Beef Shepherds Pie Cauliflower Mash (Printable Version)
A comforting blend of beef, vegetables, and creamy cauliflower mash topping in a hearty bake.
# What You Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
07 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
08 - 1 cup beef broth
09 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
12 - 1 cup frozen peas
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Cauliflower Mash Topping
14 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 - ¼ cup milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
17 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - Salt and white pepper, to taste
→ Optional Garnish
19 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
03 - Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Incorporate ground beef, breaking it up, and cook until browned, about 6 to 8 minutes.
04 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Mix in frozen peas and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
06 - Steam or boil cauliflower florets until tender, about 10 to 12 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
07 - Blend cauliflower with butter, milk, Parmesan, salt, and white pepper using a food processor or potato masher until smooth and creamy.
08 - Spread beef mixture evenly in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with cauliflower mash, smoothing with a spatula and creating decorative swirls if desired.
09 - Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until topping is lightly golden and filling is bubbling.
10 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It tastes indulgent and cozy while keeping you satisfied without the post-meal heaviness.
- The cauliflower mash is so creamy and flavorful that even skeptics forget it's not potatoes.
- Gluten-free, low-carb, and ready in just over an hour, making it perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
02 -
- Don't skip draining your cauliflower well after cooking; excess moisture will make your mash watery and ruin the texture.
- The cauliflower mash needs to be smooth and creamy, not chunky; a food processor makes this foolproof, but a potato masher works if you're patient and thorough.
- Taste the beef filling before it goes in the oven; seasoning fixes now are much easier than trying to fix a bland pie at the table.
03 -
- Make the filling a day ahead and store it in the fridge; the flavors will deepen overnight, and assembly becomes even faster.
- For a crowd-pleasing version that works for many diets, this is naturally gluten-free and low-carb, so mention it to guests who are watching their intake.