Receta Comfort Food: Southwest Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
To borrow a phrase from the lovely and talented Kelly Bakes, I often eat my feelings. Bad days are dealt with by gobbling down the most carbo-riffic food I can possibly get my hands on.
Most people turn to sweets to lift them out of a blue funk, but my go-to is mashed potatoes – I’m sure science will one day uncover the fact that potatoes are endowed with magical mood-lifting properties, because even when I’m having a day so rotten I can’t even bear to cook, everything gets better once I’ve cobbled together a bowl of lumpy, creamy, buttery mashed potatoes.
When I do have the energy to drag my butt into the kitchen to make something, though, nothing can compare to a piping hot plate of shepherd’s pie… that perfect trifecta of creamy mashed potatoes, hearty flavours and childhood nostalgia.
Mind you, the version I grew up with wasn’t much like the traditional British version with peas and carrots and gravy. We ate a uniquely French Canadian variation, a simple layered casserole made from ground beef seasoned with dried savoury, corn niblets, and mashed potatoes that’s better known as Pate Chinois.
(If you’ve ever taken French lessons, you’re probably scratching your head a little, since “pate chinois” literally means “Chinese pie”… which is a rather odd name for a dish that is un-Chinese in every possible way. While the origins of the name are hazy, one possible explanation according to Wikipedia is that it was named thusly by French-Canadian railway workers, who learned to make this dish from the Chinese cooks who prepared their meals. Sounds outlandish, but I suppose anything’s possible.)
That’s the recipe that helped me through many a failed university exam, broken heart, botched interview, bad workday and a hundred other crappy days. As much as I go back to it when I need a pick-me-up, though, it’s also nice to shake things up sometimes – especially now that I’ve gotten into the habit of cramming as many vegetables as possible into my meals.
That’s why I ended up concocting this Southwest-inspired version, with a saucy filling dotted with a colourful confetti of peppers and corn and tomatoes, and a smashed potato topping that gets a nutritious boost of fiber from the potato skins I leave on (mostly because I’m too lazy to peel potatoes). It’s all the heartwarming goodness of my childhood favourite, but just a little bit better for me.
Sure, it’s still topped with a layer of gooey melted cheese, but life’s all about balance.
And when it’s been a generally miserable kind of day, it still hits the spot, in the way that only a big piping hot plate of shepherd’s pie ever can.
Southwest Turkey Shepherd’s Pie
Author: Isabelle Boucher (Crumb)
Recipe type: Main
Prep time: 30 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 1 hour
Serves: 4
Shepherd’s pie gets a healthy makeover with a southwestern-inspired lean turkey filling chock-full of colourful vegetables and bold seasoning.
Ingredients
- Southwest Turkey Filling:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- ½ cup roughly diced green bell pepper
- ½ cup roughly diced red bell pepper
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 cups diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
- 1 cup frozen corn niblets, thawed
- Mashed Potato Topping:
- 2 lb russet potatoes, cut into ½” chunks
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
Instructions
In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan set over medium heat, saute onion and peppers in olive oil for about 10 minutes or until onion is soft and lightly golden. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper, and continue cooking for 2 minutes or until spices are fragrant.
Increase heat to medium high and add ground turkey. Cook for 5 minutes longer, breaking up the turkey with a wooden spoon, until well browned. Stir in tomato paste and chopped tomatoes and cook the filling for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomato juices have reduced down to a thick sauce. Remove from heat and stir in corn niblets. Spoon into a 9×9 baking dish, spreading into an even layer.
While the filling simmers, bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add potatoes and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the fork-tender. Drain, then mash with milk and butter. (I prefer my mash slightly lumpy, but by all means mash your potatoes into submission if you prefer a smoother texture.)
Spread the mashed potato over the meat mixture, swirling it around with the back of a spatula to give the surface a little texture. Bake in a 400°F oven for 20 minutes, then top with grated cheese and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and filling bubbles up around the edges.
3.2.1230
About the author
Isabelle Boucher
I'm a 30-something coffee-chugging, booty-shaking, bargain-shopping, cookbook-collecting, photo-snapping, trucker-swearing, farmers-market-loving self-taught cook with a Boy and two cats to feed.
Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.