Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie (Hearty & Flavorful)

November 15, 2024

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If cold-weather consolation meals is what you’re after, this vegetarian shepherd’s pie is bound 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 effectively.

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

Have you ever ever had shepherd’s pie? For those who’re unfamiliar with this conventional English dish, it’s a casserole that sometimes consists of floor lamb and greens, which is topped with mashed potatoes and baked.

The model I’m sharing at present is a vegetarian tackle the comforting basic. 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 high 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.

Immediately’s recipe joins my listing of 30+ scrumptious fall dinner recipes—and for good motive! Between testing, photographing, and filming a video reel for this dish, we most likely made it about 12 instances. My whole staff and I liked 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:

Traditional consolation meals, like a stew, casserole, or pot pie
Hearty but healthful and wholesome filling
Properly-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 possibility for a vacation meal

Pot pie is often 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 just like this vegetarian shepherd’s pie. The 2 variations with this recipe is that (1) we’re topping it with mashed potatoes as a substitute 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 often use 3 cloves of garlic, however you possibly can enhance 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 a substitute.
Pink Wine + Pink 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 mentioned, in case you’d fairly not use it, you’ll be able to double the purple wine vinegar and add a bit 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 a substitute.
Vegetable Broth: Vegetable broth is the primary liquid within the filling, which helps every little thing cook dinner down collectively right into a stew-like consistency.
Herbs & Seasonings: Thyme, rosemary, parsley, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf taste this filling. For those who 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 available. I often use a mixture of frozen peas and corn. A bag of frozen combined greens is tremendous handy, however you should use contemporary or canned and drained greens as a substitute of frozen, if you want.

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

Be at liberty to cook dinner and bake this shepherd’s pie multi function pan utilizing an oven-safe skillet, like we do with this simple skillet pot pie recipe. I like to recommend a 12-inch cast-iron skillet that’s a minimum of 2 inches deep. For those who 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 dimension. You can additionally use a Dutch oven, which might go from range to oven.

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

Cook dinner the filling substances on the range per the recipe under. Earlier than it thickens, it seems to be 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 use plain yogurt, milk, or heavy cream.

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

The cheese is elective, however style testers and I liked the flavour sharp white cheddar offers right here.

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

Sure. For those who occur to have leftover mashed potatoes from an enormous vacation meal, save your self a while and use these to high the pie as a substitute! Don’t fear about measuring the quantity; simply add a pleasant layer on high 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 an electrical 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 a complete meal in a single. I often 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 impresses everybody who tastes it.

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 group under!

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