Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? The weather here was absolutely gorgeous on Sunday. I spent some time visiting with my in-laws who currently have 11 of the most adorable rottweiler puppies ever and then I headed home to satisfy my craving for some traditional comfort food.

How do you feel about Shepherd's Pie? It used to be one of my favourite things to make in the Fall and Winter, but I've been stumped on what to do since I stopped eating meat.

I used to make a pretty traditional recipe, which consisted of ground beef, veggies and mashed taters. I'm embarassed to admit that when I was younger, I even made it with instant potatoes!!! My dad would be so ashamed :-S

I've been craving it for days now and I've been racking my brain on what to use as a substitute for the meat layer. I decided to use a lentil filling with some shredded veggies and a mushroom broth and I have to tell ya it turned out pretty darn tasty!

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
Serves 4 - 6

This is a tasty vegetarian twist on a classic comfort food. I tried to keep it as simple and as traditional as I could. The lentil "meat" layer is packed full of protein with some added veggies in the form of shredded carrots and finely diced onion. This is delicious and really, really filling!!

• Bottom Layer

1/3 c onion, finely diced
1 large carrot, shredded
19 oz can of lentils, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c mushroom or veggie broth
3 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 c water
3 tbsp barbecue sauce

Heat a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onions and carrot and cook until softened (5 - 7 minutes). Add lentils and mushroom broth and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. In a small bowl, combine water and cornstarch and mix until cornstarch is dissolved. Pour into veggie/broth mixture and continue to cook until the broth has thickened to a gravy-like consistency. Stir in barbecue sauce.

• Middle Layer

2 - 3 c of your fave veggies (I used frozen corn, because that is what we used as a filling when I was kid - but any veggie would work)

• Top Layer

Approximately 3 c of mashed potatoes. I made some garlic mashed taters with the skins still on because those are our all-time fave!!! Simply mash together cooked yellow potatoes, roasted garlic, Earth Balance, a splash of milk and some sour cream.  HEAVEN! You could do regular mashed potatoes or go crazy and try some mashed sweet taters because they would be delicious as well!

Heat your oven to 350. Grease a medium-sized casserole dish.

To assemble your Shepherd's Pie, spread your lentil mixture in the bottom of your casserole dish followed by the veggies and finally the potatoes.

Bake for approximately 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Serve.

 Amp up the health factor in your "meat layer" by adding lentils with some finely diced or shredded veggies....you can hardly even tell there's any carrots in this .....

Start assembling your casserole.

1. "meat" layer 

  

2. fave veggies

3. ...and no Shepherd's Pie would be complete without some mashed taters!

This is so delicious...& so filling!

Definitely food for the soul that`s perfect for a chilly Fall evening!

What do you layer in your Shepherd`s Pie.
What`s your favourite activity to do in the Fall.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Andrea