Chicken Shepherd's Pie with Cauliflower

Ingredients:

For the Filling:

• 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive  oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 celery stick, finely chopped
• 1 (one-inch) piece fresh gingerroot, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. ground turmeric
• 1 lb. lean ground chicken or turkey
• 1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
• 1 small dried bay leaf
• 2 cups packed baby kale

For the Topping:

• 2 cups finely chopped cauliflower florets
• 2 tbsp. ghee or butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric (optional)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Makes 4 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F. 
2. Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook until soft. Stir in the ginger, garlic, and turmeric and cook, stirring for 30 seconds, until fragrant. 
3. Add the chicken and turn up the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Add the tomatoes, thyme, marjoram and bay leaf, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, until thickened. Stir in the baby kale and turn off the heat. 
4. Meanwhile, steam the cauliflower florets for about 8-10 minutes, until soft. Transfer the cauliflower to a large saucepan and mash it with the ghee, heavy cream, turmeric (if using), and cheddar over medium heat, until creamy. If you prefer a smoother mash, blitz the mixture in a food processor. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set it aside. 
5. Transfer the filling to a large pie dish or divide it among 4 individual pie dishes or ramekins. Top it with the mashed cauliflower, ruffling it with a fork. 
6. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until bubbling and golden. 

WW POINTS VALUE: 11 pts. 

Note: This recipe appears in the New Keto-Friendly South Beach Diet book. Shepherd's Pie is considered the national dish of England and a classic comfort food. This version is keto-friendly because it contains a lot of vegetables and uses lean ground meat. The mashed cauliflower is used in place of traditional mashed potatoes. You can use lean ground beef, chicken, or turkey in this recipe for a succulent flavor. Don't worry if the plate looks messy; it still tastes delicious.