Vegetarian Shepard's Pie

GingerlyJ's Note:

This is a nice alternative to the meat options

• Total Time: 1 hrs 40 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6-8

Yield: 4.0 pounds

• 1 2/3 cups dry green lentils
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups water
• 4 lbs potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 1/2 cups diced carrots
• 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 -2 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon marjoram
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. In 3-quart saucepan, bring lentils, salt and water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, loosely covered, until tender. Cooking time may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the variety and the age of the lentils (I cooked these for 40 minutes--the package said 30). When they are done, there will be just a little water left. Drain it off and reserve it for another use.
2. 2 Pare the potatoes, and rinse and quarter them. Put them in a 3-quart saucepan; add salt and cold water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, loosely covered, about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
3. 3 In the meantime, prepare filling. In 12-inch skillet, heat olive oil and cook chopped onion for 10 minutes. Add diced carrots and cook an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle vegetables with flour and cook, stirring, until flour is absorbed, about 3 minutes. Stir in diced tomatoes, soy sauce and seasonings. Stir in cooked lentils. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove from heat and stir in frozen peas. Set aside.
4. 4 Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drain and mash potatoes. Stir in butter, milk, salt, pepper and cheese.
5. 5 Spray 13x9x2-inch baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. Line bottom of dish with half the mashed potatoes, cover with all the filling, top with remaining potatoes. Fluff potato topping with a fork. Bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
6. If making ahead, refrigerate unbaked casserole until 65 minutes before serving time. Preheat oven to 375. Bake for 55 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Reviews

[Zoe_]

Delicious! I didn't have any cans of diced tomato so I substituted a little leftover pasta sauce and I divided the recipe into two pie crusts from the freezer. I do believe I'll be making this again!