Paleo BBQ Pork Shepherd's Pie With Sweet Potato Topping Recipe
As if shepherd's pie wasn't already delicious enough, this barbecue spin is the perfect twist to the classic dish. This healthy recipe uses a paleo-compliant barbecue sauce, as well as unsweetened plain almond milk, to cut down on extra calories, while still giving the dish a tangy, yet creamy, texture. Plus, the extra kale sneaks in even more nutrients into the meal.
Along with giving this paleo recipe a barbecue flare, it also swaps out regular potatoes—which are usually used in a traditional shepherd's pie—and uses nutritious sweet potatoes instead. (But don't confuse sweet potatoes with yams! They may seem universal, but they are in fact a different type of root vegetable.)
Besides being a great food for a dose of filling fiber, sweet potatoes can also be a great source of vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin B6.
Now, who's ready to dig into this paleo shepherd's pie recipe?
Nutrition: 380 calories, 11 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 700 mg sodium, 8 g sugar, 33 g protein, 10 g fiber
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
3 medium sweet potatoes (about 12 ounces)
2 Tbsp ghee
1⁄4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk
1⁄2 tsp salt, divided
1⁄2 tsp smoked paprika, plus additional for garnishing
1 pound ground pork
1⁄2 cup thinly sliced celery
1 cup frozen chopped onion and green sweet pepper blend
2 cups chopped fresh kale
3⁄4 cup paleo-compliant barbecue sauce (such as Tessamae's)
1⁄2 tsp ground cumin
Chopped fresh parsley
How to Make It
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork in 5 to 6 places. Place on a microwavable plate and cook on high 5 to 8 minutes or until tender, rotating halfway through cook time; set aside to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, peel and place in a mixing bowl. Mash with ghee, almond milk, 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, and smoked paprika until creamy.
- Meanwhile, cook pork, celery, and onion and sweet pepper blend in a skillet over medium heat until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain fat. Add kale, barbecue sauce, cumin, and remaining 1⁄4 teaspoon salt to skillet. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Transfer mixture to a 1 1⁄2-quart casserole or baking dish.
- Spread sweet potato mixture over the pork mixture. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes or until heated through and sweet potatoes are slightly browned.
- Sprinkle with additional smoked paprika and chopped parsley.
Eat This! Tip
How do you pick out a truly sweet tater? Look for firm skin that is even in tone and smooth to the touch. Typically, those with richer color are also richer in the awesome antioxidant beta-carotene.
