True Comfort Food ~ Gluten-Free Shepherd's Pie

It is very cool today in Sacramento, after having a full weekend of triple digit weather again; I don't know about you, but 84 degrees feels like heaven.  So now I can finally truly utilize my oven.  I am able to heat up the kitchen (guilt-free) as well as the rest of the house.  I was feeling like making a chicken pot pie today, but my 12 year old daughter, Autumn requested shepherd's pie instead.  I love to cook for my family and so I will always try to honor their requests whenever possible.  As for the chicken pot pie, it will have to wait until later in the week.

Shepherd's Pie is another one of our go to comfort foods.  It's great because it is realitively inexpensive, you can dress it up if you'd like, and it is not all that time consuming once all of the pieces of your shepherd's pie are created.  Again it is a nice meal, all in one dish, and I can place it in the oven while I work on homework with Autumn.  Now don't forget, I always have to add a little Puerto Rican spin on this, but it is guaranteed to satisfy all those who consume it.  All of the layers of the shepherd's pie can be made on different days and then put together at the last minute. 

The first layer is bread stuffing.  Since I don't have the benefit of Stove Top Stuffing (since it is not gluten-free), no offense but given the choice I still would not use it; I had to create my own stuffing.  It really is not all that difficult.  I took a loaf of store bought gluten-free bread and added all of the fine details to it to make it a stuffing.  It is all in the seasonings and flavor.  So I added lots of fresh crushed garlic and a large onion to a saute pan with olive oil.  Saute until translucent and add your celery and fresh herbs.  Add chicken broth and butter and bake.

The meat and veggie mixture is the next layer.  All this, is ground meat, onion, garlic, carrots, and peas.  You could use any veggies that you have on hand.  We love to use root veggies like parsnips that are so yummy and have a nice peppery flavor up against the sweet flavor of the carrots. 

A pot of homemade mashed potatoes, place it in the oven to bake for about 30 minutes and WA-LA!  You have Shepherd's Pie.

Shepherd's Pie

1lb. ground meat

1 large onion, chopped

1/2 head of garlic, minced

Fresh thyme to taste (2 to 3 sprigs)

Fresh sage to taste ( 4 to 6 leaves)

Fresh parsley, minced, to taste ( 1 tablespoon)

salt and pepper to taste

4 carrots, finely chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

1/2 lb. petite peas

olive oil

2 cups broth
2 tablespoons butter

gluten-free bread stuffing (see recipe)

mashed potatoes (see recipe)

gluten-free gravy (see recipe)

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil.  Once they are translucent, then add your ground meat.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Once the meat is cooked add in the chopped carrots.  Saute until carrots are slightly tender.  Add in chopped celery and continue to saute for a few minutes.  Add in frozen peas.  Add in 2 cups of broth.  Stir and bring to a high simmer. 
For Gravy:  While meat and veggie mixture are simmering make a slurry (1 tablespoon of conrstarch completely dissolved in 1 cup of water).  Once the meat and veggie mixture have reached a high simmer slowly add in the slurry and stir.  This will thicken up your sauce to make it a nice thin gravy.  Put this mixture to the side.

For Mashed Potatoes: 

6 potatoes

4 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup warmed milk

salt and pepper to taste

Peel 6 large potatoes, and chop into bite sized chunks.  Place all chopped potatoes in salted water so that they won't turn red or brown.  Put large pot of water on the stove to boil.  Once water is boiling add the potatoes.  Allow to slow boil for about 20 minutes or potato chunks are fork tender.  Drain and mash.  Add 4 tablesppons of butter, salt and pepper to taste, and about 1/4 cup if warmed milk.  Stir to combine and put to the side.

For Gluten-Free Bread Stuffing:

1 loaf of your favorite gluten-free bread, chopped into cubes

(I used Whole Foods Gluten-Free Prairie Bread)

1 large onion

1/2 head of garlic    

fresh thyme to taste (2 to 3 sprigs)

fresh sage to taste ( 4 to 6 leaves)

fresh parsley, minced, to taste ( 1 tablespoon)

salt and pepper to taste

4 tablespoon butter, melted

1 cup broth

olive oil

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent.  Then add in chopped celery, fresh herbs, salt and pepper to taste.  Continue to saute for a few minutes.  Add in the bread cubes and stir to combine.  Stir in melted butter and broth.  Spread out all of the ingredients in a prepared (buttered) 11 x 7 pan and put in a 350 degree oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes.

Now that you have all of your layers created it is time to put together your Shepherd's Pie.  Take a prepared 9 x 13 pan and your first layer will be the gluten-free bread stuffing.  Press it down and around the sides of your pan.  Next add your meat, veggie, and gravy mixture on the top of your bread stuffing.  Make sure to leave enough room for your mashed potatoes, about 1/2 to 1 inch.  Like me you may need a larger pan, or you can make two shepherd's pies.  Last add the mashed potaoes, and spread out ove the entire top.  Add a (2 tbsp.) little melted butter to the top and blend in.  Score the top of the mashed potatoes with a fork.  Bake in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.    

Umm, the ultimate in comfort food, at least for today!  And remember you can make any one of these dishes seperately on different days, freeze and then pull this dish together when you want to.  This does not need to ALL be created on the same day. Who says that casseroles and gluten-free ones no less, have to be lack luster? Not I! Why should you sacrifice flavor, texture, or visual appeal, just becasue this is a gluten-free casserole. I know my family and I don't!! Now you don't have to either!