Shepherd’s pie is one of my favourite comfort foods. It’s a meat-based pie with a mashed potato topping instead of a crust. The layered shepherd’s pie presented here is my take on a classic French Canadian “pâté chinois” – literally “Chinese pie.” Quebec style shepherd’s pie has a long history, dating back to about the 18th century. This classic comfort food has recently been named Quebec’s national food.
Unlike shepherd’s pie made in the UK or in other parts of Canada, Quebec style shepherd’s pie is made with three basic ingredients: ground beef, creamed corn, and mashed potatoes. An article about shepherd’s pie in Le Devoir suggests that these three elements each represent one of the founding peoples of Canada, which is a cool idea on the face of it.
The Three Founding Peoples in Shepherd’s Pie?
In this view of Quebec style shepherd’s pie, corn represents our country’s First Nations. Corn is a New World crop that our First Nations gave to our European ancestors. The Haudenosaunee peoples (the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy) have been growing corn on their traditional territory for 1,400 years. So for the corn in shepherd’s pie to represent the Aboriginal peoples of Canada makes sense.
The place where I began to struggle was using the ground beef to represent the English settlers of Canada. The idea is supposed to be that because Anglophones in Quebec have traditionally been more affluent, they are the meat in shepherd’s pie. And by the same token, the French-speaking Québécois are supposed to be the potatoes because they “don’t have much to offer.”
Small Potatoes?
Ummmm, OK… If you’re just looking at a 20th century view of the so-called “two solitudes”, I guess the metaphor makes some sense. But even there, the authors of the metaphor seem to have forgotten that a great number of Anglophones in Quebec are people of Scottish or Irish descent.
Their ancestors were anything but affluent: in fact, many arrived in Canada during the Irish Potato Famine. And it’s particularly ironic to associate meat with these people, because not having access to meat in their country of origin is one of the major reasons the failure of the potato crop hit these people so hard that they fled en masse to the New World.
I would have thought that if either group of Europeans had an iconic connection to the potato, it would be the anglos. And neither group really has a special connection with beef. But another problem with this part of the metaphor is the suggestion that the potatoes really aren’t worth that much, either as an individual food or as an ingredient in Quebec’s classic version of shepherd’s pie.
Potato Nutrition
Potatoes are a crucial element of shepherd’s pie. Ground beef and corn by themselves are really kind of boring. But top them with creamy mashed potatoes and crisp the whole thing up in the oven, and now you’re talking great food!
Nutritionally speaking, potatoes actually have a good bit to offer. One medium Russet potato provides 169 calories, which is on the high side for vegetables. But that same potato supplies 35% of your daily requirement of vitamin B6, 25% of potassium, 12% of magnesium, and 9% of iron.
The potato is known as a high carbohydrate food, but it isn’t as bad as it seems. A medium potato supplies 12% of your daily carbs but it also supplies 11% of your daily fibre. That Russet potato also supplies 9% of your day’s protein. The fibre and the protein together mean that eating potatoes leaves you feeling full. That feeling of satiety is probably one of the reasons that potatoes have long been a poor man’s food. A little goes a long way!
Should You Switch Out the Potatoes?
I wanted to mention this, not only because of the implication that the potatoes in shepherd’s pie don’t contribute much, but also because of the trend to replace potatoes with other ingredients.
Both sweet potatoes and cauliflower are lower in calories and total carbs than potatoes, so if you’re trying really hard to eat a low-carb or calorie-reduced diet, it is a good idea to include them in your shepherd’s pie instead of regular mashed potatoes. Just remember you’ll also be reducing the protein count a good bit as well.
It’s really a balancing act. Look at what you’ve eaten the rest of the day. If you haven’t had any dark green or orange vegetables, you may need more vitamin A in your supper. Then the sweet potatoes are a good choice. If you need a vitamin C boost but don’t feel like eating oranges, think cauliflower instead. All three vegetables are healthy in moderation and you should feel free to eat each of them in their turn.
