always wanted to, and I get to feed the hungry cubs. Oh, and did I mention John’s mom was English? He loves shepherd’s pie.

Wow, I hit a home run today. Everybody was happy!

When I contemplated out loud substituting mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes, I got a unanimous request from my kids to please make mashed potatoes. So mashed organic potatoes it was.

Many consider potatoes paleo, read here. But since white potatoes are considered nightshades, if you’re sensitive to these you may want to substitute mashed cauliflower.

Is it necessary to buy organic potatoes?

When buying potatoes, I always buy organic as potatoes are listed as one of the dirty dozen, frequently found to be contaminated with toxic insecticides.

Of course, if you’re trying to watch your waistline, you may not want to eat potatoes as they’re a high glycemic index vegetable. After a good workout, though, there’s no harm in a moderate serving of mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

For Your Homemade Mashed Potato Topping

• potatoes
• coconut milk 
• butter
• salt and pepper

For Your Meat

• coconut oil
• onion
• carrot
• garlic
• ground lamb

For Your Gravy

• tomato paste
• Red Boat *see recipe note
• chicken stock
• a dash of nutmeg
• and parsley for garnish

Instructions

*Free printable recipe card is available at the end of the post.

First, I whipped the potatoes in the food processor with coconut milk, butter, salt, and pepper. Yum. They are sooo creamy.

To cook your lamb, heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and carrot and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Then add garlic and cook for another minute.

Now add the ground lamb and stir over medium heat, breaking up the meat with a spatula while it browns for 5 more minutes. Then drain the lamb mixture.

I had a pot of homemade chicken soup in my fridge so I used a cup of the broth. You can use gluten free stock. Pour that into the skillet and add the Red Boat sauce, tomato paste, salt, and nutmeg. Then, simmer until slightly thickened for 5 minutes.

Transfer to a casserole dish. Top with your fluffy mashed potatoes. Dot with 2 tablespoons of butter on top of the potatoes. And bake for 40-50 minutes until golden. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

Pro tips and recipe notes

• If you prefer, you can use extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil instead of coconut oil.
• For the coconut milk I use in this recipe, I recommend Native Forest that is organic, certified gluten-free, and canned with non-BPA packaging. Native Forest doesn’t add any extra sugar or sweeteners, just pure coconut goodness. There is also a “light” variety that should also work beautifully with this recipe.
• If dairy agrees with you, milk can be used instead of coconut milk.
• Many shepherd’s pie recipes call for Worcester sauce which I switched out for Red Boat. All of Red Boat’s products are gluten-free as they do not contain wheat or wheat by-products and are produced in a gluten free facility. The ingredients are quite simple: just anchovy and sea salt.

What sides go with this?

Your shepherd’s pie casserole could be a complete meal on it’s own. I suggest just serving it with a side salad or this delicious sautéed broccoli.

There you go. Hearty and flavorful shepherd’s pie is the perfect comfort food for the cooler nights ahead. The rich ground lamb covered in a heavenly blanket of golden-brown mashed potatoes is sure to get a thumbs up from your family. And we all love that, right? 🙂

More comfort food recipes

Slow Cooker Pork Osso Buco – This is super easy to make in your slow cooker, and the meat is so tender and juicy, that it literally falls right off the bone.

Amazing Slow Cooker Pot Roast You’ve Got To Try – Tender, succulent seasoned-just-right slow cooker pot roast in its own rich gravy is amazing. Not only is this simple to prepare, but you’re sure to get two thumbs up from everyone at the table.

Chicken And Peppers: Olive Oil And Garlic Style – This low carb chicken and peppers: olive oil and garlic style is as nourishing as it is delicious. 

Super Low Carb Cottage Pie With Cauliflower Mash – This is a low-carb version of cottage pie, replacing the usual mashed potato topping with cauliflower. The result? Absolutely mouthwatering.

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5 from 1 vote

Absolutely Delicious Classic Shepherd's Pie

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The best paleo shepherd's pie with the healthiest ingredients. Your whole family is going to love this absolutely delicious classic shepherd's pie.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 398kcal

Author Barbara Bianchi

Ingredients

• 6-7 large potatoes peeled and quartered
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 5 tablespoons butter divided
• 3 teaspoons salt divided
• dash of pepper
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 onion minced
• 1 carrot diced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 3 pounds ground lamb
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Red Boat
• 1 cup chicken stock
• dash of nutmeg
• parsley

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400℉.
• Steam potatoes for 20 minutes. Drain and place in the bowl of your food processor fitted with the large chopping blade. Add coconut milk, 2 tblsp. butter, 2 tsps. of salt and a dash of pepper. Process until fluffy and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion and carrot and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add ground lamb and stir over a medium heat, breaking up meat with a spatula for 5 more minutes.

  Drain lamb mixture. Pour in stock, Red boat, and add tomato paste, 1 teaspoon of salt, and nutmeg. Stir. Simmer until thickened for 5 minutes.

  Spoon into a 2 quart casserole dish. Spoon the mashed potatoes around the top. Dot the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter around the potatoes.

  Bake for 40-50 minutes. Ovens may vary so check after 40 minutes and bake until the casserole is done to your liking.

Notes

• I used coconut oil, but you can use extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil if you prefer
• For the coconut milk I use in this recipe, I recommend Native Forest that is organic, certified gluten-free, and canned with non-BPA packaging. Native Forest doesn’t add any extra sugar or sweeteners, just pure coconut goodness. There is also a “light” variety that should also work beautifully with this recipe.
• If dairy agrees with you, milk can be used instead of coconut milk.
• Many shepherd's pie recipes call for Worcester sauce which I switched out for Red Boat. All of Red Boat’s products are gluten-free as they do not contain wheat or wheat by-products and are produced in a gluten free facility. The ingredients are quite simple: just anchovy and sea salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcal

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