Shepard's Pie- Dairy Free/ Slimming World Friendly

 My mam used to make Shepard's Pie nearly every week when I was younger. It was always a really filling meal and would warm you right up over winter months. Over the years I have been trying to make my version healthier every time I made it by omitting processed packets, gravy granules, extra salt and now by omitting dairy yet still having creamy mash on top.

Ingredients

(Serves 4 people or 2 really hungry people)

• 250g of under 5% lean mince(beef or lamb)
• 5 medium potatoes
• 2 beef stock cubes
• 500ml of boiling water
• 3 carrots
• 1 large onion
• 4 cloves of garlic
•  100g of frozen peas
• 100ml of unsweetened almond milk
• Pepper
• Dried mixed herbs
• Dried Parsley

Recipe

1. Chop vegetable up finely.
2. In a large pan fry mince until brown, add in onions and garlic and saute until soft.
3. At this stage add in dried herbs, these should be added in at the start as they need time to release flavor, if using fresh add in at the end.
4. Mix the stock cubes with 500ml of boiling water and add to the pot with carrots.
5. Bring to boil, turn to simmer to let the liquid reduce to thicker consistency.
6. Peel and chop potatoes to roughly the same size, bring to boil in a pot of water. Depending on size of potatoes this can take 15-30mins.
7. When the gravy mix has reduced to a thicker consistency remove from heat.
8. Drain potatoes, using a potato masher mash potatoes, add in almond milk a little at a time, too little and they will be dry, too much and the mash is ruined. Constantly taste test. I also add in pepper and parsley to add flavour.
9. Add in frozen peas for last 5 minutes of simmering
10. In a oven dish add in your mince mixture, once evenly spread out start to add mash on top.
11. Evenly smooth out mash, using a knife/fork along the top and create a design, I went with criss-cross design. By adding a design to the mash you are giving more of a surface area to get crispy. Pierce the mash all the way through in some areas to allow steam release. ( I forgot hence my hole)
12. Place is a preheated oven of 160 degrees for 30 mins.
13. Serve and enjoy!

On Slimming World this would be considered free on Extra Easy Plan