Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Whenever I am in the mood for something hearty, I make this delicious shepherd’s pie. I love that it’s easy to make and is comforting, but is still guilt-free!

Ingredients:

Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free

6 large organic red potatoes (if they are small, add more potatoes so you have enough to add on top of the filling)

5 medium sized organic carrots

5 large organic celery stalks

1 8 oz. package white button mushrooms

1 8 oz. package crimini mushrooms

1 medium onion

2 cloves garlic, minced (add more if you are a garlic lover!)

2 cloves garlic, whole (for the mashed potatoes)

1 large organic tomato

1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)

Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetable Broth (optional)

Vegan cheese (optional)

Grapeseed oil

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

For the potatoes:

Cut the potatoes into medium sized pieces. Cover with water, add whole garlic cloves and place in a pot. Bring potatoes to a boil, and cover for about 25 minutes. Use a fork to see if the potatoes are done. Drain most of the water (I like to leave a little bit to make the potatoes easier to mash). Add a dash of grapeseed oil. (You may also want to add a bit of vegetable broth if you want softer potatoes.) Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

For the filling:

I recommend making this while the potatoes are cooking. Chop up the carrots, celery, and onion. Sautée them in a bit of grapeseed oil (or a bit of water) until the vegetables are soft. Add Italian seasoning (taste to see how much you’d like – I usually sprinkle some on top of the vegetables, stir, and see if I want more, but that’s usually enough).  If you are using frozen peas, add them now. Add the mushrooms, stir, and add black pepper. After the mushrooms have softened, add the garlic and the tomato. Continue stirring for a few more minutes. Add salt to taste. In a baking dish, spread the carrot, celery, and mushroom mix on the bottom. Top with the mashed potatoes and put in the oven for about 25 minutes. If you are adding vegan cheese, I would sprinkle some on top before putting everything in the oven. Enjoy!