March 3, 2014

When I moved to Minnesota, I learned there was such a thing as Tater Tot Hot Dish. Maybe you guys have heard of it. (And if you're from around here, you're definitely familiar with it, and you're probably wondering how I grew up without it.) It's kind of like a shepherd's pie, but the beef and veggie mixture is topped with tater tots instead of mashed potatoes. Well, Grant loves tater tot hot dish, so I wanted to find a way to make a similar meal, but leave out the processed stuff that usually goes in and make it gluten and dairy free. I figured crisp roasted sweet potatoes would make a yummy substitute for the tater tots. That's how this meal started, and I'm super excited with how it turned out! Hearty, flavorful, simple comfort food.

The sweet potatoes are oven roasted (we like ours extra roasty) and the beef mixture is cooked on the stove top, and then you simply layer them together in a serving dish instead of baking everything again like you would a typical casserole. Easy! P.S. The smoked paprika is a crucial ingredient here. It gives this dish a really awesome, almost barbecue kind of flavor. Yum.



Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
4 tablespoons coconut oil (divided)
1 lb. grass-fed ground beef
1/2 a large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 T. organic ketchup
1 T. red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
sea salt and pepper to taste
2 T. brown rice flour
2 cups chicken broth

Heat oven to 450º. Toss chopped sweet potatoes with a few tablespoons of coconut or olive oil and 2 two teaspoons of minced garlic (optional), spread in a single layer onto a baking sheet, and sprinkle with sea salt. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, or until edges look browned and crisp.

While potatoes are roasting, make the beef and veggie mixture. Brown beef in a skillet over med-high heat and transfer to a bowl. Leave any fat in the skillet, lower the heat a bit, and add in 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté until veggies are softened and fragrant. Add in ketchup, red wine vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and the cooked beef. Sprinkle the rice flour over the mixture and stir it around until flour is browned a bit and there's no longer a flour-y smell, about 2 minutes. Pour in the broth slowly, while stirring and scraping any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Let this simmer until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Spoon beef mixture into a deep serving dish and top with roasted sweet potatoes.

*Note: when preparing the carrots and celery, be sure to chop them very thin; thin enough for them to get soft during the sautéing. Also, feel free to toss in other chopped veggies... mushrooms, asparagus, peppers, zucchini, etc.

6 comments:

Breanne said...

YUM. That's going on my menu next week.

melissa said...

i love regional food, and more especially the names. do people around that appreciate the greatness of "tater tot hot dish"? haha.

i'm making this right now, as a matter of fact, so thanks for dinner. :)

Holly Stephenson said...

yum! the only things I want these days are steamy things you can eat from a bowl. This looks so comforting.

Jessica said...

I just found your blog through pinterest, and am officially hooked. I always find it such a blessing and joy to find other christian female bloggers out there with a passion for REAL food (like this incredibly delicious looking shepherds pie!) Thank you for doing what you do :)

Also, I love your pictures! What do you use to edit them?

Jean Thompson said...

One of my favorite meals! I've passed it on to many, many people, and they all love it too😀

Livin’ The Yeh Life’s said...

This was such a huge hit with my family that I had to comment; Thank You!

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about this blog

Hello, I'm Summer. A people-loving introvert whose hope and life is in Jesus. His promises are my passion and my ministry is homelife. This blog is a place for me to write about everyday things. Especially food. My favorite thing to do is sit around a table, lingering over a long meal with good conversation. I live with my husband and our 2 littles. We like blizzards, thrifting, grammar, guacamole, cheerful hearts, nice manners, good movies, and making simple, real, nutrient-dense food.

"If Christ be anything, He must be everything."
-C.H. Spurgeon

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