British · medium · 60 min · serves 6
How to make shepherd's pie vegan
Short answer
Replace lamb mince, butter mash, milk with green lentils + mushrooms, vegan butter, unsweetened soy. The method is unchanged and takes about 60 minutes for 6 servings.
What makes the classic version non-vegan
- Lamb mince
- Butter mash
- Milk
Swap table
| Instead of | Use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb mince | Green lentils + mushrooms | Cook down until dark |
| Butter | Vegan butter | In the mash |
| Milk | Unsweetened soy | Keeps the mash creamy |
Method
- 1Sweat onion, carrot and celery, add mushrooms and cook out the moisture.
- 2Add lentils, tomato paste, thyme, yeast extract and stock; simmer until thick.
- 3Boil floury potatoes, mash with vegan butter and soy milk, season hard.
- 4Spoon mash over the filling, rough the top with a fork.
- 5Bake 30 minutes at 200°C until the peaks are golden.
The one thing people get wrong
A teaspoon of Marmite or soy sauce in the filling gives the savoury depth lamb fat normally brings.
Frequently asked questions
- Can shepherd's pie be made vegan?
- Yes. Replace lamb mince, butter mash, milk with green lentils + mushrooms, vegan butter, unsweetened soy. The method stays essentially the same and takes about 60 minutes.
- What is the hardest part of veganizing shepherd's pie?
- A teaspoon of Marmite or soy sauce in the filling gives the savoury depth lamb fat normally brings.
- How long does vegan shepherd's pie take?
- About 60 minutes for 6 servings — a medium recipe.
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