Low-Carb Shepherd's Pie with Lamb and Cauliflower Mash

• 1 lb (454 g) cauliflower florets, fresh or frozen
• 2 garlic cloves (for the topping)
• ⅓ cup (57 g) sour cream
• ½ tsp salt (for the topping)
• ¼ tsp pepper (for the topping)
• 2 lb (900 g) ground lamb
• lamb fat from the pan, about 2 tbsp kept to cook the vegetables
• ¼ cup (40 g) chopped onion
• ½ medium red capsicum, finely chopped
• 1 tsp salt (for the filling)
• ½ tsp pepper (for the filling)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (for the filling)
• ½ cup (120 g) dry red wine (or beef broth)
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
• ½ tsp glucomannan or xanthan gum
• 4 oz (113 g) sharp cheddar, grated

Method

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1. Steam the cauliflower with 2 garlic cloves for 6–8 minutes until very tender, then tip into a sieve and let it drain well so the topping isn't soggy. 0:26
2. Blend the cauliflower and garlic in a food processor until it looks like rice, then add the sour cream, salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Set aside. 1:16
3. Heat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Brown the lamb over medium heat for 10–12 minutes until nearly cooked, then lift it into a 2-litre casserole dish with a slotted spoon, leaving about 2 tbsp fat in the pan. 2:23
4. Cook the onion and red capsicum with a little of the salt and pepper for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft, then add the garlic for 1 minute. 3:13
5. Pour in the red wine (or broth) and simmer until reduced by about half, then stir in the rosemary. 3:45
6. Whisk in the glucomannan or xanthan gum to thicken, season the lamb with the rest of the salt and pepper, pour the sauce over and mix, then spread it out evenly. 4:12
7. Spread the cauliflower mash over the filling right to the edges and scatter with the cheddar. 5:01
8. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbling, then grill (broil) 2–4 minutes to brown the cheese. Rest 10–15 minutes before serving. 5:32

Tip. Ground beef turns it into a cottage pie. Keeps 5 days in the fridge or 2 months frozen. Beef broth instead of wine works just as well.

The method is a summary in our words — the video shows every step.