Vegetarian Shepherd S Pie With French Lentils

Since most of our recipes are designed to be approachable, a disclaimer is in order for this one. This is a dirty-every-pan special occasion type recipe, where your kitchen looks like a tornado hit it when you’re finished. (At least, ours did.) While it could be called simple, it’s not quick. That said, this vegetarian shepherd’s pie absolutely worth the mess to end up with a cozy, creamy Parmesan mashed potato topping over the most savory and delicious lentils. Keep reading for our vegetarian shepherd’s pie recipe, and why it’s worth every second of the preparation.

A hearty savory pie

Alex and I work together each year to create a fresh vegetarian Thanksgiving main dish and accessorize it with Thanksgiving sides. Our goal is to show that this holiday can both delicious and healthy at the same time, and that you don’t have to leave the table with a stomach ache. Instead of rich and processed food-based recipes, fresh and seasonal foods can be used to create a beautiful table. And, we love getting creative and thinking outside the turkey for a vegetable centered main dish. This year’s Thanksgiving main dish is this vegetarian shepherd’s pie: savory, hearty, and oh so good.

How to make vegetarian shepherd’s pie

This vegetarian shepherd’s pie stars in our Thanksgiving lineup, but of course it can be made anytime! It’s great for a showstopping fall or winter main dish. Shepherd’s pie is typically a base of meat and vegetables, covered with mashed potatoes. For this vegetarian shepherd’s pie, we’ve substituted French lentils for the meat, along with umami-like flavors like miso and soy. The miso is worth finding at your grocery if you don’t have it on hand; it adds a savory, meat-y flavor punch to the vegetables.

Listen

Listen to us talk about Thanksgiving recipes and a cozy cocktail on the A Couple Cooks Podcast.

Looking for fall recipes?

Are you looking for fall recipes? Outside of this vegetarian shepherd’s pie, here are a few of our favorites:

Lentil and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet PotatoesRoasted Acorn Squash with Wild Rice Pistachio StuffingStuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa and HerbsSavory Vegan Pot Pie with Sage CrustCozy Dal Makhani

Looking for savory pie recipes?

If you’re looking for some more savory pie recipes outside of our vegetarian shepherd’s pie, here are a few on our website and around the web:

Vegan Pot Pie with Savory Sage CrustSavory Sweet Potato Galette with FetaVegetarian Tamale PiesVegetable Pot Pies29 Savory Pies to Eat for Dinner Tonight | Bon Appetit