Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

Ideal for a cold, winter night when you're craving a home-cooked meal, this vegetarian shepherd's pie from The Essential Edible Pharmacy will leave you feeling satisfied, but not like you've overindulged. This meat-free alternative to the tradition shepherd's pie is the perfect excuse to invite the whole family round for a cosy dinner!

Ingredients:

extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 turnips, washed and grated
2 carrots, washed and grated
10 button mushrooms, quartered
1 cup shelled peas
2 celery sticks, sliced into little 'c' shapes
2 teaspoons ground cumin powder
1–2 tablespoons garlic powder
4 ripe tomatoes, chopped or 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 cup liquid vegetable stock
1 x 400g can lentils, drained and rinsed
sea salt and pepper, to taste
2 medium-sized sweet potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed, for topping
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Place a large saucepan over medium to high heat and add a little olive oil, then add the onion, garlic, turnips, carrot, mushrooms, peas and celery and stir for a few minutes until cooked through. Add cumin and garlic powder and stir through. Then add the tomatoes, vinegar, stock and lentils. Stir and allow to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, adding sea salt and pepper.

Spoon the mixture into a large casserole dish and level the top with the back of a spoon. Top with the mashed sweet potato. Level the sweet potato with a fork, creating some attractive looking grooves that will crisp up in the oven. Drizzle a little extra olive oil on top, then sprinkle on the sesame seeds that will add a little more crunch to the top of your shepherd's pie. Pop into the oven for 10 to 20 minutes until cooked through. Serve hot on a cold night for extra effect!

Serves 4-6.

More delicious recipes can be found in The Essential Edible Pharmacy.

Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency Pty Limited ABN 14 099 650 996 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807, the product issuer. Limits, exclusions and conditions apply. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. Go to apia.com.au for a copy. The Target Market Determination is also available. This advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situations or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it. The information is intended to be of general nature only. We do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries.

See all articles

Topics