Healthy Recipe: Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Looking for the perfect dish to warm your soul and satisfy your taste buds?
With layers of tender zucchini, flavorful ground beef, and creamy sweet
potatoes, this sweet potato shepherd’s pie is a hearty meal that's as
delicious as it is wholesome. Plus, it's a great way to use up any leftover
veggies you have lying around — Just swap them in place of the frozen
vegetables!

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie — makes 6 servings

Ingredients:
• 1 pound of zucchini (2 medium)
• Olive oil for brushing
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1.5 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves
• 1.5 pounds of sweet potatoes
• 3 tablespoons of whole milk, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
• 2 teaspoons of brown sugar
• 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• ½ medium beet, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 pound of extra lean ground beef
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• ¾ cup of beef broth
• 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons of tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves
• 2 teaspoons of minced rosemary needles
• 1 cup of mixed frozen vegetables

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Slice zucchini lengthwise into ¼-inch-thick slices. Arrange on
   parchment-covered baking sheet and brush with oil.
3. Turn slices and brush other side with oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and
   thyme.
4. Bake zucchini until softened, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
5. Turn oven to 400 F.
6. While zucchini is roasting, peel sweet potatoes if desired.
7. Scrub and dice sweet potatoes.
8. Place in a medium saucepan; cover with cold water. Set pan over high heat,
   cover, and bring water to a boil.
9. Once water reaches a boil, uncover, decrease heat to a simmer, and cook
   potatoes until tender, about 12 to 15 minutes.
10. Drain potatoes in colander, return to saucepan, and mash lightly.
11. Add milk, butter, salt, and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Set
    aside.
12. While sweet potatoes are cooking, heat oil in large sauté pan over medium
    heat until shimmering. Add onion and carrots and cook until soft, around 8
    minutes.
13. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, around 1 minute.
14. Add beef, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground pepper, and cook until meat
    is browned and cooked through, around 5 minutes.
15. Add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, thyme, oregano, and
    rosemary; stir to combine.
16. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until sauce has thickened
    slightly, around 10 to 12 minutes.
17. Add frozen vegetables and cook until vegetables are beginning to thaw,
    around 5 more minutes.
18. Coat an 8-inch-by-8-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
19. Layer the zucchini on the bottom of the baking dish, layering any leftover
    slices at a right angle from the bottom layer.
20. Spread the meat mixture over the zucchini, covering zucchini completely.
21. Spread mashed sweet potatoes on top, using a fork to create decorative lines
    and/or peaks in the mashed potatoes.
22. Place baking dish on a baking sheet and bake in oven until potatoes begin to
    brown, around 25 minutes.
23. Let cool on a cooling rack at least 10 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information:
Calories: 364
Fat: 17g
Carbs: 29g
Protein: 24g
Sodium: 546mg

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