Vegetarian Lentil Shepherds Pie (Printable Version)
Savory lentils and vegetables layered with smooth sweet potato mash for a nourishing dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Sweet Potato Mash
01 - 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil for vegan option
03 - ¼ cup milk or plant-based milk alternative
04 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Lentil Filling
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 garlic cloves, 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 needed
12 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
13 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
14 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
15 - 1 teaspoon 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 - Heat oven to 400°F (200°C).
02 - Place sweet potatoes in a large pot with salted water. Boil, then simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until tender.
03 - Drain sweet potatoes, mash with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery; cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
05 - Add lentils, tomato paste, soy sauce, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes until lentils are tender and most liquid absorbed.
06 - Remove bay leaf, stir in frozen peas. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
07 - Transfer lentil filling to an 8x8 inch baking dish. Spread sweet potato mash evenly on top.
08 - Bake for 20 minutes until topping is lightly golden.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It tastes indulgent and comforting while being genuinely good for you, no guilt attached.
- Lentils are forgiving and actually get more flavorful the longer they simmer, so timing pressure disappears.
- The sweet potato mash creates this gorgeous golden top that looks restaurant-worthy with zero fuss.
02 -
- Don't skip rinsing the lentils before cooking, even though it seems unnecessary, because it removes starch and makes them cook more evenly.
- If your filling looks too watery when the lentils are done, the heat was too high and the liquid didn't have time to reduce; lower the heat next time and give it more gentle simmering.
- The sweet potato mash thickens as it cools, so if it looks slightly loose when you're spreading it, that's actually perfect.
03 -
- If you're cooking for people with different dietary needs, you can easily split this recipe into smaller baking dishes or make the filling and mash separately so everyone builds their own bowl.
- The filling tastes even better if you let it cool slightly before assembling, because cooler filling gives you better control when spreading the mash on top.