One thing I love doing is finding healthy, easy, and equally delicious swaps for traditional recipes. Anyone who grew up having Shepherd’s Pie would probably agree it’s a delicious meal and a great mid-week meal.
Here, I’ve swapped the potato topping for a potato-and-broccoli mash, and took out the beef mince for a leaner option with chicken breast. For vegans, or anyone who wants to make this dish plant-based, I’d suggest Quorn or using tofu or seitan.
- 500g chicken breast, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 head of broccoli
- 4 small potatoes
- 1 turnip
- 1 green bell pepper
- Two large handfuls button mushrooms
- 2 tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/3 cup chickpea flour (or your favourite alternative)
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- salt
- Chop your potatoes into cubes, chop the rest of your vegetables and dice up your chicken and tomatoes. Keep the potatoes, broccoli, and mushrooms separate.
- Mix your spices with the chickpea flour.
- Toss your chicken with the spiced flour mix.
- In a pot with a little olive oil, brown off your chicken.
- Once it’s browned, add your onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms and cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Once your chicken is cooked, take it out and set aside, then add all of your veg (minus the broccoli and potato) and add tomato paste.
- Cook until the veg is semi-tender, then add the chicken back in to continue cooking and for flavours to combine.
- In a separate pot, boil your chicken and broccoli together for 15 minutes. TIP: Do this while your veg are cooking so everything is ready at the same time. Once a fork goes through easily, drain and mash with 1 tbsp olive oil and a little of the cooking liquid.
- Pour your chicken and veg mix into an oven-proof dish, then top with the mash. Put it in the oven for 20-30 minutes to brown and crisp up.
Once your chicken is cooked, take it out and put on the side, then add all of your veg minus the broccoli and potato and add tomato paste. Cook until the veg is semi-tender. Then mix in your chicken and vegetables together.
In a separate pot, boil your chicken and broccoli together for 15 minutes. Do this while your veg are cooking so everything is ready at the same time. Once a fork goes through easily, drain and mash with 1 tbsp olive oil and a little of the cooking liquid.
Pour your chicken and veg mix into an oven-proof dish, then top with the mash. Put it in the oven for 20-30 minutes to brown and crisp up.
Et viola! Delicious, hearty and healthy meal for the whole family — or something you can portion up and use as meal prep. This is honestly one of my family’s favourites, and the only struggle will be eating just one portion! We polished off the whole meal pretty quickly. This made enough to fill two oven-proof dishes, so definitely enough for 6-8 people.
As always, bilafiya
(well wishes and wellbeing)
Sand Kitchen 
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