This version of Shepherd’s Pie hits the Thanksgiving leftover trifecta: It (obviously) uses leftovers, feeds a big crowd and can basically be made in one pan.
Oh, and it’s really good. We made a couple big batches of it in the Frontera test kitchens and let’s just say they didn’t last long, with chefs and staffers stopping by for big forkfuls and declaring that yes, this is something they’d unceremoniously devour in the post-holiday weekend haze.
The tomatillo puree is key to the flavor of the dish, but if you’re not keen on all that roasting and blending, I know some pretty good store-bought products (a jar of Frontera roasted tomatillo salsa or two pouches of Frontera key lime cilantro taco seasoning) that would make excellent substitutes.
Ingredients
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Instructions
Preheat your oven’s broiler. Cover a baking sheet with foil and place tomatillos, garlic, and serranos on top. Slide the baking sheet as close to the broiler as possible. After 4 or 5 minutes, when everything is blotchy-black and softening, turn the vegetables and roast the other side. Everything should be cooked through (they should be soft), while taking on an attractive bit of rustic char. Once the vegetables are roasted, place on the stove top to cool down a little. Set your oven to 350 degrees.
Place the carrots into a microwave safe bowl. Sprinkle with about a tablespoon of water and cover with plastic wrap. Poke a hole in the top with a fork and microwave on high for 2 minutes. When cool enough to handle (be careful with the steam!) tip out the water.
When the vegetables on the sheet tray have cooled down enough to handle, slip the skins off the garlic and pull the stem off the chiles. In a blender, combine the tomatillos (and any juice on the baking sheet) garlic, chiles, a scant teaspoon salt, and the cilantro and blend everything to a coarse puree. While the vegetables are cooling heat the oil in a 4-quart sauce pan to medium-high. Add the onion and cook until golden and softened, about 7- 8 minutes.
Add the tomatillo puree to the pan along with the carrots, turkey, peas, and mushrooms. Taste for seasoning and add salt if necessary (usually ½ teaspoon). Use 2 tablespoons of the butter to coat a 9 x 13 inch baking dish – making sure to coat the sides and bottom. Pour the turkey-tomatillo mixture into the bottom of the dish. Spread your mashed potatoes over the top by working from the outside in. Using a rubber spatula scoop up a portion of the potatoes, plop it down along the edge of the tray and wipe your spatula downwards on the edge to clean it. Keep moving around the edge of the baking dish. Use the rest of the potatoes to fill in the center.
Cut the remaining butter in bits and dot across the top of the potatoes. Sprinkle the top with cheese. Slide tray into the oven and bake minutes until bubbly, usually 15 to 20 minutes. Allow to cool on your stove top for a few minutes before serving.
It was perfect. I made it into a half size pie, and two smaller ones as I know people who do not cook for themselves. Rave reviews around. Thank you.