Shepherd's Pie with Cauliflower Topping

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 2-3 quart casserole dish and set aside.
2. In a large pot, steam or boil cauliflower until tender.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons of fat in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, carrots and garlic and cook until beginning to soften, around 5 minutes.
4. Add the ground meat (lamb or beef) to the pan and cook until browned. Add beef broth as necessary to keep the mixture wet. Add the ketchup or tomato paste (if using), parsley and season with salt and pepper. Let simmer while you prepare the cauliflower topping.
5. To make the topping, drain the cooked cauliflower. Mash or puree with a stick blender until smooth. Add two tablespoons of fat and season with salt and pepper.
6. To assemble, spread the meat mixture on the bottom of the dish. Top with the cauliflower mixture and smooth with a spoon. Cover with shredded cheese if using.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is brown and bubbly. Serve warm.

Do you have a head of cauliflower that needs to be used?

Maybe you just love ground lamb (or beef)? This recipe is a great take on a traditional recipe that changes up the use of potatoes and creates a unique recipe that changes some ingredients but gives you the same great tastes and texture that you look for in a traditional Shepherds Pie!

Cauliflower has gained popularity over the last 20 years and is easy to find at your local farmer's markets or wherever you get your vegetables. Everyone seems to be getting creative, and cauliflower is used across multiple different genres of food now and the great thing is it's good for you! Take a seemingly "boring" veggie and turn it into a flavour bomb of deliciousness.

This recipe is similar to a classic Shepherd’s Pie 

Just with the potatoes swapped for cauliflower. You can add cheese on the top, but you can leave it off, too. If you’re on the fence, though, definitely leave it on- it’s awesome, and extra sharp cheddar is recommended.

Cooler weather is approaching! 

It's the perfect meal for fall!

Note: 

You will see the term "GAPS" used in the ingredients, which is a style of diet. Below is a little bit of info about what the diet is.

What is a GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet?

Most of the foods on the GAPS diet consist of eggs, fish, meats, veggies and fermented foods. Followers are discouraged from over-indulging in baked goods, even from nut flours and fruits, because the thought is that it can be detrimental to the gut's healing process.

Original recipe by Oven Love Blog