Cottage Pie With A Twist

Cottage pie is definitely a favourite family dinner - and my kids & Chris say this version is even BETTER than the original Cottage Pie! The “potato topping” is a combo of potato, sweet potato and cauliflower. And inside the meaty part are juicy little bits of mixed fruit and spices!

Ingredients

MEAT SECTION

• 90ml olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
• 1 onion, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1kg minced beef
• 2 tsp fennel seeds
• 3 tsp ground allspice
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 3 tbsp curry powder
• 100g dried mixed fruit
• 500ml chicken bone broth (or stock)
• 1 cup baby spinach

TOPPING SECTION

• 250g potato
• 250g sweet potato
• 250g cauliflower

Instructions:

1. In a large, heavy-based pan for which you have a lid, heat three tablespoons of oil on medium-high heat, then saute the garlic and onion for about five minutes, stirring often, until soft and golden.
2. Turn up the heat to high, then add the beef, fennel, spices, curry powder, lemon juice and half a teaspoon of salt.
3. Fry for five minutes or so, stirring every now and then, until browned all over, then add the tomato paste and half the dried fruit.
4. Fry for two minutes more, then add the broth/stock, turn down the heat to medium, cover and leave to simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Once cooked, set aside the meat to cool, then stir in the remaining dried fruit and spinach, and spoon the stew into a 20cm x 25cm high-sided ovenproof dish and refrigerate for at least half an hour.
6. This will firm it up, making it easier to spread the mash on top.
7. Heat the oven to 180C.
8. Boil the sweet potato, potato and cauliflower until soft, then mash until smooth.
9. Spread the top mix evenly over the top of the beef, then make shallow dips here and there on the surface of the mash with the back of a tablespoon.
10. Drizzle over the remaining tablespoon of oil and bake for 30 minutes, until nicely coloured and bubbling.
11. Leave to rest for 10 minutes, then serve.

Approved for: Adrenal Diet, Gluten-Free

Filipa Bellette is Co-Founder of Chris & Filly Functional Medicine. She is an accredited Clinical Nutritionist & Functional Medicine Practitioner. She is also a Ph.D. thought-leader, award-winning writer, and regularly published as a guest blogger & in the media. Together with her husband Chris Bellette, Filipa has worked with over 2,000+ busy, burnout clients in the last 10+ years, and specialises in producing healthy, balanced, and happy Mums & Dads…or as she calls it, a Power Parent! Filipa’s own passion for producing high-performance Power Parents came from her own personal experience of Mummy Burnout, after having babies and juggling the demands of business, family, and her failing health.