Shepherd's Pie For IDDSI Level 6 Diet (soft and bite-sized)

Shepherd's pie is a delicious savoury dish consisting of cooked minced meat and vegetables topped with mashed potato. My Nanna is from Northern Ireland and always makes this for my sister and I when we see her and I have many happy memories associated with it. Her recipe is slightly different to regular shepherd's pie recipes because it has baked beans in it. I have altered her recipe slightly so it will fit within a level 6 diet.

• Serves: 4
• Preparation time: 15 minutes.
• Cooking time: 30 minutes (Cook minced meat mixture and potatoes at the same time)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1kg beef/lamb mince
• 2 small carrots (or one large) chopped (pieces must be within 1.5cm x 1.5cm)
• 1 large onion chopped (pieces must be within 1.5cm x 1.5cm)
• 1 can baked baked beans
• Oil
• Gravox (approx 2tbsp)
• 6 large potatoes
• 1tbsp butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups water

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Making the minced meat mixture:

1. Saute onions for about 2 minutes in a large saucepan.
2. Add carrots to saucepan and cook for about 1 minute.
3. Add mince and brown gently for several minutes. Break up mince very well.
4. Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the saucepan and simmer gently for 30 minutes.
5. Add gravox to a small amount of water and pour slowly into into the minced meat. while stirring continuously (you can add more gravox to thicken the minced meat. mixture - keep in mind there should be no separate thin liquid).
6. Check that carrot/onion is soft enough otherwise cook until easily squished by a fork.
7. Add baked beans and stir well.

• Making the mashed potatoes:

1. Peel and slice potatoes
2. Place potatoes into a saucepan with boiling water and boil for approximately 14 minutes.
3. Drain water out of saucepan
4. Add butter and milk and mash well until smooth

• Now place minced meat mixture on plate and top with mashed potatoes (can put into minced meat mixture into a casserole dish and smooth out the mash on top to make it easier to serve)
• Enjoy (Can add some tomato sauce for taste but make sure that that there is no separate thin liquid so stir well).

PLEASE NOTE: If modifying for an IDDSI level 5 diet (minced and moist), minced meat will have to be finely minced, carrot and onions will have to be finely chopped (4mm or under) and baked beans will need to be chopped (4mm or under) or left out.

Normally cheese is added to shepherd's pie and it is put in the oven to bake. Adding cheese to the mashed potato or putting it on top can make the potato too sticky and can create a tough skin which is not soft enough and/or too large for bite-sized pieces so it will not fit within a level 6 or level 5 diet.

I have tested out this recipe for a Level 6 IDDSI diet below: