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Vegan Shepherd's Pie

A hearty, comforting dish featuring savory lentils, fresh vegetables, and a luscious mashed potato topping, perfect for a cozy meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food, Vegan
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Filling
  • 1 cup Brown or Green Lentils (dried)
  • 4 cups Vegetable Broth
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 large Yellow Onion (diced)
  • 2 medium Carrots (diced)
  • 2 stalks Celery (diced)
  • 8 oz Mushrooms (sliced)
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • 1/2 cup Red Wine (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dried Rosemary
  • 1 leaf Bay Leaf
  • 1 cup Frozen Peas
  • 1 cup Corn Kernels (frozen or canned)
  • 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce or Tamari
For the Mashed Potato Topping
  • 4 lbs Russet Potatoes (peeled and quartered)
  • 1 cup Plant-Based Milk (unsweetened)
  • 4 tablespoons Vegan Butter
  • 2 tablespoons Nutritional Yeast (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Rinse the lentils and add them to a pot with 4 cups of vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer until tender, about 20–25 minutes.
  2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until softened.
  3. Stir in the mushrooms and minced garlic. Cook for another 5 minutes until fragrant and tender.
  4. Add the cooked lentils, tomato paste, red wine (if using), thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, peas, corn, and soy sauce. Season with salt and black pepper. Stir and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. While the filling simmers, boil the peeled potatoes in salted water until fork-tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain, then mash with plant-based milk, vegan butter, nutritional yeast (if using), and salt and white pepper to taste.
  6. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a baking dish, spread the lentil mixture evenly. Top with the mashed potatoes, smoothing it out.
  7. Bake for about 25 minutes or until the top is slightly golden and crispy.
  8. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Don’t forget to take out the bay leaf!

Notes

Prep tips: Chop all your veggies in advance to save time during cooking. Use sweet potatoes for a twist on the classic mash. Fresh herbs can elevate this dish even more.