Moroccan "Camelherd" Pie

I wanted to try something different. I knew that I was going to make Shepherd's Pie, but I wanted to spice-it up. So I started to add some coriander, cumin, zaatar and this recipe was born. When I plated this dish up to my darling husband, he affectionately named this recipe Moroccan "Camelherd's" Pie.

Ingredients

Filling
500-700g lamb or beef mince
1 large brown onion, diced
½ red capsicum, diced
3 carrots, diced
200g button mushrooms, diced
½ cup frozen peas
Small amount of chilli paste
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoons ground coriander
3 tablespoons moroccan spice mix
1 tablespoon zaatar
1 teaspoon beef stock powder
250ml dry red wine
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cornflour

Mashed Potatoes
4 large desiree potatoes, cubed
2 teaspoons light cream cheese
Milk
Salt
Handful of grated cheddar cheese

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Add olive oil in a saucepan and add mince. Cook mince and remove excess fat.
Add chilli paste, ground cumin, ground coriander, moroccan spice mix and zaatar. Cook for about 1-2 mins.
Add onions and capsicum and cook until onion are tender and translucent. Add carrots and mushrooms. Cook for 2-3 mins.
Add stock, wine and tomato paste. Add tomato paste and season with pepper. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 20 mins. Add peas and add cornflour to thicken sauce. Let mixture stand until cooled.
Once mince mixture is cooled, add the potatoes to boiling water. Boil the potatoes until tender.
Remove the potatoes from heat and drain. Add the cream cheese to the saucepan and mash potatoes into the saucepan.
Return the saucepan to heat and start stirring vigorously. Add in milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour the cooled mince mixture into an oven dish.
Place a chopping mat onto the oven dish and spread the mashed potato on top. Turn chopping mat onto the mixture.
Smooth out the mixture. With the back of a fork, run lines across the mashed potatoes.
Place pie into the oven for 25-30 mins. When potato is slightly browned, grate some cheddar cheese on top. Cook for a further five mins.