This yummy recipe is my twist on 'upside-down' cottage pie! Now, I have to admit, I LOVE and ADORE root vegetables! So there is always a massive swede, a bag of turnips, loads of parsnips and a lorry of onions at hand! But no matter how much one loves dozens of stews, curries and root veg soups, there are times for a little change... So here we go! This pie consists of no less than 8 layers, combining mashed sweet potatoes, turnips, parsnips, swede, onions, white potatoes, mince beef and cheese. It's heavenly! Note: I was lucky this time to take a quick snapshot before it was all gobbled up!
Feel free to experiment! Replace the sweet potatoes with carrots, turnips with kohlrabi, add a layer of mashed celeriac or mashed Jerusalem artichokes.
For the cheese I used Red Leicester as it was what the fridge offered, but Monterrey Jack, Cheddar, Emmental or Gruyere are just as good.
We enjoy spicy food, so I add 1 heaped teaspoon of dried chilli flakes and 2 bay leaves to the mince mixture as it simmers. However, if you don't like it hot, 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme will add a wonderful aroma to the dish.