Mediterranean Shepherds Pie Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Toss the squash with salt and pepper and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Arrange it in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast until the squash is very soft, about 50 minutes. Stir occasionally. Let the squash cool and purée it in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and set aside.
• Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion and sauté until soft. Add the greens and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, chickpeas, walnuts, and anchovies. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Decrease the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Transfer the chickpea mixture to a 10-inch round glass baking dish, and spread the squash purée evenly over the top. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the squash in a thin layer, then drizzle with the 1 remaining tablespoon olive oil. Bake until the bread crumbs are lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
• To make the gremolata, combine the parsley, zest, and smashed garlic clove in a food processor, and grind to a coarse meal. Set aside in a small dish. Serve the pie in slices with the gremolata scattered on top.

MEDITERRANEAN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• In a large deep skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring often, until tender and golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add lamb and cook, breaking up with the back of a spoon, until browned and no pink remains, about 10 minutes. Drain any fat; season with salt and pepper.
• Add garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
• Add wine and simmer until it is reduced by half. Add broth, tomatoes, and rosemary.
• Adjust to maintain a simmer, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and coats meat, about 15 minutes. Remove form heat. Stir in olives and parsley.
• POLENTA: in a large saucean over high heat, bring water to a boil. Stir in polenta, milk and salt, stirring constantly, until smooth and polenta begins to thicken, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook until polenta begins to bubble and pop about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low, stir in Parmesan and butter, continue to stir until polenta pulls away from sides of the pan, about 10 minutes.
• TO ASSEMBLE: Spread lamb filling into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Drop large spoonfuls of polenta evenly over surface of lamb and gently spread to get an even layer.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes until polenta is golden and filling is bubbling around edges. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.