It is time for St. Patrick’s Day so we made a Mexican inspired Shepherd’s Pie with Turkey Picadillo and yummy cheesy mashed potatoes!
Ground turkey and potatoes are inexpensive ingredients that help to feed the whole family on a budget. The Mexican inspired Shepherd’s Pie is economical and simple to make too.
And since St. Patrick’s is coming up and one of the classic dishes served during this time is the classic Irish Shepherd’s Pie I decided to create my own Mexican inspired version but with a twist.
Classic Shepherd’s Pie History and Facts
The Irish shepherd’s pie has minced lamb cooked with spices, gravy, celery, carrots, and peas. Many call this dish cottage pie too, however, cottage pie has ground beef instead of lamb but the cooking concept is the same as both have the same ingredients and topped with a thick layer of mashed potatoes.
Mexican cuisine same as the Irish Shepherd’s pie is comforting and homey. The typical recipe that has its roots in the kitchen home cooks taking advantage of the farmland and local ingredients.
The Shepherd’s pie was first served in the 1700s by home cooks looking for ways to repurpose leftovers. The result was a meaty dish full of flavor. Another dish that compares to this Irish favorite is the southern style chicken pot pie. Created with the same premise but using pie dough and chicken.
In Mexico, picadillo is a staple in many households.
The picadillo dish is ground beef cooked with peas, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, garlic, onion, cumin, and chopped jalapenos. Same as Shepherd’s pie, the picadillo is homey and the vegetables help to add more volume for feeding more people. It is common serving the beef picadillo with rice and beans.
The name picadillo means “minced” so any minced meat can turn into a picadillo. Thus ground turkey can turn into turkey picadillo and serve as the filling of the Mexican inspired Shepherd’s pie we made today. Unlike the classic Irish dish, we have added cheese to the mashed potatoes for additional flavor and cheesy texture.
How to make the Mexican inspired Shepherd’s pie at home.
Casserole dishes such as the Mexican inspired Shepherd’s pie are easy to make and can adapt depending on the ingredients available in the fridge and in the pantry. Or simply to repurpose leftovers.
Check below the tips, ingredients list, and step by step process to achieve success while cooking your Shepherd’s pie at home.
- Use any minced meat of your choice. Including turkey, beef, lamb, pork, or any vegetarian crumble of your choice.
- Prepare your own mashed potatoes or use a premade or frozen option.
- Use a variety of sweet and mild peppers. As well as fresh Roma tomatoes, chopped onions, and fresh garlic.
- Use Mexican spices such as cumin (seeds and/or powdered), smoked paprika, thyme, black pepper, and chicken bouillon.
- We recommend using a tomato puree with a jalapeno base for an authentic Mexican flavor.
- We like to use the shredded Mexican four-cheese mix that has Philapdeplia for a creamier result.
- Combine the mashed potatoes with the shredded cheese and finishing adding more cheese on top for a cheesier bite.
- Serve with agua fresca and a fresh salad.
Mexican Inspired Shepherd’s Pie
Equipment
- Skillet
- Chopping block
- Knife
- Mixing bowl
- Rectangular baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 1/2 cup sweet peppers chopped
- 1/2 cup roasted green hatch chilies coudl replace with poblano peppers
- 1 cup roma tomatoes chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
- 1 can seasoned tomato sauce 7 ounces
- 1/4 cup water if needed
- 1 pound mashed potatoes freshly made or premade
- 2 cups Mexican cheese blend shredded
Instructions
- Chop the produce, measure the ingredients and set aside. In a skillet add cooking oil and let it warm. When the oil is hot add the turkey meat in portions for easy cooking. Sautee the gorund meat for a few minutes and add the onion and the garlic.
- Incporrate the chopped peppers, the roasted hatch chilies, and the fresh diced tomatoes. Add the seasonings and the chicken bouillon. Finally pour one can of seasned toamto sauce and let the picadillo simmer for a few minutes covered.
- Spray nontick oil to a rectangular baking pan and scoop the picadillo. In a separate mixing bowl add the mashed potatoes and mix with one cup of the shredded cheese. Spoon the mashed potatoes over the meat and finish with another cup of shredded cheese.
- Bake for 20-30 minuites at a 375 degrees Franeheit.
Video
Notes
- Use any minced meat of your choice. Including turkey, beef, lamb, pork, or any vegetarian crumble of your choice.
- Prepare your own mashed potatoes or use a premade or frozen option.
- Use a variety of sweet and mild peppers. As well as fresh Roma tomatoes, chopped onions, and fresh garlic.
- Use Mexican spices such as cumin (seeds and/or powdered), smoked paprika, black pepper, thyme, and chicken bouillon.
- We recommend using a tomato puree with a jalapeno base for an authentic Mexican flavor.
- We like to use the shredded Mexican four-cheese mix that has Philapdeplia for a creamier result.
- Combine the mashed potatoes with the shredded cheese and finishing adding more cheese on top for a cheesier bite.
- Serve with agua fresca and a fresh salad.
Nutrition
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