Seaneen's Sunnyside Kitchen

It can still get cold, so comfort food is still on the menu. This is a variation on a Shepherd’s pie, I started making this a couple of years ago to use up some leftovers.

If you’re one of those organised people who plans meals for the week then you can make the champ and the chilli for separate meals in advance and just assemble before you bake it

There’s a decent amount of vegetables in this chilli but you could also swap it for an entirely vegetarian chilli if you’re not a meat eater

Ingredients

For the champ

1kg Potatoes

250 ml Milk

5-6 Scallions/spring onions (finely chopped)

Salt

For the chilli

400 Grams Minced beef

1 Onion (chopped into 1cm chunks)

100 Grams Mushrooms (chopped chopped into 1cm chunks)

50 Grams Sweetcorn

2 Stalks of celery (chopped into 1 cm chunks)

1 Red Pepper (chopped into 1 cm chunks)

1 Tbsp Tomato puree

1 Tsp Cumin

1 Tsp Chilli flakes (increase this if you like a hotter chilli)

400ml Passata

400 Gram Can of black beans or kidney beans

Coriander (optional, but I usually add a couple of tablespoons of fresh chopped coriander)

75 Grams Grated Cheese (I used mature Cheddar)

Method

1. Peel the potatoes and chop into equal sized cubes before boiling in salted water until soft and then mash thoroughly
2. While the potatoes are cooking add the milk and scallions/spring onions into a small pot and simmer over a very gentle heat
3. Stir the milk and scallions into the mashed potatoes and mix well, check if it needs more salt.
4. For the chilli, heat a large high sided frying pan and add the mince and allow to brown
5. Add the tomato puree, spices and sliced vegetables and beans and cook for 5 minutes
6. Add the passata and simmer for a further 10 – 15 minutes until the vegetables are soft and the chilli has thickened
7. Transfer the chilli to a large oven proof dish and then top with the champ mix
8. Spread the champ across the chilli with a fork, so that the top has a rough texture (this will help give a lovely crunch once its baked). Sprinkle with grated cheese
9. Cook in an oven pre-heated to 200 degrees (Celsius) for 30 minutes