Best 3 Curried Vegetarian Shepherds Pie Recipes

CURRIED VEGETARIAN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water by 1 inch and season with salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a separate large saucepan with 6 cups water; add the bay leaves, thyme sprigs and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil. Add the carrots, rutabaga, turnip and leeks; reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid, then drain the vegetables. Discard the bay leaves and thyme. Pat the vegetables dry; set aside.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the mushrooms; cook until they release their liquid, 3 minutes. Increase the heat to medium; cook until the liquid is evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the flour, coriander and nutmeg; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Whisk in the reserved cooking liquid and 3/4 cup half-and-half. Bring to a simmer; cook until thickened, 3 minutes. Stir in the carrot mixture, peas and lemon zest and juice. Return to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Season with salt and stir in the parsley.
• Drain the potatoes and let cool slightly. Return to the pot and add the curry powder and the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and 3/4 cup half-and-half. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and mash well.
• Spread the mushroom mixture in a 3-quart baking dish. Dollop the mashed potatoes on top; spread with the back of a spoon. Bake until bubbling around the edges and the topping is browned in spots, about 20 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

CURRIED SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• Put the potatoes into a pot and add water to cover and salt to taste. Bring to the boil and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.
• As the potatoes cook, heat the oil in a skillet and add the onions and garlic over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they are wilted. Add the curry powder, cumin and coriander and cook briefly, stirring.
• Add the meat and cook, stirring down with the side of a heavy kitchen spoon to break up the lumps. Add salt, pepper, the tomatoes, broth and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the broiler.
• Drain the potatoes and put them through a food mill or a potato ricer back into the pot. Stir in the peas and cook briefly.
• Add the hot milk, two tablespoons of the butter and pepper, preferably white, beating with a wooden spoon.
• Heat an eight-cup baking dish (a souffle dish works well) and spoon the piping-hot curried meat into it. Top with the hot mashed potatoes. Smooth over the top. Dot with the remaining tablespoon of butter.
• Run the mixture under the broiler until the top is golden brown. Serve immediately.

VEGETARIAN SHEPHERD'S PIE

Steps:

• In a large pot, bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil over high heat. Add potatoes to boiling water and boil for about 15 to 20 minutes, until soft; a knife should go in with almost no resistance.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling: In a 10-inch oven-safe skillet with high sides or an enameled cast-iron braiser over medium-high heat, bring the lentils, thyme and 2 cups of the broth to a simmer with 1 teaspoon salt. Reduce the heat and continue to cook the lentils, partly covered, until they are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Transfer the lentils to a bowl.
• Finish the topping: In a small saucepan or a microwave oven, heat 6 tablespoons of the butter and milk together until butter melts. Drain potatoes well and return to pot. Using a masher or a ricer, mash hot potatoes until smooth. Mix in the hot butter mixture and sour cream just until blended. