¼ cup vegan brandysubstitute with cooking red wine
1tablespoon tomato puree
2teaspoonsvegan Worcestershire sauceadjust to taste, see substitutions
1tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1cup white mushroomschopped
1cup red lentilsdried
14ouncesdiced tomatoes1 small can, fire roasted works great
1½cupsvegetable broth
Assembling the pie:
1lbRusset potatoessubstitute 3 cups of prepared mashed potatoes
2tablespoonsvegan butter
2tablepoonsalmond milk
1teaspoonsalt
Instructions
If making mashed potatoes from scratch: Peel and boil potatoes until fork tender (typically about 20-25 minutes, while you prepare the filling.
Heat a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add olive oil, and then when hot, add diced onions, diced celery and grated carrots, cumin, and Italian herb seasoning. Cook, stirring frequently, for 10 mins, until vegetables are softened.
Pour in vegan brandy or red wine, and cook for about a minute until the alcohol is cooked off (optional).
Then, add the tomato puree, vegan Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar. Cook for a further minute, then add chopped mushrooms, lentils, diced tomatoes and vegetable broth.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot or skillet loosely and simmer for 20 minutes or more to cook the lentils. Check to make sure the lentils are soft but not mushy and that the sauce has thickened to your liking. Add a splash of water or stock if the sauce dries out too much.
Preheat the oven to 320ºF.
Once potatoes are fork tender, add milk, butter and salt to the pot, and use a masher or richer to mash them well.
Transfer the cooked filling to an 8x8 baking dish. Then, top with dollop spoonfuls of mashed potato, spread with a silicone spatula. Use a fork to create a wavy pattern.
Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and browned. Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving!
Notes
Mashed potatoes: The recipe includes instructions for making simple mashed potatoes on stovetop. You can make these Instant Pot garlic mashed potatoes (way more convenient, and one less thing on the stove!) or these cheesy parmesan mashed potatoes on the stovetop, if you want to take it up a notch. I use Russet potatoes for shepherd's pie, but you can also use a combination of Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes if you wish.
Brandy and Wine: Fun fact, most brandy is actually vegan (I use the Hennessy brand). If you don't have brandy on hand, you can use any red cooking wine instead. The alcohol is completely cooked out, so you don't have to worry about it (or you can just leave this out). If using red wine, any full bodied varietal works well (I typically use a Syrah). Make sure to get a vegan varietal if that matters to you.
Sauce & Seasoning: Vegan Worcestershire sauce is easily available in most supermarkets. If you'r e in the UK, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of vegan brown sauce! I use Italian seasoning, which is available easily here. But you can also substitute this with Fines de Herbs, any Italian dried herbs, or just a mix of dried basil, oregano and thyme!