Spiced Vegan Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash

Small white plate with sheperd's pie and fork, next to a tray of sheperd's pie.

Spiced Vegan Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash

A cozy, plant-based take on cottage pie with spiced lentils and sweet potato mash. High-protein, budget-friendly, and perfect for chilly nights.

Course Main Course

Cuisine English

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1 10

Total Time 1 30

Servings serves

Calories 404kcal

Equipment

Oven

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil approx. 42g
4 medium yellow onions diced; approx. 600g
4 stalks celery finely sliced; approx. 280g
4 medium carrots peeled and diced; approx. 400g
6 cloves garlic minced; approx. 18g
3 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp garam masala
2 14 oz cans brown lentils drained and rinsed approx. 800g total (480g drained)
2 tbsp tomato paste approx. 30g
2 tbsp soy sauce approx. 30mL
3 ½ cups vegetable broth approx. 830mL
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes approx. 800g total

Sweet Potato Mash:

3.3 lbs sweet potatoes peeled and chopped; approx. 1.5kg
3 tbsp vegan margarine approx. 42g
2 tbsp white miso paste approx. 30g
½ cup nutritional yeast approx. 20g
¼ cup unsweetened soy milk approx. 60mL

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 360°F (regular bake, not fan-forced). If you're using a fan-assisted oven, reduce to 340°F.
Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onions, celery, and carrots. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6–8 minutes or until softened.
Add the garlic, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, and garam masala. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
Stir in the drained lentils, tomato paste, and soy sauce. Cook for 1–2 minutes to coat the lentils in the spices.
Add the hot vegetable broth and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and reduces.
Meanwhile, place the chopped sweet potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold, salted water. Bring to a boil, then cook for about 10–12 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain well.
Return sweet potatoes to the pot and mash with vegan margarine, miso paste, nutritional yeast, and soy milk. Season to taste with salt. Mash until smooth and creamy.
If using a Dutch oven, spread the sweet potato mash directly over the lentil filling. If you used a skillet, transfer the lentil mixture to a large oven-safe baking dish, then top with the mash. Smooth the top with a spatula, then run a fork across to create texture.
Drizzle or spray a little olive oil over the top and sprinkle with salt. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling at the edges.
Let sit for 5–10 minutes before serving. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Video

Notes

This recipe was adapted from the Woolworths Indian Spiced Veggie Cottage Pie.

Nutrition