Quebec Style Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
This recipe is an adaptation of the shepherd’s pie that a friend’s mother used to make. The carrots give colour and extra nutrients to the dish and make it just a little sweet.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 to 2 lbs extra-lean ground beef
2 medium onions, chopped finely
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
6 carrots, sliced into discs and boiled until just barely tender*
5-6 starchy potatoes (e.g. Russet or Idaho) mashed with about 1/2 cup milk
1 400 ml can (about 14 oz) creamed corn
2 cups frozen corn
a few pats of butter to dot the top
salt and pepper, or paprika to season the crust
* Save the water from boiling your carrots to make your own broth!
To Make Your Pâté Chinois:
1) Brown the beef with the onion and Worcestershire sauce, breaking it up into fine bits.
2) Place the meat in the bottom of a 9″ x 13″ baking pan, pressing down lightly. If you plan on freezing this dish, use either a baking dish that has a snap-on lid, or a foil pan with a lid. Label the pan with the name of the dish, instructions, and the date. The pie should be eaten within 2-3 months.
3) Layer the carrots on top of the meat. (When you drain them, you can reserve the cooking liquid for making broth.)
4) Mix the two types of corn in a bowl and then spread the corn on top of the carrots.
5) Spread the mashed potatoes over the whole dish. Dust with a little salt and pepper, or some paprika. If you are preparing the casserole for eating right away, preheat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC, or gas mark 6) and dot the casserole with a little butter. If you aren’t going to serve right away, cover tightly and freeze or refrigerate.
6) Place the baking dish in a hot oven with a cookie sheet underneath to catch any drips. Bake until bubbling, about 40 minutes. Broil for a few minutes if necessary to brown. If the pie has been in the freezer, thaw for 1-2 days in the fridge before baking.
Serves 6-8 generously
Healthier Options:
- Add a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli to boost the antioxidant content of your shepherd’s pie;
- Opt for mashed sweet potato instead of regular mashed potatoes to boost the vitamin A content of your dinner and lower the carbs and calories;
- Replace the mashed potato with mashed cauliflower. This will reduce the overall carbs and calories, and significantly boost the vitamin C content of your shepherd’s pie;
- For the feel of mashed potato with a huge fibre boost and added protein, cook up some giant Lima beans with a little garlic and mash them for your topping.
A Word About the Choice of Ground Beef
In Canada, all ground meat is labelled according to its fat content, whether beef, pork, veal, chicken or turkey. Ground beef and pork are fairly common. And if you live in Quebec, you can usually find ground veal around the Christmas holidays. Butchers often package a portion of each of the three ground meats together and offer it at a special price, as many traditional recipes for tourtière and ragoût de boulettes call for a blend of the three.
Ground beef in Canada can contain no more than 30% fat. Meat marked as lean can have no more than 17% fat, and extra-lean no more than 10% fat. This would put lean ground beef roughly on par with ground round (10-15% fat) in the US. Extra-lean ground beef is closer to ground sirloin (8-10% fat) if you’re shopping for beef in the US.
Nutrition and Corn
With all the flap over high fructose corn syrup and genetically modified corn, this vegetable isn’t exactly the first one that comes to mind when thinking of healthy foods. At more than 600 calories per cup, corn is also not a low-calorie vegetable. And corn is a starchy vegetable – something a lot of us think will make us fat.
But if you enjoy eating corn, please don’t eliminate it completely from your diet. You just want to enjoy it in moderation and keep in mind the higher calorie count, compared to other vegetables.
Yellow corn is a source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that are associated with eye health. The American Optometric Association says these antioxidants are linked to a reduced risk of some chronic eye diseases, including cataracts and macular degeneration.
You may have been told that corn is essentially an empty-calorie food, but this is simply not true. One cup of yellow corn supplies more iron than the same amount of steak and about two-thirds the protein – with only half the fat and no cholesterol. Corn is also a source of vitamin A. Plus it supplies roughly half the vitamin B6, magnesium, and fibre you need for a whole day.
So splurge a little from time to time! Buy your corn from a local farmer who grows organic or GMO-free corn, if you can. And try to balance the calorie count for the rest of your day when you indulge in corn. But don’t write it off completely. It is still part of a healthy, balanced diet.
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Did you enjoy this article? Check out some related content below!
HEALTHY LIVING HELP: HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN A CARROT?
