Vegetarian Lentil Cottage Pie is a modern British recipe for a classic vegetarian version of a cottage pie that uses mixed vegetables and lentils in a tomato base for the filling and mashed potatoes for the topping. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: Vegetarian Lentil Cottage Pie.
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This is a rich and satisfying vegetarian version of the classic cottage pie. Lentils make a great substitute for mince and are packed with protein, and carrots make the mash topping extra sweet. Lentils are a store-cupboard standby for me and as I always have potatoes, this is a comforting dish I often prepare during the winter.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp vegetable oil
4 celery sticks, finely chopped
250g swede, peeled and grated
8 carrots, peeled and grated
1 tbsp dried mixed herbs
3 tbsp tomato purée
3 x 400g tins green lentils, drained and rinsed
1 reduced salt vegetable stock cube
500ml boiling water
a few pinches of freshly-grated nutmeg
600g white potatoes, scrubbed and coarsely chopped
30g butter
salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Method:
Pre-heat your oven to 200C (180C Fan/Gas Mark 6).
To prepare the cottage pie, heat the oil in a saucepan over a medium heat and use to fry the celery, swede and half the carrots for around 5 minutes, until starting to soften. Stir in the mixed herbs and tomato purée and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Add the lentils and mix well, then crumble in the stock cube and pour in the boiling water. Season to taste with salt, freshly-ground black pepper and freshly-grated nutmeg, then cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring the potatoes to a boil in a large saucepan with salted water. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the remaining grated carrots and return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for another 5 minutes until all the ingredients are tender.
Drain the potatoes and carrots, then return to the pan, add the butter and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste, then mash until smooth and set aside.
Preheat your grill (broiler) to high. Tip the hot lentil mixture into a large baking dish and spoon the mash over the top. Use a fork to level it out and make ridges along the top, then grill for 5 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crisp.
