Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (2024)

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Marina

Absolutely delicious. I hate when people change recipes, but I had no mushrooms, so doubled the carrots to four and would use six next time; used shallot instead of leek. Okay, sorry, also used up a nice bit of goat cheese instead of sour cream in the potatoes. The puy lentils make all the difference and so does a bit of Worcestershire sauce. Oh man I changed so many things, I'm one of those irritating people. But let's take it as homage—this was so good I got text messages from people

Leobot

This was a very tasty dinner on a chilly evening. The filling turned out surprisingly savory and meaty even with just cremini mushrooms instead of a mix. I admit that I used cauliflower in place of potatoes for the topping and cut the butter back to two tablespoons. No complaints from anyone. No leftovers either.

Joan

1. Add potatoes to a pan of cold well salted water, bring to a boil and cook 10 - 15 mins. Check after 10 minutes.2. Can use half sweet potatoes, half regular potatoes.3. Substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream.4. Can substitute onions for leeks.5. Can use 1/2 tsp dried thyme instead of fresh sprigs6. Add a Tbsp or two of Panko to the grated Parmesan topping

Lisa W

Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese is not vegetarian. Sadly, it contains rennet (scrapings from animal intestines.) There are somewhat similar types of cheese which are vegetarian/vegan which may be available at your local cheese shop.

Rebecca

As others have mentioned, this makes more potato topping than you'll need. Rather than reducing the potatoes, though, I'd add more carrots, lentils and mushrooms to the base. I'd also up the base's complexity with carmelized onions, and deglaze with white wine. It just needs more oomph. Also, instead of all the effort of mixing parmesan into the potatoes, I'd up the butter and cream until you have a really good standard mashed potato flavor for the topping.

LODW

Kosher parmesan will not have rennet.

Raje Wolf

Can you make the day before? Traveling to a vacation home for Christmas dinner. Please advise!

IQ

This was AMAZING. No leftovers whatsoever! Pretty easy to make but it takes time and may take more pots and pans than anticipated. Plan ahead!

Maddie

This was DELICIOUS. I made it a day ahead, for a St. Patrick's Day party (I'm the vegetarian) and everyone loved it. I kept the filling separate from the potato topping until it was time to bake. Savory and comforting - this is a delightful winter dish, and a nice choice for vegetarian and/or gluten-free guests (use cornstarch instead of the flour). I found green lentils at Trader Joe's.

Mike M

Cook it all separately. Worth it. Add rosemary. Use potato water bullion with the veggies. Caramelize onions first. Use potato water and yogurt in mashed potatoes. Smoked paprika on top. Add celery and corn.

Janice

A delightful meal and I dare say better than meat based shepherd’s pies I have eaten. I did not find the prep work too much. I did boil potatoes the day before and warmed them up in the microwave before mashing. This did cut down on the prep time. While the potatoes boiled I peeled and cut the vegetables and stored in frig until the next day.

Avani

I have made this several times and its been a hit every single time! There is a lot of work and a lot of pots and pans to clean after, but the recipe is totally worth it... so I've often made 1.5 times or even double the batch and frozen for another meal a few days/weeks later. I freeze the filling and topping separately in air-tight containers and thaw in the refrigerator for 24-36 hours before assembling and baking. The frozen version comes out just as good and leftovers are also delish!

David

Try cooking the lentils with two cups red wine for two cups of the broth. I also use a mash of potatoes, one mashed parsnip, and one mashed white sweet potato. As many comments indicate, this is a recipe which can take many variations and almost all enjoy it, especially on a cold night

Tom

Really good dish--even though (as a non-vegan), I (and my family) also love traditional Shepherd's Pie with lamb. Added Worcester sauce. Surprised at the comments about the number of dishes. By pre-cooking the lentils in the same pan that is later used for the mushrooms, leeks, tomato paste, etc., the only cooking pans are two (the above-mentioned, and one for cooking the potatoes pre-mashing). Yes, it takes some time (and measuring cups/bowls), but this is hardly unusual to any recipe.

Veronica Zweben

This was very tasty. My son, who is not vegetarian, said it was good as he was eating it. I usually have to ask if he likes something, and then I get a critique as though he were a critic on Chopped. I used shallots, instead of leeks, because I prefer their flavor. I used a Parmesan (without rennet) which adds a lot of flavor to the potatoes. I will definitely make this again.

T Cohen

Didn't change a thing, loved this recipe the best of all vegetarian Shepherd's Pies I've tried.

alex

I used fresh peas and added a little herbs de Provence to the vegetables as they were sautéing to deepen the flavor profile. So good! New favorite comfort food.Only downside, it’s a time consuming recipe. Plan accordingly!

MM

Used 14 oz mixed mushrooms and 3 carrots and 1c red wine. Good leftovers.

KateW

Unbelievably good. Doubled the recipe and happily fed 12 with plenty of braised cabbage, roasted carrots and parsnips and corned beef. I did not add the Parm to the potatoes and did not miss it at all. Raves all around.

G

This recipe is really good however, I changed up a few things: the filling needed some punch (I used homemade stock) and added some Sriracha.For the potatoes I used 6lbs of Yukon Golds and added 6 tablespoons of chopped chives. The topping is used 2/3 cup of plain Panko & 2/3 cup of Parma, 4 tablespoon of soften butter mix and put on top. It’s a winner.

Elizabeth

4 stars. Followed instructions exactly and made no substitutes. The recipe calls for an entire stick of butter between the topping and filling. Although tasty it didn’t knock my socks off and kids (9 & 7) barely touched it. I’ll stick with lamb-based versions in the future.

