Vegetarian Lentil Shepherds Pie (Printable)

Wholesome lentil and vegetable filling topped with creamy sweet potato mash for a satisfying dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Sweet Potato Mash

01 - 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter (or olive oil for vegan alternative)
03 - ¼ cup milk (or plant-based milk for vegan alternative)
04 - Salt, to taste
05 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Lentil Filling

06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 2 medium carrots, diced
10 - 2 celery stalks, diced
11 - 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
12 - 2 cups vegetable broth (gluten-free if required)
13 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
14 - 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
15 - 1 tsp dried thyme
16 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
17 - 1 bay leaf
18 - 1 cup frozen peas
19 - Salt, to taste
20 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Set oven to 400°F.
02 - Place sweet potatoes into a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tender, approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
03 - Drain sweet potatoes thoroughly, then mash with butter and milk until smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery, cooking until softened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
05 - Add lentils, tomato paste, soy sauce, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and vegetable broth to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in frozen peas and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
07 - Transfer lentil mixture to an 8 by 8-inch baking dish. Evenly spread sweet potato mash over the top.
08 - Place dish in oven and bake for 20 minutes, until the surface is lightly golden.
09 - Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It feels substantial and warm without needing meat, making everyone at the table feel genuinely fed.
  • The sweet potato topping creates this creamy, slightly sweet contrast that makes the savory lentil filling sing.
  • Comes together in just over an hour, which means weeknight dinners that don't require much fussing.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils—they cook more evenly and taste cleaner when you rinse away the dust and broken pieces.
  • The sweet potato mash needs to be smooth and creamy, not dry; if it seems thick, add milk in small splashes rather than all at once.
  • Taste the filling before it goes in the oven because you can't adjust seasoning once it's baked, and lentils are notorious for absorbing salt without you realizing it.
03 -
  • Cut your vegetable pieces small and evenly so everything cooks at the same pace—nothing worse than hard carrot chunks in a tender filling.
  • Use a potato masher for texture rather than a food processor; you want the mash to be creamy but still slightly chunky, never gluey or overworked.

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