Vegan Irish Shepherd’s Pie – Holy Cow Vegan

March 17, 2024

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This vegan Irish Shepherd’s Pie has a savory, fragrant base of lentils, tempeh and greens topped with creamy mashed potatoes that bake up crusty on the sides.

Vegan shepherd's pie in white plate with fork.

This flavorful, meatless model of a traditional Irish shepherd’s pie is hearty, wholesome and stuffed with veggie goodness.

The pie has a hearty, protein-packed filling of crumbled tempeh, brown lentils, and veggies, together with celery, bell peppers, onions and inexperienced peas, seasoned completely with mustard, tomato paste, paprika, mint, thyme and, oh, sure, a spot of Irish whiskey.

Over all of this goodness goes a thick layer of mashed potatoes that turns golden and crusty within the oven.

If you are going to a potluck for St. Patrick’s Day, that is the right recipe to deliver alongside. It travels simply, and it’ll vanish in seconds! Or serve it at house, with a hunk of vegan Irish soda bread. You may really feel fortunate because the Irish.

For extra Irish inspiration, take a look at all of our vegan Irish recipes, together with a traditional vegan Irish stew, vegan Irish hand pies, vegan Irish chili and vegan colcannon.

Desk of Contents

Why you’ll love this recipe

Wholesome and protein-packed. The lentils and tempeh add heart-healthy protein and the veggies add taste and deliciousness. (In the event you like meatless meat within the filling, check out this vegan breakfast shepherd’s pie, which can be so, so good.)
One-dish meal. All of the vitamins you want are on this single dish: wholesome protein, wholesome carbs and plenty of yum.
Easy recipe with pantry elements. A lot of the elements you want on this dish are possible already in your house, together with the lentils and the dried herbs.
Gluten-free, nut-free recipe. See part on particular diets beneath to tweak the recipe to soy-free and oil-free diets.

Components

Brown lentils. Use canned or cooked lentils. Inexperienced lentils or puy lentils will work as an alternative.
Smoked tempeh. This can give the perfect taste however you’ll be able to substitute with common tempeh.
Greens: onions, celery, carrots, inexperienced peas, cremini mushrooms and potatoes.
Herbs: garlic, dried thyme, dried or contemporary mint and dried rosemary.
Seasonings: Irish whiskey (non-obligatory), tamari (or soy sauce), cayenne and/or paprika, tomato paste and Dijon mustard or wholegrain mustard.
Additional virgin olive oil

The way to make vegan Irish shepherd’s pie

Onions, garlic and celery in skillet with wooden ladle.

Warmth oil in a big skillet or sauté pan. Add garlic, sauté for a couple of seconds, then stir within the onions together with some salt and floor black pepper. Stir and sauté for a few minutes till the onions are translucent.

Carrots and bell peppers added to skillet.

Add the carrots and bell peppers and blend in.

Mushrooms added to other veggies in skillet.

Stir within the mushrooms. Add the Irish whiskey, if utilizing and cook dinner till many of the moisture within the pan has evaporated.

Crumbled tempeh added to veggies in skillet.

Add the tempeh and blend in.

Herbs, spices and tomato paste added to veggies.

Stir within the seasonings: tomato paste, mustard, tamari, cayenne and/or paprika, dried mint and dried thyme. Combine properly.

Add the lentils and frozen inexperienced peas to the pot. Combine.

Cook dinner till warmed by. Put aside.

Place the riced or mashed potatoes in a bowl and add salt, floor black pepper, dried rosemary, olive oil and non-dairy milk. Combine properly till gentle and fluffy.

Spray a baking dish with oil. Layer the filling into the baking dish. Layer the mashed potatoes over the lentil filling in a good layer.

Vegan sheperd's pie assembled before baking.

Use the tines of a fork to create ornamental patterns within the mashed potatoes. Bake the shepherd’s pie in a preheated , 400-degree Fahrenheit/205-degree Celsius oven for 25-Half-hour or till the potatoes are evenly browned and crusty on the edges. Let the shepherd’s pie stand 10 minutes earlier than serving.

Tweaks for particular diets

Soy-free: Skip the tamari and use soy-free coconut aminos.
Oil-free: Saute the greens in ¼ cup water. Skip the olive oil within the mashed potato layer and add extra non-dairy milk as wanted.
Low-carb: Use mashed cauliflower as an alternative of mashed potatoes for the highest layer.

Professional Tip

For extra texture, cook dinner the lentils till tender however barely al dente. For a softer filling, cook dinner the lentils till very tender.

Storage directions

Make-ahead: The filling and mashed potatoes will be made as much as two days forward and assembled earlier than baking the day you propose to serve the shepherd’s pie. The whole pie will be assembled and refrigerated as much as two days upfront, then bake the day you’ll serve it.
Refrigerate: Retailer the baked shepherd’s pie within the fridge for as much as three days.
Freeze: The pie will be frozen, baked or unbaked, for as much as three months. Bake or reheat earlier than serving.

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