Hedgehog Pie (Shepherd's pie) Dairy, Soya, Wheat and Gluten free.

This is my variation on Shepherd's Pie. My youngest son does not like mince and seriously does not like mashed potato.... but such is his desire for crisps that putting a few on the top and calling this "Hedgehog Pie" worked a treat!! It's 99% psychology with kids....

I make a large quantity and freeze half.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 large onion
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• crushed garlic (1/4 bulb)
• herbs to taste - basil?
• pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 lb of lean lamb mince or beef if preferred
• 1 1/2 lbs potatoes
• Pure Margarine or olive/sunflower oil to mash
• Packet of plain crisps * CHECK ingredients, not all are gluten free.

Method

Mince mixture:-

• Dice and fry an onion with the crushed (or dried) garlic in a little oil.
• Add the mince and cook until brown
• Mix half pint water with some stock - CHECK the ingredients, Anthony Worral-Thompson has put his name to a range which are ok and Knorr cubes. I use 2 cubes.
• Add a tiny amount of this to mix with 1 tbsp cornflour. Mix to a paste, add a little more of the stock until dissolved and add to the pan with the rest of the stock.
• Leave to simmer for 20 mins (- I have a fantastic deep pan which I can transfer to the oven at this point!)
• Transfer to a large dish (or two smaller dishes).

Then for topping:-

• Boil 1 1/2 lbs potatoes until soft, drain and mash with Pure Sunflower Margarine or olive oil depending on preference. I usually add a little Oatly milk too.
• Spread across the surface of the mince in the dish - TIP start around the outside first.
• Add crisps for Hedgehog "quills" across the top and back at 180 C for 20 mins if it is to be eaten straight away, or freeze at this point once cool.