“When I was young, Cottage Pie was one of the first things I learnt to make. Its dead-easy and the humble flavours make it such a hearty, welcome dinner – you simply can’t go wrong. I added cayenne pepper into the beef to give it some kick, but that is entirely optional (especially if you are cooking for the kids). Top your cooked mince with creamy cauliflower mash and cover the lot in grated cheese before popping in the oven to melt and gratin. Lush! A perfect, guilt-free low-carb cottage pie. Step-by-step pics to help you along…” – Monya
Fats of Life® is a keto and low carb recipe blog that I love to run as a hobby in my spare time. I am also the author of the best-selling Keto Kitchen Series of cookbooks. This includes my debut best-seller Keto Kitchen (2020). The fun and exciting Lazy Keto Kitchen (2021). And, the clever and inspiring Budget Keto Kitchen (2022). My 4th cookbook, Quick Keto Kitchen (2023) is as fantastic as the first three, and packed with spectacular, easy creations!
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More on Keto Cottage Pie…
For keto enthusiasts seeking comfort food, this keto cottage pie with cauliflower cheese topping offers a delicious and satisfying option that aligns perfectly with the diet’s principles.
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At the heart of this dish is a fusion of earthy mushrooms and savoury beef mince, creating a rich and flavourful filling. Mushrooms, low in carbs and calories, provide a robust umami flavour while beef contributes high-quality protein and essential nutrients like iron and B-vitamins.
To replace traditional high-carb mashed potatoes, the topping is a velvety blend of mashed cauliflower, topped with cheese. Cauliflower, a keto superstar, mimics the texture of potatoes while adding fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Cheese adds creaminess and a savoury punch, enhancing the overall indulgence.
The dish combines healthy fats from the cheese and protein from the beef, ensuring a balanced keto meal that keeps you satiated. You don’t have to sacrifice flavour or comfort while adhering to a ketogenic lifestyle.
It is important to note that to maintain ketosis, it’s essential to track carbohydrate intake and ensure it aligns with your daily macro goals. Consulting with a healthcare professional is advised before making significant dietary changes. Scroll to the bottom to see the full macros and allergens for this Keto Cottage Pie, as well as all the Dinner ideas on Fats of Life®.
Spicy Low-carb Cottage Pie
Per serving
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g (17.6 oz) cauliflower florets
- 45 g (1.6 oz) full-fat cream cheese (soft cheese)
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- salt and white pepper
- 2 tsp lard
- 1/2 onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 120 g (4.2 oz) chestnut mushrooms, chopped small
- 2 TB red wine vinegar
- 500 g (17.6 oz) ground beef mince, 20% fat
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper, (optional)
- 200 g (7.1 oz) chopped / crushed tomatoes
- 65 g strong Cheddar cheese, grated
- pink Himalayan salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- chopped parsley, to garnish
Instructions
- Start with the cauliflower. Trim them into equal-size pieces and bring a large pan of salted water to the boil.
- Boil the cauliflower until completely tender. A floret pierced with a fork should immediately slide off. This can take up to 20 minutes.
- In the meantime, prep your remaining ingredients and preheat the oven to 200°C (fan oven). This is 220°C for conventional ovens (or 425°F / gas mark 7).
- Drain the cooked cauliflower in a colander and allow to steam off for a few minutes. You don't want any unnecessary moisture in the cauliflower mash.
- Mash the cauliflower very well using a potato masher, then add the cream cheese and Dijon mustard. Mix well and season the mixture with salt and white pepper.
- For extra smooth creamy mash (I highly recommend this step) transfer the mixture to a mini food processor. Blitz the mixture to a smooth puree. Set aside.
- For the mince (which can be started while the cauliflower is still cooking) heat the lard in a large pan. Cook the onions until they have softened and partially caramelised. Add the mushrooms and garlic and cook until the mushrooms have softened and caramelised. Keep stirring to avoid the garlic burning.
- Deglaze the pan with the red wine vinegar. Cook until the vinegar cooks out, then tip in all the mince. Add the dried thyme and cayenne pepper (if using). Continue to cook until the mince browns evenly.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and reduce the heat to moderately low.
- Cook until all the liquid cooks out and you are left with a thick, chunky mixture. Taste to check seasoning and salt the mince as needed. Transfer to a suitable-size dish. Spread over the creamy cauliflower mash.
- Scatter over the grated Cheddar cheese and place the dish on a tray (to avoid any bubbling over) and bake until the cheese bubbles and gratins.
- Once done, season with pink Himalayan salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy with a fresh green salad on the side.
My name is Monya Kilian Palmer. If you loved this recipe, please follow and tag me @mkilianpalmer on Instagram so we can all see your lovely creations!
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The links above will take you to Amazon UK. For USA and other countries, see the global Amazon links here: Keto Kitchen ; Lazy Keto Kitchen ; Budget Keto Kitchen ; Quick Keto Kitchen.
Nutritional Information per servingCalories 484Kcal / 2025kJ
Fat 34g
Carbohydrates 11g
Protein 36g
Allergens
Mustard
Milk
Sulphites
Eggs (may be found in some brand of cream cheese - check label)
See all the Low-carb Dinner recipes on Fats of Life:
Disclaimer: The nutritional analysis, macro and allergen breakdown of the recipes on this site have been manually and carefully calculated using the cloud-based software NUTRITICS®. NUTRITICS® is fully approved by the relevant Trading Standards organizations and is EU and FDA-compliant. The macro calculations are provided as a courtesy to you based on the author's weighing of ingredients when creating the dishes. If Erythritol (a sugar polyol) has been used in any of the recipes, it has already been manually excluded from the final carbohydrate count. The author is a chef - not a medical professional - and this website has been designed to provide you with recipe ideas to suit the low carb lifestyle you have discussed with your GP.
3 Comments
Can this put into the freezer?
Yeah, I freeze everything (apart from uncooked vegetables) xxx
Drop me a line if you have any questions or comments about this recipe. I will do my best to reply as soon as possible! Monya xxx