Comfort Food Keto Cottage Pie –

Making comfort foods keto friendly and low carb. This deliciously low carb version, Keto Cottage Pie, is a firm favourite in our house. The cauliflower mash is creamy and cheesy and tops this off perfectly. I have added alternative options at the end of this recipe, including a vegetarian option for a keto cottage pie. Enjoy!

Comfort Food Keto Cottage Pie – A delicious low carb and keto friendly alternative to a traditional cottage pie.

Ingredients

• 500g beef mince
• 1 Red onion diced
• 1/2 Red pepper finely chopped (you can use carrots if you like, but peppers are a tasty lower carb option)
• 200g button mushrooms, sliced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 cup beef stock (I use an oxo cube)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• Sea salt & pepper, to taste
• Olive oil for cooking

Cauliflower Mash Topping

• 3/4 head cauliflower, chopped, steamed & processed
• 50g cream cheese
• 50g butter
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (use 1/2 in cauli mash mix, save 1/2 for topping)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180°C

Cauliflower mash
Steam cauliflower until tender and drain well.
Using a food processor (or blender) puree cauliflower. Stir in cream cheese, butter and 1/2 a cup of the grated cheddar cheese. Set aside.

Cottage Pie
In a large frying pan or skillet, heat the olive oil and cook the mince, onion and garlic.
Add red pepper, mushrooms, tomato paste, oregano, sea salt & pepper and beef stock. Stir and simmer uncovered about 10 minutes or until it thickens up and most of the liquid evaporates.
Transfer to a casserole dish and smooth it over. Top with mashed cauliflower and spread evenly. Score with a fork to make neat lines (for presentation only, not a necessity!)
Add the remaining grated cheese.
Bake 25-30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

Lower Carbs

A serving of a traditional Cottage Pie can be up to 30-40g of carbs per serving! this lower carb version is around 6-9g of carbs per serving. Always check your labels and weigh your ingredients for an accurate carb count.

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Traditional Cottage Pie

Cottage pie is a classic British dish that has been enjoyed for centuries. It typically consists of minced meat, usually beef, cooked with onions, carrots, and sometimes other vegetables, in a rich gravy, topped with mashed potatoes and baked until golden and crispy. This hearty and comforting dish has long been a staple in British households, loved for its delicious flavours and satisfying texture.

Benefits of Reducing Carbs in Your Diet

Reducing carbohydrates in your diet can offer a multitude of health benefits. Carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates found in white bread, pasta, and sugary snacks, are quickly converted into glucose in the body, leading to spikes in blood sugar levels. By opting for a low-carb version of keto Cottage pie, you can help stabilise your blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Moreover, low-carb diets have been shown to be effective for weight loss and weight management. When you consume fewer carbohydrates, your body switches to burning fat for fuel, leading to more efficient fat loss. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals looking to shed excess pounds or maintain a healthy weight.

Heart health and more

In addition to weight loss, reducing carbs in your diet can also improve overall heart health. High-carb diets, especially those rich in refined carbohydrates, have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and high cholesterol levels. By replacing high-carb ingredients like potatoes with low-carb alternatives such as cauliflower in keto Cottage pie, you can lower your intake of unhealthy fats and cholesterol while still enjoying a delicious and satisfying meal.

Furthermore, reducing carbs can help alleviate symptoms of certain medical conditions, such as metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and epilepsy. Many people with these conditions have found relief and improvement in symptoms by adopting a low-carb diet.

Reducing carbs in your diet, as demonstrated in this low-carb version of keto Cottage pie, can have numerous benefits for your health, including better blood sugar control, weight management, heart health, and symptom relief for certain medical conditions. So why not give this nutritious and delicious twist on a classic dish a try?

Vegetarian low carb cottage pie

Instead of beef mince, you can use a combination of mushrooms, lentils, and walnuts to create a hearty and flavourful vegetarian filling. Simply sauté diced mushrooms, cooked lentils, and chopped walnuts with onions, garlic, and your choice of herbs and spices until well combined. Proceed with the rest of the recipe as usual, substituting vegetable broth for beef stock. it is not keto friendly due to the lentils, but you can still make a nutritious low carb version of this dish.

Spice it up!

Add a kick of heat to your keto Cottage pie by incorporating diced jalapeños or green chilies into the filling. You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes over the top for an extra spicy twist.

Tart up your toppings

Add extra flavour to your keto Cottage pie with a variety of toppings and garnishes, such as chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives, crispy bacon bits, sliced avocado, or a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Alternative meat, swap the beef mince

For a lighter option, you can use minced chicken or turkey instead of beef. Season the poultry mince with your favourite herbs and spices, such as thyme, rosemary, and sage, for a delicious twist on the classic recipe.

Seafood Keto Cottage pie

If you’re a fan of seafood, consider using a mixture of diced salmon, shrimp, and white fish as the filling for your Cottage pie. Add sautéed leeks, fennel, and celery for extra flavour, and top with a creamy cauliflower mash for a delectable low-carb seafood dish.

These variations and ingredient substitutions allow you to tailor your keto Cottage pie to suit your dietary preferences while still enjoying a delicious and satisfying meal. Feel free to get creative and experiment with different flavours and ingredients to make the perfect low-carb and keto Cottage pie for you!

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