Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

A hearty and flavorful take on an Irish classic, this Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie is filled with lentils and other vegetables rather than beef or lamb.

Shepherd’s Pie vs Cottage Pie

While there isn’t anything particularly Irish about Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd’s pie is a staple of traditional Irish cooking.

Shepherd’s Pie was originally known as Cottage Pie, with cottage referring to the modest dwelling of poor, rural workers during the late 1700’s in Ireland and England, when the potato was a common, affordable crop for poor families.

The term Shepherd’s Pie didn’t appear until the late 1800’s. But, it has become the commonly accepted name for the dish, even though the traditional idea was that  a shepherd’s version used mutton (lamb), while a cottage version used beef.

Our Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

We have seen vegetarian versions named Shepherd-less Pie or Farmer’s Pie, but we’re just going to stick with the traditional name for this vegetarian spin on the classic.

Shepherd’s Pie is quite a hearty and sustaining dish, and this vegetarian twist is no exception.

Lentils give the base of this pie a consistency and texture that is surprisingly similar to ground meat, while at the same time boosting the iron and protein content in this all-veggie pie.

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Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

A hearty and flavorful take on an Irish classic, this Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie is filled with lentils and other vegetables rather than beef or lamb.

Yield: 1 (8x8) baking dish (Double the recipe to fill a 9x13 dish.) 

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Irish-American

Servings: 6 people

Author: Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

Ingredients

For the Lentils

• 1 c lentils,
• 2 c water
• 2 bay leaves

For the Potatoes

• 2 lb russet potatoes,
• ½ c milk
• ½ tsp lemon juice
• ¼ c sour cream
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp minced garlic
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Putting It All Together

• 1 tsp unsalted butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 c corn, thawed if frozen
• 1 c peas, thawed if frozen
• 1 (4oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce*
• 1 Tbsp parsley
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

• In a small saucepan, mix lentils with 2 c water and bay leaves. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered over low heat until lentils are tender and most of the water has been absorbed, 15-20 min.
• Peel potatoes and cut into ½ - 1 inch cubes. Place potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat 10-15 minutes, until tender when pricked with a fork.
• When the potatoes are done, drain the liquid, reserving about one cup.
• Add milk, lemon juice, sour cream, garlic, salt, and nutmeg to the drained potatoes. Whip potatoes with an electric hand mixer until smooth, adding reserved liquid if necessary.
• In a large, non-stick skillet with high sides heat butter. Add onions and sauté until soft. Add carrots and sauté an additional 5 minutes, until carrots begin to soften. Add corn, peas, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Mix and heat through.
• When mixture is heated and carrots are soft, add cooked lentils and mix well.
• Preheat your oven's broiler to medium. 
• Grease an 8x8 oven-safe baking dish. Spread lentil mixture into the baking dish. Top with mashed potatoes.
• Place dish into the oven and broil for 5-10 minutes, until the top is golden.

Notes

*Omit Worcestershire sauce if following a strict vegetarian diet. Replace with 1 tsp white vinegar, 1/2 tsp molasses, and a pinch of sugar. 

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.

www.curiouscuisiniere.com/about/