Moraccan Shepherd’s Pie

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil to pan, and swirl to coat. Sprinkle lamb evenly with 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add lamb to pan, and sauté for 4 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove lamb from pan. Add onion to pan; sauté 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; sauté for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in tomato paste, and sauté 30 seconds, stirring frequently.

3. Add chicken broth and 1/2 cup water to pan, and bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Return lamb to pan. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, olives, raisins, honey, ground red pepper, and ground turmeric. Stir in 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in peas.

4. Cook potato in a large saucepan of boiling water 10 minutes or until tender; drain. Cool for 5 minutes. Place potato in a bowl. Sprinkle potato with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and the remaining 3/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Beat potato with a mixer at high speed until smooth. Add egg, and beat until combined. Spoon the lamb mixture into 4 (10-ounce) ramekins; spread potato mixture evenly over lamb mixture. Place ramekins on a baking sheet; bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

Yield: 4 servings