Vegetarian Lentil Shepherds Pie (Printable Version)
Savory lentils and vegetables topped with creamy sweet potato mash. A comforting and nutritious main dish.
# What You Need:
→ Sweet Potato Mash
01 - 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter or olive oil
03 - ¼ cup milk or plant-based milk
04 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Lentil Filling
05 - 2 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 medium carrots, diced
09 - 2 celery stalks, diced
10 - 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
11 - 2 cups vegetable broth (gluten-free if required)
12 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
13 - 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
14 - 1 tsp dried thyme
15 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
16 - 1 bay leaf
17 - 1 cup frozen peas
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Place peeled sweet potato chunks into a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
03 - Drain sweet potatoes thoroughly. Mash with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
04 - Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, minced garlic, diced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until vegetables soften.
05 - Add rinsed lentils, tomato paste, soy sauce, dried thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and vegetable broth to the skillet. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until lentils are tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
06 - Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in frozen peas and season the filling with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Transfer the lentil mixture evenly into an 8 x 8-inch (20 x 20 cm) baking dish. Spread the sweet potato mash evenly over the top.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until the topping is lightly golden.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It's genuinely filling and satisfying without any meat—the lentils have real depth and texture.
- One dish, minimal fuss, and it gets better if you have leftovers the next day.
- You can make it vegan or dairy-free without losing anything good.
02 -
- Don't drain the sweet potatoes in a colander and then immediately mash them—they'll be waterlogged; let them steam off for a minute or two first.
- The filling needs to be mostly cooked before it goes into the oven, because 20 minutes baking time isn't long enough to finish cooking raw vegetables.
03 -
- Make the sweet potato mash first and set it aside while you finish the filling—it stays warm and you're less likely to have one component get cold.
- Taste the filling before assembling; you might want a touch more seasoning, and it's easier to adjust before everything goes in the dish.