Description
This Vegan Shepherd’s Pie is a hearty and comforting plant-based dish featuring a savory mixture of mushrooms, lentils, and vegetables topped with creamy garlic mashed potatoes. Perfect for a satisfying dinner, it is easy to prepare and baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie Filling
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter or olive oil
- 2 cups mushrooms, chopped
- ½ cup carrots, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon all purpose gluten free flour mix
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- ½ cup fresh or frozen peas
- 1 to 1 ½ cups cooked lentils (add the extra ½ cup for more filling)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
To Top – Best Vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Prepared vegan garlic mashed potatoes (quantity sufficient to cover the top of the pie, approximately 3 to 4 cups mashed potatoes)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the pie later.
- Make Mashed Potatoes: Prepare a batch of vegan garlic mashed potatoes separately and set aside for topping the pie.
- Cook Vegetables: In a pan over medium-high heat, warm the vegan butter or olive oil. Add the chopped mushrooms, carrots, minced garlic, onion, celery, and fresh thyme. Stir and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes until the onion is translucent, garlic is fragrant, and vegetables have softened.
- Season and Thicken: Season the cooked vegetables with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Stir in the gluten free flour to coat the mixture, then pour in the vegetable broth. Simmer for 5 minutes on medium heat to thicken the filling slightly. For a thicker consistency, add extra flour by the tablespoon.
- Add Lentils and Peas: Remove the pan from heat and fold in the cooked lentils and fresh or frozen peas. Stir until the peas are warmed through. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Assemble Pie: Transfer the filling to a casserole dish, spreading it out evenly. Spoon and spread the prepared vegan mashed potatoes over the top, covering the filling completely. Optionally, create a decorative pattern on the mashed potatoes for presentation.
- Bake and Broil: Bake the assembled pie in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then switch to a low broil setting and broil until the mashed potato topping turns golden brown and slightly crispy on top.
- Serve: Allow the pie to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your comforting and hearty vegan shepherd’s pie!
Notes
- You can increase the amount of cooked lentils up to 1 ½ cups for a more protein-rich and filling pie.
- Use fresh thyme for the best flavor, but dried thyme can be substituted if needed (use about ½ teaspoon dried).
- The mashed potatoes topping can be made in advance to save time.
- For a thicker filling, add more flour during cooking to reach desired consistency.
- Make sure to broil on a low setting to avoid burning the mashed potato topping.
