Lightened Shepherd’s Pie
Makes 8 servings Start to finish: 60 minutes
TOPPING
1 pound (16 ounces) frozen small cauliflower florets, about 5 or 6 cups
1¼ cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic
1 ounce cream cheese
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup shredded Gruyère or cheddar cheese
FILLING
1 slice bacon, chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup chopped celery, about 2 stalks
1 cup chopped onion, about 1 medium onion
8 ounces finely chopped white mushrooms, about
2½ cups 4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound 90 percent lean ground beef
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
1½ cups chopped frozen spinach
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup ale or beer 1½ cup beef broth
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions:
Make the topping: Place the frozen cauliflower florets, broth and garlic together in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and let simmer until the cauliflower is very tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Pour everything into a blender and add the cream cheese and salt. Blend on low until very smooth, about 2 minutes, stopping to stir as needed. Set the cauliflower purée aside.
Meanwhile, make the filling: Cook the bacon in the olive oil in a large oven-safe sauté pan over medium heat. Once crisp, remove bacon from the pan and reserve, keeping any fat in the pan. Add the teaspoon of olive oil and the onion and celery. Cook over medium heat until vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Scoot the onion and celery a little to side in the skillet and add the mushrooms to cook them in the center of the pan.
Once the mushrooms are tender, about 5 minutes, add the minced garlic and stir all the vegetables together. Scoot them again to the side and brown the ground beef, stirring, in the center of the pan, about 8 minutes. Add the frozen peas, carrots and spinach (no need to thaw), and reserved bacon. Stir the meat and veggies together.
Add the tomato paste and flour and stir, cooking for a minute or two. Increase the temperature to medium high, and add the ale or beer, allowing to bubble for a minute. Add the beef broth and let simmer a minute or two while the sauce thickens. (If the filling is too dry, add ½ cup water.) Spread the cauliflower purée over the filling, top with the shredded cheese and bake until shepherd’s pie is heated and cheese is bubbling, 10-15 minutes if everything is still warm. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition information per serving: 208 calories; 64 calories from fat; 7 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 43 mg cholesterol; 508 mg sodium; 16 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 19 g protein.