Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients
For the Mashed Potato Topping:
Fo the Filing:
- 3 tbsp. olive oil or vegan butter
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1-pound mushrooms (cremini, button, shiitake, portobello, chanterelles or a mix), sliced
- 1-½ cups celery, diced
- 1-½ cups carrots, peeled, diced in small ½-inch cubes
- 1-½ cups parsnips, peeled, diced in small ½-inch cubes
- 1-½ cups frozen peas
- 1-½ cups cannellini beans
- 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp. salt, more to taste
- ½ tsp. cracked pepper
- 1 tbsp. fresh thyme leaves or 1 tsp. dried
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 4 tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 3 cups vegetable broth, warmed, mixed with 2 tsp. miso paste
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- ½ cup fresh Italian Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
To prepare the mashed potatoes
- Cut potatoes into halves or quarters; attempt to make pieces as similar in size as possible.
- Remove from heat; drain, saving 1 cup of the potato water.
To prepare the stew:
- In a very large heavy bottom pot, heat oil over medium heat.
- Deglaze with 1/2 cup wine, scraping up any brown bits.
- Let simmer on med-low until carrots and parsnips are perfectly tender and wine has cooked off.
To finish preparation of the potatoes:
- Place the drained potatoes back into the potato pot.
To assemble and bake:
- Pre-heat the oven to 375°F.
- As an alternative, scoope into smaller individual-sized baking dishes or ramekins.
- Spoon the creamy mashed potatoes over the stew, or use a piping bag and pipe the potatoes over the stew.
- If potatoes seem too dry to pipe, whip in a little more hot potato water and they will loosen up nicely.
- Drizzle the top with a little truffle oil.
- Place on a baking sheet (to catch the drippings) and put in the pre-heated oven; bake until bubbly and golden; about 20 – 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
The filling can be made ahead and refrigerated (let it come to room temp before baking) and then assemble the shepherds pie before baking; however, making the potatoes the same day makes for lighter fluffier potatoes, but if in a pinch, assemble the whole thing ahead and refrigerate.
To elevate this dish, pan-sear the mushrooms in olive oil first; season lightly with salt and pepper, cooking until they release all their liquid; allow them to caramelize a bit; set aside while you saute the onions and veggies; add back in with the wine.