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Monday 22 June 2020

Minced/Ground Beef and Tomato Bake with Cauliflower Topping : Lower Carb


Growing up I can remember enjoying my Dear Mums Shepherds' Pie and Cottage Pie … we usually had them on a Monday using the minced up meat that was left over from the previous day's Sunday Roast Dinner. Back then, I nearly always got the title wrong, because of course what minced/ground meat you use determines whether it's a Shepherds Pie or a Cottage Pie!

As Chef Jamie Oliver says, in his article '10 things you didn’t know about shepherd’s pie'... No.1 is 'Let’s start with a fairly well-known one: there is a difference between “cottage pie” and “shepherd’s pie”, and it’s in the meat. Shepherd’s pie should only be named as such if it contains lamb, and “cottage” usually applies to one made with beef.' Of course there is also 'Shepherdless Pie' a popular vegetarian option!


Well, now there is a lower carb alternative to this popular dish. Have a look at Pascale Naessens' take on this dish, where cauliflower replaces the traditional mashed potato topping. A convenient and comforting all-in-one dinner, which can be enjoyed by all the family … or just the two of you! It's perfect for cooking in advance and freezes well, so you could make individual pies if you'd prefer!

Ingredients:

Serves 4 to 6
10g net carbs per serving
½ cauliflower
2/3 small yellow onions
2/3 carrots (not too large)
9 oz. (250g) cherry tomatoes
3 garlic cloves
14 oz. (400g) minced/ground beef
¼ cup (60ml) olive oil

Recipe instructions:
can be seen here


The humble onion is found in every kitchen, but its curative powers make it an important medicinal plant too. Like garlic, it is a member of the lily family. There can be no doubting the power of the juices contained in onions; anyone who has ever sliced one and shed a tear is only too aware that they hold something special. Quite apart from its medicinal properties the onion is simply delicious. It forms the basis of so many dishes - whether raw, sautéed, baked, steamed or boiled, that it would be difficult to imagine the cuisine of any country without it.
Read more about them here


There are many good recipes around the internet (to suit all tastes), which can so often be 'tweaked' a little to better suit you, and your families tastes. This blog brings a variety of recipe ideas/suggestions, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

As always, thank you for reading this post … it's been good to have your company... and do please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

All the best Jan

38 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Beef and tomato bake looks delicious! I will try this, thanks for sharing.
Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

Carla from The River said...

Yum! I always appreciate your recipes my friend.
Carla

Valerie-Jael said...

Tastes good whatever it's called! Valerie

Tom said...

...now this is something to try.

Sue said...

It was always shepherds pie in our house, whatever mince was used, and it's still my favourite comfort dish. Take care and have a very happy week, Sue xx

Elephant's Child said...

I hadn't heard of Shepherdess Pie and will have to add the name to my repetoire. Thank you.

Dewena said...

I didn't know that a Shepherd's Pie is only for lamb! I think the first recipe I ever tried from my red and white checked Better Homes & Gardens cookbook when I was married over 50 years ago was a pie like yours above but with an egg enriched mashed potato topping instead of your cauliflower.

We love onions and use them, garlic and shallots in everything but ice cream!

jesus alvarez said...

Excelentes y sugerentes imagenes, saludos y feliz semana.

DVArtist said...

This sounds so good. Except I can't get Mr. M. to eat cauliflower unless it is steamed. Maybe mashed potatoes on top.

Christine said...

This looks delicious!

sandy said...

sounds and looks good.

Debbie said...

oooooooh this looks and sounds so good!!!

Jeanie said...

Looks tasty, Jan! Thanks for the visits today!

Bill said...

Looks great!

Victor S E Moubarak said...

Will definitely try that. All the ingredients that we like.

God bless.

Chatty Crone said...

That looks soooooooooooooooooo good!

happyone said...

That sure sounds good!

Kaya said...

This pie looks delicious. And it seems that it's not complicated to make it.
I am going to try this recipe and I like that it has cherry tomatoes.
All the best to you from me.

My name is Erika. said...

I would never hve thought of using cauliflower as a topping. What a super idea.

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

This is just what I have been looking for! Thank you for another great dinner idea.

DeniseinVA said...

Looks wonderful Jan!

Louca por porcelana said...

Looks delicious!Hugs!

Conniecrafter said...

It sure looks interesting, hubby likes cauliflower so he might not mind the substitute

gloriadelpilar_1994@yahoo.com said...

This looks delicious !!

mamasmercantile said...

Love the idea of a cauliflower topping. Yummy!

George Pereira said...

Have to agree about the humble onion. I once lived on a small island and for a few weeks there was a shortage of onions which were imported. I still remember the dishes I tried to make without onions did not taste good.

roughterrain crane said...

Broccoli is more popular than cauliflower here, today. But I still love cauliflower.

Margaret D said...

I believe I saw that episode on YouTube, found it interesting.

Ygraine said...

Gosh, this looks SO delicious!!😊😊
I have never heard of "Shepherdess Pie"...I will definitely have to try that one someday. I am always on the lookout for more vegetarian meals...
Thank you for another fabulous post!

Have a great day...and stay safe!

Hugs xxx

Betsy Banks Adams said...

This recipe looks YUMMY..... Thanks... I made a copy!!!!

George and I eat a lot of Cauliflower dishes (mashed, riced, etc.).. We even had a Riced Cauliflower STUFFING --which was good. Cauliflower is so versatile and SO good for us...

Thanks again so much.
Hugs,
Betsy

Shari Burke said...

I did not know about the distinction between shepherd's and cottage pies until now. I wonder what it's called with turkey mince :-)

Hope you're having a nice day!

Lowcarb team member said...

Shari Burke said...
I did not know about the distinction between shepherd's and cottage pies until now. I wonder what it's called with turkey mince :-)

Hope you're having a nice day!

Hello Shari and many thanks for your comment …
I think that possibly your turkey mince version originated from the St Stephens Pie, read more below …

What’s really fun, is the variations on cottage pie that you see in British cuisine, and similar dishes worldwide.

A version of cottage pie, called St. Stephen’s day pie, is made with leftover Christmas turkey and ham to celebrate St. Stephen’s feast day on December 26.

Pate Chinois is a French Canadian version where you will find corn as the vegetable of choice in the meat filling.

You’ll find another variation of cottage pie in the coastal regions of Britain. Since seafood is abundant, their cottage pie becomes a fish pie.

And, if you top the potato crust of your traditional cottage pie with breadcrumbs and cheese, it becomes a Cumberland pie.

But really as long as we enjoy any version that's fine.

Read more here
https://www.curiouscuisiniere.com/cottage-pie/

Happy cooking and happy eating.

All the best Jan

carol l mckenna said...

Oh so yummy looking ~ ^_^

Be Safe, Be Well,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I like the idea of using cauliflower as the topping to Cottage Pie instead of potatoes! It will give it a new taste and fewer carbs.

Rose said...

I love onions...if I smell one, I am instantly hungry!

Phil Slade said...

Sue doesn't like cottage or shepherds pie, even with a glass of wine. So I have to make singles and then freeze the other. Win, win.

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Jan,
This looks great.
It's always a surprise to see the new lovely meals of you. So delicious.
And of course the way you photograph is very well.

Greetings, Marco

Martha said...

Very tasty!