My inspiration for this dish came from some new spices I’ve been trying from McCormick’s new line of roasted spices that were given to us as we left the party the last night of BlogHer Food. The Roasted Cumin was so toasty good that I have been looking for more ways to use it and to try the Roasted Coriander. The recipe for a shepherd’s pie on the McCormick site called for lamb, whiskey, and smashing half the chickpeas into the mashed potato topping. I don’t normally have whiskey, the kids aren’t too keen on lamb and mashed potatoes are sacred and are not to be messed with or adulterated with weird stuff. So here’s my adaptation which pleased the family who cleaned that casserole completely in a very short time.
Shepherd’s Pie
4 cups of mashed potatoes using your favorite recipe
2 lbs of ground beef
1 can chickpeas
2-3 TBS dried chopped onion ( we have one celiac who can’t eat or smell or be near raw onion, but doesn’t mind dried, you can use a real onion and just cook with the meat until translucent)
2 tsp Roasted Ground Cumin
1 tsp Roasted Ground Coriander
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
1 1/8 cup beef broth
1 TBS cornstarch
2 cups of mixed frozen vegetables(corn, peas, carrots, green beans)
Brown ground beef, drain and then add the onion and spices.
Stir in vinegar. Blend cornstarch and broth and add to meat mixture stirring well, then add vegetables and chickpeas.
Pour mixture into the bottom of a casserole dish then spread mashed potatoes over the top.
Bake in a 400 oven for 20 minutes. If the top isn’t browning, you may need to use the broiler. I did.
Serves 8 or 4 depending on appetites and side dishes.
The youngest doesn’t like cumin and complains when I cook with it. The Roasted Cumin didn’t bother her at all. It does have a mellower, toasty flavor without the sharpness or slight bitterness cumin can sometimes have. The chickpeas in the meat were a big hit and everyone agreed this was a much better shepherd’s pie with them included. It will be on the menu rotation for the cold months ahead.
This post is part of the Gluten-Free Homemaker’s Gluten-Free Wednesdays. Visit Linda for more gluten-free ideas.
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