Vegan Lentil Shepherd’s Pie with Parsnip and and Potato Mash

Shepherd’s pie screams comfort meals, and this vegan model isn’t very any exception. Worn shepherd’s pie is made with ground lamb, even supposing it’s in general at a loss for phrases with cottage pie, its ground-pork counterpart. Recipe developer Gena Hamshaw well swaps lentils for the broken-down ground meat in this vegan likelihood, which provide the pie substance and makes it hearty and filling. She also provides sautéed mushrooms to provide the lentils that extra boost of umami you’d in most cases safe from meat.

Shepherd’s pie is in general topped with mashed potatoes and baked until the top is golden brown and a diminutive bit bit crunchy; in Hamshaw’s adaptation, the mashed potato topping will get bulked up with parsnips, giving it a itsy-bitsy tang and sharpness. The resulting purée is merely irresistible: Hamshaw isn’t exaggerating when she warns how laborious it is to not like your complete topping earlier than you attach it on the shepherd’s pie. Within the dwell, you safe a hearty dish made up of a symphony of textures and flavors. It be nearly assured to thrill meat-enthusiasts and vegetarians alike. Don’t impartial rob it from us—this review from Ana S. says all of it, “Shared with neighbors they in most cases all requested for the recipe. A winner!”

A few notes on cooking this dish: As she writes above, Hamshaw recommends splitting up the cooking into two days, or a minimal of prepping some parts forward. Lentils are easy to put collectively forward of time and would possibly per chance be saved within the fridge for as much as three days. The potato-parsnip purée can even be made forward; boil the potatoes and parsnips the day earlier than and store them within the fridge until you’re ready to mash and assemble. We’d even indicate making ready your complete dish (as much as the closing bake) forward of time and storing it (tightly wrapped) within the fridge for a day or two, then popping it within the oven to operate every time you’re about ready to love. With a diminutive meal-prepping this dish goes from weekend venture to easy, weeknight dinner. And the most sensible likely share? The leftovers one way or the other kind even better the next day. —The Editors

Directions

1. Location potatoes and parsnips in a large pot and submerge in chilly water (there must be a minimal of 1 creep of water over the vegetables). Salt water successfully. Carry to a boil after which lower to a simmer and allow potatoes and parsnips to cook for roughly 25-35 minutes, or until every vegetables are very fork delicate. Drain, return the vegetables to the pot, and add 2/3 cup milk, 2 tbsp olive oil, and salt and pepper to kind. Mash successfully with a potato masher. Whenever you desire extra milk, add the final 1/3 cup. Mutter the mashed potatoes and parsnips apart.
2. While potatoes are cooking, raise 1 1/2 cup lentils and 3 cups water to a boil. Minimize and simmer until lentils receive absorbed all liquid, and are delicate (about 30 or 35 minutes). Mutter lentils apart.
3. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large saute pan over medium. Add onions and garlic and cook until onions are translucent and golden (10 minutes or so). Add the carrots and celery and cook till every vegetables are delicate (any other 8 minutes). Add the cremini mushrooms and cook for any other 3 minutes earlier than including the lentils, the rosemary, the thyme, and 1/2 cup vegetable broth. Simmer the mix, stirring successfully to consist of flavors. Add extra liquid as wished: you don’t desire there to be too noteworthy broth or liquid within the backside of the pan, since you’ll safe a runny shepherd’s pie, but you discontinue desire it to be rather moist. When the total lot is warmth and successfully blended, season to kind with salt and pepper.
4. Preheat oven to 350. In a large casserole dish, layer the lentil and veggie mixture. Spread the mashed potatoes delicately and evenly over. Bake for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are browning. Sprinkle with extra rosemary, if desired, and lend a hand.