Beef & Cauli mash, Shepherds pie

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 25 Minutes
Cooking Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
(Carb Conscious)

Ingredients:

• 400 g beef mince
• 125 g streaky bacon, chopped
• 40 g butter
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 4 celery sticks, roughly chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 50 g tomato paste
• 250 ml good-quality beef stock
• 3 fresh thyme large sprigs, chopped
• 200 g button mushrooms, sliced
• 1 x 400 g can chopped tomatoes
• 3 fresh origanum large sprigs, chopped
• Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 cauliflower head, broken into florets
• 2 free-range egg yolks
• 100 g butter
• Ground nutmeg, to taste

Method:

1. Sautè the mince & bacon in the butter in a medium sized, heavy-based frying pan until golden brown. 
2. Once the mince has browned, remove it from the pan & add the onion and celery. Sautè the onion and celery in the fat until golden brown. Add the garlic and sautè until aromatic.
3. Return the mince to the pan, add the tomato paste and stir until a dark sediment collects on the base of the pan (this sediment gives the mince an amazing roasted flavour).
4. Add the beef stock, thyme, mushrooms and canned tomato and simmer over low hear for 1 hour. Add the origanum and season to taste.
5. Steam the cauliflower until very soft. Place the cauliflower in a food processor and purèe until smooth. While the blender is running, add the egg yolks.
6. Add the butter, one knob at a time, until it has melted and the mixture is smooth. Season with nutmeg to taste.
7. To assemble the cottage pie, fill a lasagne or pie dish with the mince & smooth the top. Top with cauliflower purèe and press the classic fork pattern into the top. Place it under the grill for 15 minutes until golden brown.

Credit: Taste Magazine