Use Pot Roast And Mashed Potatoes For Easy, Hearty French-Style Dinner

French cuisine may conjure images of intricacy beyond your skills as a home chef; however, plenty of accessible options are out there. For a hearty French-style meal that feels comforting and warm, all you need is a simple pairing of mashed potatoes and pot roast. Use these together to prepare a dinner inspired by a French beef dish known as hachis Parmentier, or French shepherd's pie.

Hachis is the French word for chopping or mincing, referring to the meat, and Parmentier is named for a French pharmacist and agriculturalist who encouraged people to consume more potatoes. This traditional dish was intended to make use of leftover meat from pot-au-feu, the French beef dish meant to feed a crowd. While modern iterations call for ground beef, you can easily transform your pot roast into a robust riff on the classic recipe.

Start by preparing your favorite pot roast recipe. Try a rump roast crock-pot recipe for a set-it-and-forget-it approach. Once the meat has tenderized, remove it and set it aside to strain the gravy, removing any fat or cooked vegetables. Cook mirepoix in the strained gravy and allow it to reduce before folding in the pot roast meat. Layer this in a baking dish and top it with a generous portion of mashed potatoes, then bake in the oven until the top begins to crisp. 

Preparing hachis Parmentier is a great way to reduce food waste by repurposing leftover mashed potatoes and pot roast into a hearty meal. While this recipe takes cues from French-style cooking and is sure to satisfy, there's room for you to add your own creative spin. You can even draw inspiration from other cuisines to choose additional ingredients.

For example, go beyond the basic mirepoix mix of carrots, celery, and onions and add more nutritional value to your dish with extra vegetables. Combine your cooked pot roast meat with bell peppers and mushrooms for a more fiber-rich dish. If you want your mashed potatoes to get a healthy, flavorful boost, simply add garlic and spinach to your dish before layering it atop the beef for even more essential nutrients.

You can also add cheese to your mashed potato layer for more protein. It will bubble and crisp in the oven for a more pleasing top crust to the shepherd's pie. Use the filling from an almost meaty portobello pot roast recipe topped with vegan or vegetarian mashed potatoes to make this dish even more accessible. A little culinary creativity and a dynamic duo of delicious comfort foods will make this French-style dinner both filling and fulfilling.