Description
Shepherd’s Pie with Creamy Mashed Potatoes is a comforting plant-based dish combining a hearty vegetable and lentil filling topped with smooth, velvety mashed potatoes. This recipe delivers balanced flavors and textures in one baking dish, perfect for any season and easy to customize to your preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Filling Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste (natural)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mashed Potato Topping
- 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 3 tablespoons plant-based butter
- 1/2 cup plant-based milk, warmed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Filling: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic until fragrant and translucent. Add diced carrots and cook until soft. Stir in red lentils, tomato paste (natural), vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), and vegetable broth. Simmer until lentils are tender and the filling thickens. Season with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Make Creamy Mashed Potatoes: While the filling cooks, boil peeled and chopped russet potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and mash with plant-based butter and warmed plant-based milk until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the Pie: Transfer the lentil and vegetable filling to a baking dish, spreading evenly. Spoon mashed potatoes on top and smooth the surface with a spatula or fork, creating an optional decorative pattern.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the assembled pie for about 25 minutes until the mashed potato topping is golden and lightly crisp around the edges.
Notes
- Use starchy russet potatoes for the fluffiest mashed topping that holds during baking.
- Simmer the filling until thick to avoid a watery pie.
- Let the pie rest for 10 minutes after baking to improve slicing and flavor melding.
- Fresh thyme or rosemary greatly enhance the flavor.
- Taste the filling and mashed potatoes separately before assembling to balance seasoning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Plant-Based
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Shepherd's Pie, Plant-Based, Vegan, Mashed Potatoes, Lentils, Comfort Food
