Gardener’s Pie (a.k.a. Shepherd’s Pie)

We have spent the last 10 days in England visiting family and during our stay we did not have one Shepherd’s Pie. So for our first relatively unjetlagged night home I cooked us a vegan Shepherd’s Pie that the family dubbed Gardener’s Pie instead. 

The vegetable ingredients. 

It was very delicious and I didn’t use Worcestershire sauce (it has anchovies in it) so I had to improvise with a bit of soy sauce, liquid aminos, and liquid smoke. This method worked out really well! You can also just use vegan/vegetarian Worcestershire sauce if you have it on hand too! 

Per usual, the family dumped Bisto gravy onto it, but the flavor without it was spot on. I hope this recipe helps you recreate a vegan version of your fav comfort food! 

Recipe 

Gardener’s Pie 

• 1/2 cup of dried lentils 
• 1.25 cup broth or water (I use vegan “beef” broth powder)
• 3 golden potatoes, chopped 
• 1/2 red onion, diced 
• 1 red/orange bell pepper, diced
• 2 clove of garlic 
• 5 carrots, chopped 
• 8-10 baby bell mushrooms, chopped 
• 1 cup frozen peas 
• 1tsp Italian Seasoning (or to taste)
• 1tsp Amino Acids (or to taste)
• 1tsp Soy Sauce (or to taste)
• 4 dashes of liquid smoke (or to taste)
• 2tbsp tomato paste 
• 2tbsp flour 
• 1 cup of broth 

How To: 

• Cook lentils in the 1.25 cup of broth/water. Once water is boiling turn heat down to simmer, keep an eye on the lentils so the water does not fully evaporate
• Place diced potatoes in another pot and cover with water, boil until soft and ready to mash
• Preheat oven to 350F
• In a skillet add 1-2 tbsp of oil or water if using that method
• Sauce the onion, bell pepper, and garlic until translucent (if using water method keep watch to prevent burning)
• Add tomato paste and flour, mix with some water/broth until it is like a smooth paste 
• Add all of the broth, seasonings to taste and let simmer, adding water if it thickens too much, for about 10 to 15 minutes to soften carrots
• Add peas and  cooked lentils, stir to mix turning heat off on stove top

To mash your potato:

• Cook. your potatoes until softened through
• Drain water off reserving 1 cup of liquid
• Mash potatoes with masher
• Add back in the reserved liquid and 2 tbsp of vegan butter 
• Mix and add salt if you prefer 

Assembled 

Assemble your Gardener’s Pie by placing the veg mix on the bottom of a casserole dish. Add the mashed potato to the top. Using the back of a fork you can add crisscross designs into the mash. I did top with some vegan parmesan, no more than a 1/4 cup on the whole casserole. 

Finished and delicious