Old-Fashioned Shepherd’s Pie
In this version of the long-time family favourite, shepherd’s pie, the ground lamb filling contains plenty of vegetables and red lentils, giving a rich flavour and texture. A generous serving of peas will make this old-fashioned meal even more nutritious.
Source: Cook Smart for a Healthy Heart, Reader’s Digest Canada
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 4servings | 15minutes | 55minutes |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4servings | 15minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 55minutes |
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 500 g lean ground lamb
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 3 carrots finely chopped
- 3 stalks celery thinly sliced
- 2 leeks thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/3 cups reduced-salt beef stock
- 1/2 cup split red lentils
- 3 tbsp parsley chopped
- sprigs parsley to garnish
- Potato and Parsnip Topping
- 500 g potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
- 500 g parsnips cut into chunks
- 1/3 cup low-fat milk
- 2 tbsp reduced-salt margarine
- pepper to taste
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Ingredients
Servings: servings
Units:
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- Heat the oil in a large heavy saucepan. Add the lamb and cook over a high heat, stirring well with a wooden spoon to break up the meat, for about 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Push the meat to one side of the pan and add the onion. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and lightly browned.
- Add the carrots, celery and leeks and stir well, then add the tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, stock and lentils. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Partially cover with a lid, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the meat mixture is cooking, preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC) and prepare the topping. Place the potato and parsnip chunks in a saucepan and pour over boiling water to cover by 5 cm. Bring back to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook for 15–20 minutes or until the potatoes and parsnips are very tender. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until hot.
- Drain the potatoes and parsnips well, and return them to the pan. Pour the hot milk over them, then mash them until they are completely smooth. Beat in the margarine and add pepper.
- Remove the meat mixture from the heat, add the chopped parsley and stir well. Spoon into a large ovenproof dish, about 2.5 litre capacity. Top with the mashed vegetables, spreading in an even layer. Bake shepherd's pie for 20 minutes or until bubbling and lightly browned. Serve hot, garnished with parsley sprigs.
Old-fashioned shepherd's pie variations: For a special occasion, you can replace the lamb with lean ground venison. Omit the leeks and stir 250 g fresh or frozen peas into the meat mixture after it has simmered for 15 minutes. In the topping, you can replace the parsnips with celeriac.
Per serving: 501 calories, 34 g protein, 23 g total fat, 8 g saturated fat, 74 mg cholesterol, 40 g total carbohydrate, 16 g sugars, 11 g fibre, 593 mg sodium
This well-balanced dish of lean meat, vegetables and pulses provides plenty of soluble fibre, mainly from the lentils but also from the parsnips, carrots and leeks. Soluble fibre controls levels of cholesterol and sugar in the blood. Carrots provide vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. Cooking carrots makes it easier for the body to absorb and use the beta carotene.