WHAT IS STARCH AND WHAT ROLE DOES IT PLAY IN YOUR BODY?
POTATO NUTRITIONAL INFO & WHY IT’S STILL OK TO EAT THEM
Original content © 2009-2018 Kyla Matton Osborne, aka #RubyWriter
Public domain images by Pixabay users paulmerino, jackmac34, PDPics, and RitaE
Graphics adapted from a photo by cyclonebill/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0
This recipe was originally published by me on Bubblews, and was inspired by an earlier article I wrote for the now defunct Yahoo Voices site.
This article was published on my food blog, 24 Carrot Diet. If you are reading this content anywhere else, it has probably been stolen. Please report it to me so I can address any copyright infringements. Thank you!
Shepherd’s Pie is one of my favorite dishes. As you say, it’s a comfort food. I found your history lesson about Quebec style shepherd’s pie really interesting.
I’ve always thought of this dish as a sort of casserole (as in, one-dish complete meal) and my hubby, like most men, disliked casseroles. But, when I called this dish that I grew up on in my family a ‘Shepherd’s Pie’ to hubby, suddenly it was the perfect dish and no longer a casserole. 🙂
Funny story. When my daughter was newly married she called me up long-distance one night for the recipe for this dish. I heard later that she made it and it turned out just fine. She proudly served it to her new husband and he took one look and said ‘you know I hate corn’. Well, DD burst into tears and her hubby comforted her, then ate the dish without another word — and liked it. 🙂
Funny how men can be when it comes to food! I’m glad your son-in-law ate the food, and that both he and hubby have discovered they LIKE shepherd’s pie. In our house, it’s a big favourite. Hubby loves it 🙂
This sounds delicious! I love that you made this easy so simple to follow! Thanks!
I’m glad you found the recipe straight forward, Helen. And really, it is easy to make. Shepherd’s pie is just good old, honest peasant food. Nothing fancy and no fuss, but it’s tasty and guaranteed to fill you up 🙂
I’ve never had this before, but this sounds delicious!!
Shepherd’s pie is some of the best comfort food you’ll ever taste! I hope you’ll try the recipe 🙂
OMG thanks for sharing the recipe – I’ve never actually made it myself!!!
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You really have to try this recipe, Erica. It’s so easy to make, and you’re going to love this version of shepherd’s pie!
Both my mom and fiance are HUGE shepherds pie fans, so I am definitely going to try making this!
Let me know how it turns out for you, Angie! I’d also love to know how you and your mom usually make your shepherd’s pie 🙂
This is certainly one of my favorite comfort foods. This one looks delicious! And an education to go along with it! Can’t wait to try to make!
I’m so pleased you enjoyed reading about shepherd’s pie, Tiffany! Let me know how the recipe turns out for you 🙂
Great recipe. It would be perfect for the up coming cooler months.
It’s a wonderful cold weather meal, Lucicoo! It uses root vegetables that are in season during the fall months. And it will really fill you up 🙂
I have never had Shepard’s pie before! My husband thinks I’m crazy but I keep telling him to make it for me and he never does! This would be a fun little surprise to make for him <3
Now you can make shepherd’s pie anytime you want, without having to ask him! I hope you both love it <3
Shepherd’s Pie is also a very popular comfort food enjoyed by many in the UK. Over the years, people have adapted the classic recipe to include all sorts of variations including all veggie versions.
I think most Canadians tend to stick fairly closely to the ground beef-corn-mashed potato combination. But I have seen all sorts of little additions to the classic shepherd’s pie. My mother went through a phase where she added red peppers. I love bell peppers but I found they didn’t stand up to the longer cook time. They got soggy, which is never pleasant….
Really great looking recipe you have a ton of great ideas!
Shepherd’s pie is one of my favourite comfort foods. I’m glad you liked the post!
Ahh, I love a good ol’ Shepherd’s Pie! Although, I’ve never had one with creamed corn before. I could give your recipe a try… 🙂
That’s interesting. I thought most people used creamed corn in their shepherd’s pie. It just holds together better 🙂
Oh my favorite shepherd’s pie! I remember I was so proud when I made my first shepherd’s pie from scratch 🙂
I’m inspired to prepare this again.
