Description
Hearty pumpkin shepherd’s pie blends rustic British comfort with autumnal American charm. Creamy mashed pumpkin tops savory ground lamb, creating a nourishing meal you’ll crave during chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup beef or vegetable broth
- 1 cup frozen peas or corn
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) to ensure optimal cooking temperature.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground meat over medium heat, thoroughly draining any excess fat.
- Introduce chopped aromatics including onion, garlic, carrot, and celery, sautéing until vegetables become tender and fragrant.
- Integrate pumpkin puree, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs (thyme and rosemary), seasoning with salt and pepper. Pour broth and allow mixture to reduce and thicken for 5-7 minutes.
- Fold in frozen peas or corn, then remove skillet from heat, transferring meat mixture to a baking dish.
- Create pumpkin potato topping by blending mashed potatoes with additional pumpkin puree, butter, milk, nutmeg, salt, and pepper until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Carefully spread potato mixture over meat filling, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until topping turns golden and filling becomes bubbly.
- Allow pie to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to help set and enhance flavor melding.
Notes
- Make the recipe gluten-free by using cornstarch or gluten-free flour to thicken the filling instead of traditional wheat-based thickeners.
- Swap ground beef or lamb with plant-based alternatives like lentils or mushrooms for a vegetarian version that maintains the hearty texture and flavor profile.
- Add extra depth to the pumpkin mashed potato topping by roasting garlic beforehand or incorporating grated parmesan cheese for a richer, more complex taste.
- Consider preparing this dish ahead of time and freezing before baking, which allows for convenient meal prep and preserves the fresh ingredients’ quality.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg