Butternut Turkey Bake

Nigel Slater swaps traditional shepherd’s pie ingredients for turkey and butternut squash, with delicious results.

• a medium-sized butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded and roughly chopped
• a little olive oil
• a large onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• a large clove of garlic, peeled and finely sliced
• 15 chestnut mushrooms, cut into thick slices or quarters
• 3 sprigs thyme
• 500g/1lb 2oz minced turkey
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• a little flour
• 400ml/14fl oz red wine
• a little Worcestershire sauce
• a knob of butter
• 1-2 tsp orange zest

Preparation method

• Preheat the oven at 200C/400F/Gas 6. Put the pieces of squash in a steamer basket and place over boiling water. Steam for 20-30 minutes until fully tender - they must be soft enough to mash.
• Warm a couple of tablespoons of the olive oil in a large pan, then add the onion and garlic and cook until pale gold. Add the mushrooms to the pan with the leaves from the thyme sprigs. Fry until softened and transfer the pan contents to a mixing bowl.
• Add a further tablespoon of oil to the pan, then, as soon as it starts to sizzle, add the minced turkey. Season generously with salt and pepper and then stir in a couple of heaped tablespoons of flour. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then pour in the red wine and a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce. Simmer at a low temperature for 5 minutes then add the mushrooms and onions. Continue cooking for 5 minutes then tip into a baking dish.
• Mash the cooked squash with a potato masher then stir in a generous knob of butter and the grated orange zest, to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pile the mash on top of the turkey, dot with more of the butter, then bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the mash is lightly browned and slightly crisp on top.