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A spoonful of fish and lentil casserole topped with mashed sweet potato, part of a Quick 30-Minute Healthy Dinner Recipes.

Lentil Shepherd's Pie

This recipe provides a hearty, plant-based version of classic shepherd's pie using lentils for the base and mashed sweet potatoes for the topping.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Sweet Potato Topping
  • 3 large sweet potatoes peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 cup milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 2 tbsp butter or vegan butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
For the Lentil Filling
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup brown or green lentils rinsed
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce use vegan if needed
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Equipment

  • Large saucepan
  • Potato masher
  • 9x13 inch baking dish

Method
 

  1. Place the chopped sweet potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes.
  2. While the potatoes cook, prepare the topping. Mash the drained sweet potatoes with the milk, butter, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Lightly grease the baking dish.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  5. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute more.
  6. Add the rinsed lentils, vegetable broth, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper to the saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes, or until the lentils are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the frozen peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
  7. Pour the lentil mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
  8. Spoon the sweet potato mash over the lentil filling. Use a fork to create texture on top.
  9. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned and the filling is bubbling. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

You can substitute regular potatoes for the sweet potatoes if you prefer a traditional topping flavor. For a richer flavor in the filling, add 1/2 cup of frozen corn along with the peas.