Moroccan Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 3 cups mashed potatoes
• 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
3. Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Drain off any excess fat.
4. Stir in tomato paste, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg, and allspice. Add diced tomatoes, beef broth, parsley, and mint. Simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
5. Pour beef mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes over the top. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
6. Bake in preheated oven until potatoes are golden and filling is bubbling, about 20 minutes.

Interesting Facts

• This dish is traditionally served with a side of couscous.
• The flavors in this dish draw from the cuisines of North Africa, specifically Morocco.
• The herbs used in this dish are mint and parsley, however, other herbs such as cilantro or basil can be used as well.