Lentil Shepherds Pie

[Guest guest]

Hi, what a timely request, we had Shepherd's Pie Sunday night to rave

reviews from my family and non vegan guests. On Monday night, I put

the left overs in the blender, called it lentil gravy and we ate it

over brown rice with a salad, my boys liked it even better and

requested to have it again.

 

I found the recipe in " 125 best Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes " by

Judith Finlayson.

 

Lentil Shepherd's Pie (As printed in book)

 

 

1 T. vegetable oil

2 c. finely chopped onions

4 stalks celery, thinly sliced

2large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

1 T. finely chopped garlic

1 t. salt

1/2 t. dried thyme leaves

1/2 t. cracked black peppercorns

1 1/2 c. brown or green lentlls,rinsed

1 can (28 oz/796 mL) tomatoes, including juice, coarsely chopped,

2 c. vegetable stock

 

Topping

4 c. mashed potatoes

1 c. dry bread crumbs

1/2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese (optional)

 

 

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions,

celery and carrots and cook, stirring, for 7 minutes, until vegetables

are softened. Add garlic, salt, thyme and peppercorns and cook,

stirring, for 1 minute. Add lentils and tomatoes with juice and bring

to boi1. Transfer to slow cooker stoneware and stir in vegetable stock.

 

2. Topping: In a bowl, combine mashed potatoes and bread crumbs. Mix

well. Spread mixture evenly over lentil mixture. Sprinkle cheese over

top, if using. Cover and cook on Low for 7 to 8 hours or on High for 3

to 4 hours, until hot and bubbling

 

 

 

My version:

 

I added some extra carrots and lentils to serve more people and I just

dumped everything in the slowcooker without precooking it in a skillet

(after all, it was sunday morning). I whizzed a quart jar of my home

canned tomatos in the blender with some garlic and oregano to chop it

instead of a boughten can. For the mashed potatos, I was really time

crunched and didn't have enough leftovers, so I took 4c. nearly

boiling water and whisked in 1 c. potato flour, 1 T. paprika & 2 t.

garlic powder. I had to thin it down with more water, to get the

right texture, and that could be done with a nondairy milk for added

richness. I skipped the bread crumbs because this was a mixed group

(CD and non CD) and topped it with some " Rose's Melty Cheese " (from

the files) that I had leftover in place of the dairy cheese just

before serving.

 

I know it would have been nicer (and healthier) with leftover or

freshly made mashed potatos, but nobody knew and nobody noticed. All

in all, it was a successful meal served with a fresh loaf of whole

grain spelt bread out of the bread machine for the non CD and rice

biscuits for the CD.

 

We had leftovers for Monday lunch, and then at supper I put the

remainder in the vitamix and called it lentil gravy. Served over

brown rice it was a wonderful meal.

 

Have a great day,

Melanie