Extraordinary Entree: Cornbread Shepard's Pie

Ingredients

Beef Filling:


1 tablespoon olive oil 


1 small onion, chopped and caramelized


1 1/2 pounds ground beef 

2 cups cooked mixed vegetables (peas, diced carrots and corn)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons water


Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Mashed Potatoes:


5 russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 small head roasted garlic


1/2 cups half and half 

1/2 cup butter

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Cornbread Crust:
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
2 cup half and half
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten


Directions

Filling:
Caramelize the onions for 30 minutes.

When the onion is soft add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon and brown.

When meat is just about cooked through stir in tomato paste and water (to thin out the tomato paste).

Stir in mixed vegetables until combined.  Don't worry if the vegetables are not cooked through because the baking process will cook the veggies through.  Season the beef throughout cooking.

Garlic Mashed Potato:  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 

Cut the top 1/4 inch of the garlic head to expose the garlic cloves.  Drizzle the exposed head with olive oil and sprinkle with a dash of salt. Wrap in aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. 

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes, and cook until fork tender, about 25 minutes.  Drain, cool the potatoes. Using a potato masher, mash the potato and stir in butter, milk, salt and pepper. Remove the garlic from the oven, and cut in half. Squeeze the softened cloves into the potatoes. Blend potatoes with an electric mixer until desired consistency is achieved.

Cornbread Crust: 

In a large bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar and baking powder.  Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the half and half, oil, and eggs. Fold in the cheese; stir to combine.

Shepard's Pie:

Lightly grease a 13 X 9 glass baking dish with olive oil flavored nonstick cooking spray.

Spoon the garlic mashed potato onto the bottom of the glass baking dish, spreading it evenly with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.

Add the meat filling, spreading that evenly over the garlic mashed potato.

Pour the cornbread batter evenly over the meat layer.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-30 minutes until the cornbread is cooked through and golden on top.