Nancy

You can find Parmesan Reggiano that is vegetarian at any Seventh Day Adventist grocery store or many health food stores. If you have a 7th Day Church in your area ask them if theres a store near by, worth the drive.

j

Used red lentils, approximately 1/2 cup less broth. This is not the first time I’ve made this but it needed more flavor this time. Add Worcestershire sauce?

erika

Don’t need any butter, you can use some olive oil to sauté and you can add a little to the mashed potatoes if you wantAlso you can use almond milk and plain greek yogurt instead of heavy cream and sour cream

Robin Russell

Question - how soupy/brothy should the lentil filling be? Does it need to be soupy and then it dries out in the final cooking with the topping? Or if it’s not soupy enough, will it dry out completely?

easy and delicious!

Made this using the Trader Joe’s steamed lentils to save some time. Left out the mushrooms because my husband can’t stand them. Added in Worcestershire and a little HP brown sauce to the lentil mixture. We both really enjoyed it!

SusanC

This was delicious! Increased all of the veg by about 1/2 but I could have just eaten all of the potatoes straight out of the pot so it wasn't too much at all. Will definitely make again.

Halle

So yummy. I don't like mushrooms, so I used 4 large carrots, a pile of Brussels sprouts, a pile of green beans, and shallots. Instead of plain mashed potato topping, I used half potato, half cauliflower mash. I did use the Parmesan, no other dairy. Lots of fresh black pepper, lots of Worcestershire. It made a lot, so the time spent seemed worthwhile.

edmund mander

This is a delicious recipe, but the prolonged sautéing of the mushrooms and then the other vegetables ends up burning the fond. Next time I shall deglaze the mushrooms—perhaps with wine—then remove them, and then go on to sauté the other vegetables.

Me

Less potatoes

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Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep shepherd's pie from falling apart? ›

How do you keep shepherds pie from falling apart? The eggs in the mashed potatoes help keep the pie together. You should also make sure to spread the potatoes and press down a bit.

Are the ingredients for shepherds pie? ›

Shepherd's Pie Ingredients

Ground Beef: You could also ground lamb if you prefer. Mashed Potatoes: Use starchy potatoes (like russet or Yukon Gold) for the best mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes are also made with butter, onion, and Cheddar cheese.

How do you make shepherd's pie not runny? ›

Thicken the filling

Step 3: Two ingredients help create a gravy-like consistency in the shepherd's pie recipe: tomato paste and flour. The concentrated tomatoes disperse and lightly thicken the beef stock. The flour is stirred with the meat and then swells and reduces as the liquid simmers.

How to make shepherd's pie without beef broth? ›

You can swap the beef broth for chicken broth if you prefer. For an Irish shepherd's pie, swap the beef broth for Guinness. Worcestershire Sauce. Adds wonderful umami flavor.

How do you stop mashed potatoes from sinking shepherd's pie? ›

To get really smooth, creamy mash, use a potato ricer or sieve. To stop the mash sinking into the filling, allow the meat to cool before topping with the mashed potato.

What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›

The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.

Does shepherd's pie contain gravy? ›

Talk about satisfying. Ground beef, vegetables, and gravy are baked under pillowy mashed potatoes. If it's not yet already, this will soon be a family favorite recipe.

How is shepherd's pie originally made? ›

And, by doing so, the humble shepherd's pie was born. Originally, the dish contained a pastry shell at the bottom, top, or both. Over time, this morphed into potato slices at the bottom and top of savory minced lamb meat, until it eventually became a topping of mashed potatoes.

Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›

This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? ›

Why is my shepherd's pie soggy? Avoid a soggy pie by simmering the meat mixture for at least 8 minutes. Be sure to cook down the mixture to remove excess moisture.

How to make shepherd's pie less salty? ›

Add Dairy. Milk can go a long way in solving the salty gravy (or sauce) problem. The creaminess in milk and other dairy products desensitizes your taste buds, making the sauce taste less salty. Using dairy adds richness, too.

How long does homemade shepherd's pie last? ›

Freshly baked shepherd's pie will keep for about 3 to 5 days in the fridge refrigerate covered with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

What is a vegetarian substitute for beef broth? ›

Soy sauce. Surprisingly, soy sauce is a good replacement for beef broth. Similar to liquid aminos, soy sauce needs to be diluted before adding it to your recipe. Mix about a tablespoon of soy sauce into a cup of water to replace one cup of beef broth.

What is vegan shepherds pie made of? ›

A traditional shepherd's pie fillings contain onions, carrots, celery, peas, and of course meat (typically lamb). My plant-based version starts with brown (or green) lentils and onions, which get cooked down until beautifully browned, alongside plenty of garlic.

What is a substitute for Worcestershire sauce in shepherd's pie? ›

“Try a combination of 1 part ketchup to ½ part soy sauce and ½ part malt vinegar to start," Malivert says, "and play with the proportions to balance the flavor.” Use this as a 1-to-1 substitute for Worcestershire sauce.

How do you keep a pie from separating? ›

My pumpkin pie always cracks or separates from the crust.

The solution? Blind-bake your pie crust with pie weights until light gold, then pour in the filling and bake until inch or so diameter in the center is still jiggly like jello—not soupy.

Why does my meat pie fall apart? ›

Adding flour at the start means you're working with an already-thick sauce while it cooks. Thick sauces require regular stirring to ensure it doesn't catch on the base of the pot but the problem is all this stirring causes the beef pieces that are tender from long cooking to break apart.

Why is my pie falling apart? ›

The pie dough is too dry!

There are two very important things to point out in those few words– “cold” water and “just until flour is moistened.” It's critical to use cold water to keep the butter cold. The butter should stay firm so it doesn't soften and combine with the flour.

Why did my pie filling split? ›

You cooled the pie too quickly

The thermal shock of a pie going from a hot oven to the fridge can rapidly contract the egg proteins and just like overbaking, this will split the filling. To avoid this, make sure to allow your pie to cool down completely before chilling.

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