Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie (Hearty & Flavorful)

November 14, 2024

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If cold-weather consolation meals is what you’re after, this vegetarian shepherd’s pie is certain to fulfill. Loaded with greens, white beans, and tons of savory flavors, this hearty casserole is topped with a blanket of tacky mashed potatoes. And it simply occurs to be naturally gluten free, as nicely.

vegetable shepherd's pie with mashed potatoes on top in blue pan.

Have you ever ever had shepherd’s pie? If you happen to’re unfamiliar with this conventional English dish, it’s a casserole that sometimes contains floor lamb and greens, which is topped with mashed potatoes and baked.

The model I’m sharing at this time is a vegetarian tackle the comforting traditional. Right here, we’ve leveled up the topping by together with white cheddar cheese within the creamy mashed potato, which then will get good and crispy on prime below the broiler. Beneath is a well-seasoned stew-like filling of mushrooms, white beans, and greens. Hearty but wholesome, and so deliciously warming on a chilly day.

In the present day’s recipe joins my record of 30+ scrumptious fall dinner recipes—and for good motive! Between testing, photographing, and filming a video reel for this dish, we in all probability made it about 12x. My whole staff and I beloved this. The flavour is downright INCREDIBLE.

servings of vegetarian vegetable shepherd's pie on white plates.

Why You’ll Love This Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie, Too:

Basic consolation meals, like a stew, casserole, or pot pie
Hearty but healthful and wholesome filling
Effectively-seasoned with garlic and herbs
Customizable primarily based on the greens you’re keen on
Topped with creamy, tacky mashed potatoes
A superb means to make use of up leftover mashed potatoes!
Satisfying all-in-one meal
Vegetarian and naturally gluten free
Excellent as a hearty vegetarian choice for a vacation meal

Pot pie is normally ready with pie crust or puff pastry and baked in a pie dish. It’s so satisfyingly scrumptious and my double-crust hen pot pie is my go-to after I crave the common model. I even have a biscuit-topped vegetable pot pie, which is extra like a casserole and extra much like this vegetarian shepherd’s pie. The 2 variations with this recipe is that (1) we’re topping it with mashed potatoes as an alternative of pie crust, puff pastry, or biscuits and (2) the filling isn’t creamy/dairy-based.

Components in Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie Filling (& Substitutions)

ingredients on white wooden surface including peas, carrots, celery, mushrooms, chopped onions, white beans, herbs, and red wine.

Olive Oil: Warmth some olive oil within the skillet earlier than you start sautéing.
Vegetable Base: Chopped onion, carrots, and celery (aka mirepoix) make a flavorful and fragrant base to many soups, sauces, and stews. We’re including some additional carrots, too.
Garlic: I normally use 3 cloves of garlic, however you would improve it to 4 for additional taste.
Mushrooms: Mushrooms lend their meaty weight to this vegetarian filling, however in case you don’t take care of them, you’ll be able to double the beans as an alternative.
Purple Wine + Purple Wine Vinegar: We examined this shepherd’s pie with out the wine, and located the flavour missing. Select a cheap desk wine—you don’t want a lot, and the alcohol cooks off; that stated, in case you’d relatively not use it, you’ll be able to double the purple wine vinegar and add just a little extra broth.
Tomato Paste: This helps the filling to thicken because it cooks. It serves the identical objective on this candy potato chili, too.
White Beans: I exploit 1 can of nice northern beans right here, however be at liberty to make use of cannellini or navy beans as an alternative.
Vegetable Broth: Vegetable broth is the principle liquid within the filling, which helps all the pieces cook dinner down collectively right into a stew-like consistency.
Herbs & Seasonings: Thyme, rosemary, parsley, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf taste this filling. If you happen to don’t have contemporary herbs, you’ll be able to substitute dried as listed within the printable recipe under.
Vegetable Add-Ins: Right here’s the place you’ll be able to mess around with the recipe by including within the greens you’re keen on most or have readily available. I normally use a mixture of frozen peas and corn. A bag of frozen blended greens is tremendous handy, however you should utilize contemporary or canned and drained greens as an alternative of frozen, if you want.

What’s the Finest Pan to Use for Shepherd’s Pie?

Be happy to cook dinner and bake this shepherd’s pie multi functional pan utilizing an oven-safe skillet, like we do with this straightforward skillet pot pie recipe. I like to recommend a 12-inch cast-iron skillet that’s not less than 2 inches deep. If you happen to don’t have one, you’ll be able to switch the cooked filling from the stovetop to any oven-safe casserole dish that’s about 2.5–3-quarts in measurement. You may additionally use a Dutch oven, which might go from range to oven.

I used a Le Creuset braiser pan within the coloration Sea Salt, which is certainly just a little dear, however such glorious high quality. Makes a stunning present to any cook dinner or baker. (I’m not working with this model, only a huge fan!)

Prepare dinner the filling components on the range per the recipe under. Earlier than it thickens, it seems like this:

red wine and broth with mixed cooked vegetables and herbs in blue handled-skillet.

Tacky Mashed Potato Topping

For this, you want 2 kilos of potatoes. I sometimes use Yukon Gold, however russet potatoes are good too. You additionally want butter for taste, bitter cream to supply a creamy texture, salt, plus some white cheddar cheese. As a substitute of bitter cream, you should utilize plain yogurt, milk, or heavy cream.

Do I’ve so as to add cheese to the mashed potato topping?

The cheese is non-compulsory, however style testers and I beloved the flavour sharp white cheddar offers right here.

Can I exploit leftover mashed potatoes in shepherd’s pie?

Sure. If you happen to occur to have leftover mashed potatoes from a giant vacation meal, save your self a while and use these to prime the pie as an alternative! Don’t fear about measuring how a lot; simply add a pleasant layer on prime of the stew-like combination.

What software do I exploit for the mashed potatoes?

You need to use a potato masher when you’ve got one, or a handheld mixer (what I exploit), or perhaps a pastry cutter.

Unfold the mashed potato topping over the thickened and heat filling (pictured under), after which bake:

bowl of mashed potatoes and skillet of cooked down vegetables and herbs.

spreading mashed potatoes on bean and vegetable mixture.

End by broiling for a pair minutes, to crisp up the highest of the mashed potatoes.

Heat from the oven, this vegetarian shepherd’s pie is an entire meal in a single. I normally serve it with a easy inexperienced salad on the aspect. Between the creamy mashed potatoes, the vegetable filling, and well-seasoned taste, this humble-looking dish ALWAYS delightfully impresses.

spoon in dish of vegetarian shepherd's pie with mashed potato topping.

Extra Savory Dinner Pies

This recipe is a part of Sally’s Pie Week, an annual custom the place I share a handful of recent recipes that match into the pie/crisp/tart class. Be part of the neighborhood under!

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