Name: Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 5 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 8 sprigs thyme; 4 large carrot; 2 stalks celery; ½ medium yellow onion, diced; 12 oz beefless ground; 1 cup vegetable broth; ¾ cup peas; ½ cup dry red wine; 2 tbsp tomato paste; ½ tsp dried oregano; ½ tsp kosher salt; 2 lb yukon gold potato, peeled; ½ cup whole milk; 4 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp salt, added to water

This Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie features hearty veggies, plant-powered protein, and creamy mashed potatoes for the perfect comfort meal.

Looking for a cozy vegetarian dinner? Add this Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie to your rotation! Hearty veggies, plant-powered crumble, and creamy mashed potatoes make for the perfect comfort meal. This recipe is batch-friendly too, so it makes for an easy dinner or leftover lunch in a pinch. It’s great for dinner parties or weekly meal prepping.

The anatomy of Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

Beefless Ground

I used Trader Joe’s Beefless Ground Beef as the meat substitute in this dish, but you could opt for any of the following:

Impossible or Beyond or “beef” alternative of choice. Simply brown the crumble before adding to the stew mixture.
Crumbled Tempeh. Swap the tempeh for the beefless ground as directed!
Split Red Lentils. Your shepherd’s pie may need additional time in the oven to ensure your lentils are tender.
Crumbled Seitan. Swap the seitan for the beefless ground as directed!

Hearty Veggies

Peas, carrots, celery, and onion add interesting textures, filling fiber, and micronutrients. If you’re feeling fancy or wanting to explore other veggie additions, I recommend mushrooms of any variety, corn, or cubed squash!

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

I’ve always shepherd’s pie was kind of weird. It’s kind of the opposite construction that I would generally choose. It’s a hearty stew-like filling topped with mashed potatoes. I would generally serve a meal like this upside down for a better eating experience, using the creamy mashed potatoes to catch all of those flavorful stew juices! The stew is almost a sauce or gravy to the otherwise bland mashed potatoes.

Anyway, if you want to dish up your Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie upside down, I won’t stop you! In fact, I would encourage it! Creamy mashed potatoes are smooth and starchy, ready for the task of sopping up all of that flavorful filling!

I use Yukon Golds. They consistently make for the perfect creamy, buttery smooth mash. If you’re looking for a micronutrient boost, opt for sweet potatoes instead! Their sweetness will be a welcome counterbalance to the herbaceous, umami stew.

Ingredients

Mash

2 lb yukon gold potato, peeled
½ cup whole milk
4 tbsp butter
2 tbsp salt, added to water

Stew

8 sprigs thyme
4 large carrot
2 stalks celery
½ medium yellow onion, diced
12 oz beefless ground
1 cup vegetable broth
¾ cup peas
½ cup dry red wine
2 tbsp tomato paste
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp kosher salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 Fahrenheit.
Peel and cube the potatoes. Boil in salted water for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and mash-able.
While potatoes are boiling, prepare vegetables by dicing the onion, chopping the carrots and celery, and removing the thyme leaves from each sprig.
Preheat a shallow Dutch oven to medium heat, and add olive oil to coat the pan. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery and cook to soften, about 8-10 minutes. Once softened, add tomato paste, thyme, oregano, and salt and caramelize the tomato paste for about 2-3 minutes.
Add red wine and allow to boil until it is halved in volume. Once halved in volume, add vegetable broth and beefless ground and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Add frozen peas and stir to distribute evenly. Cover and simmer on low while preparing the potato topping.
Strain potatoes and return to the pot. Add butter, milk, and salt to the potatoes, and mash until smooth and creamy.
Spread the beefless ground mixture into an even layer in the Dutch oven. Top with the mashed potatoes, spreading into an even layer until it is evenly topped. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are golden. Enjoy!