When it’s cold out which it is in most places these days, except for you lucky people down under, this is the kind of recipe that can warm you right up. The origin of Shepherd’s Pie was the shepherd using what he, or she, had around to make a dish worth eating.
Since we are shepherding in a new way of eating for many people, I have gone beyond the usual commercial meat substitute used for this dish. There are two steps to this Shepherd’s Pie recipe, but it is well worth it. Not only do they look beautiful the taste is what will really win you over.
I received a note about this recipe that it is actually called Cottage Pie. I explained that most ignorant Americans are more familiar with the term Shepherd’s Pie than Cottage Pie, and no matter what this main course is certainly not traditional. In any case, it’s a tasty, hearty and soul satisfying dish.
Shepherd’s Pie from Vegan Under Pressure
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced carrot
- 1/3 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced turnip or peeled sweet potato
- 1 cup French green lentils rinsed and picked over
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or ¼ teaspoon dried
- 1¾ cups vegetable stock
- 1 to 2 tablespoons browned rice flour or other browned flour (see Note)
- 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 to 2 teaspoons tamari to taste
- 1 cup diced fresh or canned tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste optional
- 1 recipe Garlic Parsley Mashed Potatoes
Instructions
- Heat a stovetop pressure cooker over medium heat or set an electric cooker to sauté. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and dry sauté for 3 minutes. Add the turnip, lentils, thyme, bay leaf, rosemary, and stock.
- Lock the lid on the cooker. Bring to high pressure; cook for 10 minutes. Let the pressure come down naturally. Remove the lid carefully, tilting it away from you.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the browned flour*, or 2 tablespoons if the filling seems thin, plus the Worcestershire sauce, tamari, tomatoes, and tomato paste, if using. Stir. Cook on the stove top, stirring to prevent burning; or lock the lid in place and let sit for 3 minutes. Quick release any built-up pressure.
- Discard the bay leaf. Transfer the filling to a casserole dish or 4 or more ramekins. Top with the mashed potatoes. Run under the broiler to brown, or at least heat, the potatoes.
Can I add beef to the sheperds pie?
When you make it you can add whatever you like but I am not ever going to recommend adding beef to any of my recipes, as I wouldn’t know how to do that.
i know i’m probably going to get some flack about this… but… you mentioned above that a “beef-style” seitan can be used. well i’m sorry to say, if you use beef, it’s a Cottage pie you are making, not a Shepherd’s pie (i’ve noticed most Americans make this mistake). Shepherd’s pie uses either lamb or mutton (mutton is from a sheep 1yr or older).
you can, if you wish (and don’t believe me), Google “Shepherd’s pie vs Cottage pie” and see for yourself…
i’m not trying to be funny, i’m trying to help, i just don’t want people to keep making this mistake…
Thank you for this clarification. Since we don’t use meat of any kind, and I am an ignorant American – and this is what we know, I don’t mind calling this a shepherd’s pie. As I (mis) understood it, it is a pie with meat and vegetables (to use up scraps), topped with mashed potatoes. No flack at all. I always like to learn.
The issue is that most Americans just want the food no matter what it is called. I will amend the title, although the recipe in the cookbook is called, right or wrong, shepherd’s pie.
Has anyone tried canning this?
We love this recipe! sometimes I add red beets and it is delicious! My family enjoys it as written or as a soup without the potatoes.
I have never canned this. But if you did, you could need a pressure canner.
If you do it, let u know how it goes.
My husband doesn’t care for beets so I never would have thought to add them.