Shepherd's Pie Gluten and Dairy-Free

This easy Shepherd’s Pie (Gluten- and Dairy-Free, Low-FODMAP) is savory, filling comfort food, with a little of everything! Easy to prepare in less than an hour and take to a potluck or just enjoy at home. Protein, vegetables, and a smooth, mashed-potato topping. Except for cooking the potatoes, it's a one-pot meal.

Of course it's important to clarify that a Shepherd's Pie got its name from being made from lamb; a beef-based pie is called a cottage pie. But we called this Shepherd's Pie when I was growing up and almost never saw lamb for sale!

A Low FODMAP Shepherd's Pie

This is the fourth in a series of dinners that I have prepared for my daughter-in-law after her lactation consultant advised an elimination diet. (You can find out what we have been eating and more on elimination diets here.) 

To make the recipe low-FODMAP, we removed the onions and garlic from the original recipe and replaced them with asafetida. Read more about asafetida - it's pretty amazing!

I assure you that neither you nor your eaters will notice anything missing! This pie is really just a tasty layer of mashed potatoes on a flavorful meat-vegetable mixture. I have written this recipe so that it's easy to use onions if you are eating them, and leave them out if not. 

Ingredient Tips

Though I have a "typical" set of vegetables I mix into my Shepherd’s pie, this could be a clean-out-the refrigerator type of meal. Carrots and celery seem a must. Onions are not in this recipe except as an alternative, but would be a traditional ingredient in such a rustic pie. 

Benefits of the onion family

It's worth mentioning a couple of good things about the tasty onion for those who can eat them. Not only do they give a dish a great deal of flavor, but they also give texture to and thicken a sauce.

Plus, onions have antifungal properties, which is good for people who have issues with yeast. 

Yukon golds have become my favorite potato - they cook up well without being too starchy and have that wonderful, warm color -- and they don't disappoint in this topping.

Peas are delicious here, too -- in fact, it's one of my favorite ways to eat peas! Otherwise, be creative! For example, I threw in the yellow squash because I didn’t have green beans and because -- why not add yellow to the color mix?

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #amealinmind on Instagram. I’d love to see what you come up with. Thank you so much!!

Beth

Other recipes you may enjoy

Thai Massaman Curry with Beef and Potatoes

Spiced Beef-Lentil Stew

Two-bean Chili 2 Ways

Creamy Mac and Cheese Chicken Soup; Gluten-Free

Southwestern Roasted Sweet Potatoes; Paleo

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Shepherd's Pie Gluten and Dairy-Free

This easy Shepherd’s Pie is savory, filling comfort food, with a little of everything! Easy to prepare in less than an hour and take to a potluck or just enjoy at home.

Course Main Dish, Skillet Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword beef pie, Cast iron skillet dinner, dairy-free, Gluten-free, grain-free, low FODMAP option, one-pot meal

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Author Beth of A Meal In Mind

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 2-3 carrots chopped fine, almost minced
• 2 stalks celery chopped
• ½ cup yellow squash chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced (omit for low FODMAP)
• 1 medium yellow onion chopped fine (omit for low FODMAP)
• ½ teaspoon Asafetida
• ¼ t nutmeg
• 1 lb ground beef preferably grass-fed
• 1 ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons Arrowroot Bob's Red Mill or tapioca flour
• 1 can tomato paste 6 oz
• 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 8 ounces of frozen peas thawed
• 3 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon of marjoram or other herb of choice

For mashed potato topping

• 6 medium Yukon gold potatoes if not eating nightshades, use sweet potatoes, boiled until tender and peeled
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil or ghee, if tolerated
• ¾ cup full-fat coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons fresh parsley minced
• ½ teaspoon pepper or as desired

Instructions

For the filling:

• Melt coconut oil over medium-low heat in large skillet or dutch oven or cast iron skillet.
• Saute carrots gently for 8 minutes. Add celery and saute for 2 more minutes. Add squash and stir for one more minute.
• Add the asafetida and nutmeg and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the ground beef and cook until all pink color is gone.
• Add the salt and the arrowroot flour and stir until completely mixed. Add the tomato paste and mix in evenly. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Check the seasoning.
• If the mixture is not already in an ovenproof skillet or baking dish, transfer it to one. Spread the beef mixture evenly in the dish.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

For the potato topping:

• Place the potatoes in a saucepan so that they are covered with water. Boil until tender when pierced with a fork.
• Partly (or completely, if you prefer) peel the potatoes. Mash them with the coconut oil (or ghee), then stir in the coconut milk and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the salt, pepper and the fresh parsley. Spread the topping evenly over the meat mixture.
• Place the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Edges will be bubbly and starting to brown and the tomato paste in the filling will tint the topping orange. If you wish the top to be slightly browned, turn on the broiler for 5 minutes more.
• Allow the shepherd’s pie to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving.