Sweet Potato & Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

As a big believer in all things local, I love supporting our local Ontario farmers.  Every time you choose a locally grown or produced food you support the farmers and our economy.

This Shepherd’s Pie embraces locally grown produce and turkey, all from Ontario. Family friendly and easy to make, I adapted the recipe from Makes it Super.

 

Topping:

5 large sweet potatoes

½ cup (125mL) buttermilk

¼ cup (60mL) fresh parsley, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Filling:

1 tbsp (15mL) canola oil

1 large onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 lbs (910 g) ground Ontario turkey

3 large carrots, diced

1 cup (250mL) button mushrooms, cut in half

2 tbsp (25mL) tomato paste

¼ cup (60mL) BBQ sauce, Chili sauce or ketchup

¼ cup (60mL) all purpose flour, or whole wheat

1 cup (250 mL) chicken stock

1 cup (250mL) fresh or frozen peas (if using frozen, do not thaw)

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Pre-heat oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Lightly oil a 13″ x 9″ baking dish or use parchment paper.
2. Prick each potato several times with a fork and microwave no more than three at a time until tender (approx. 4 minutes for each potato). Remove skins and place potatoes in a large bowl. Add remaining topping ingredients and mash well. Set aside.
3. In a large skillet, on medium-high, heat oil. Sauté onions until transparent, add garlic and sauté for 30 more seconds.
4. Add ground turkey and sauté until meat is cooked and starting to brown. add carrots and mushrooms. Sauté for two minutes. Add tomato paste and BBQ, Chili Sauce or ketchup sauce. Add flour and blend well. Add chicken stock. Continue cooking until mixture starts to thicken, approx. 5 minutes. Stir in peas. Remove from heat.
5. Turn turkey mixture out into baking dish and spread evenly. Top the turkey with sweet potato, spreading evenly to cover the entire dish. Baked uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until ingredients start to bubble up the sides, and the top starts to brown.

Makes: 8 Servings

For more turkey recipes check out Turkey Tacos or Grilled Turkey Scaloppini Sandwich created by fellow professional home economist and cookbook author Emily Richards. I featured this recipe in Homegrown  the cookbook I wrote with the members of the Ontario Home Economics Association that celebrates the foods we grow, raise and produce in Canada.

 Watch the segment I did on Breakfast TV