Shepherd’s pie was the meal I made when I welcomed my first dinner guest to my first apartment, 30 some years ago. I can identify with that pride 🙂
It seems so delicious and easy!! i definitely try it 🙂
It’s a wonderful meal. And you can make so many substitutions. Use whatever you like and whatever is on hand!
Love shepherds pie! I make it with venison ground and top the mashed potatoes with sliced tomatoes and grated cheese before browning in the oven.
That sounds wonderful, Tina! We’ve added cheese to ours but never tried it topped with tomatoes.
i actually never had this before ! looks so yummy and im definitely interested to giving it a try!
I hope you do try to make your own shepherd’s pie, Pat. Let me know how it turns out!
I haven`t tried Shepherd`s Pie before, it seems like a good comfort food and I would like to try it.
This recipe is a bit different from how most people make it because of the carrots. That adds a lot of nutrients! I hope you try it and that your family likes shepherd’s pie as much as mine does 🙂
This is a great recipe! Love Shepherds Pie. Didn’t know so much about it. Thanks for sharing!
We really love it too! I’d never had shepherd’s pie with anything but corn in it until my friend told me about his mother’s recipe, I guess about 25 years ago. I’ve added carrots to mine ever since. It doesn’t seem complete without them 🙂
Yummy recipe….thanks for sharing. Definitely will try this one out
I’m so glad! you’ll have to come back and tell me how your shepherd’s pie turns out 🙂
Hi Kyla,
I absolutely love shepherd’s pie 🙂 You’ve made the recipe so easy to follow. And I appreciate the fact that you’ve also provided a healthy option! Great job!!
Best regards,
Pedro
I hope you will try the recipe, Pedro. Come back and tell me how it turns out for you 🙂
my mom makes shepherd pie! it is such a comfort food, and I love seeing everyone’s variations – followed your blog! all the recipes and advice look awesome
Thanks so much, Hannah! I’ll come by and check out your blog too. I love to network with bloggers from all over and find out about their families and gardens, and what foods they like to eat!
Shepherd’s Pie is one of those meals that I can use up all the leftovers and it turns out wonderful. Really is comfort food.
You know, I rarely make shepherd’s pie with leftovers – unless it’s the mashed potatoes. We are a big family, so a large casserole like this usually necessitates making from scratch.
And Now I want to make some shepherds pie! Thanks so much for sharing this especially with the cooler temps coming this is perfect!
Yes, it’s one of my favourite fall foods. It’s good any time of the year. But there’s something about eating it in the fall when the weather gets cold. It’s the perfect way to warm up!
Yum! Do you have a version with chicken though? I’d love one without any red meat!
You can easily substitute ground chicken or turkey, if that’s accessible and affordable where you live. Or you can cook some boneless chicken breast until you can pull it apart with two forks. Just use enough chicken to line the bottom of your pan.
This reminded me I haven’t used my crockpot for a while. I love shepherd’s pie in the Fall!
This is definitely a fall dish for me too. I love to make it when the fall root veggies are harvested 🙂
I love shepherd’s or cottage pie so much! I add baked beans into mine!
Do you mean sweet beans with molasses, Tori? That would sure be a unique twist!
I LOVE shepard’s pie, but I haven’t made it in a very long time. Maybe I should give it a try again.
We haven’t made it in a while now. But it’s getting to be time again!
I’ve made vegan versions of Shepherd’s Pie. This really hits the spot as the temperatures cool. (Well, anything with mashed potatoes! LOL)
What do you use in yours, Mel? I’ve seen a few recipes that use lentils. I have to try that sometime.
I love your recipes, thanks for sharing them
I’m glad you’re enjoying them, Brenda. Thanks so much for stopping by to read and comment 🙂
Kayla, try replacing the mashed potatoes with mashed cauliflower. Almost the same texture.
I will have to try that when cauliflower is in season here. Maybe someone at the farmer’s market will have them this year. It tends to be a very expensive vegetable here, even when it is in season. And often, the ones in our grocery store are puny and not terribly fresh 🙁
I love switching comfort recipes to be more healthier. I do it all the time at my home.
I love reading your recipes, Sandy! You come up with some great ideas 🙂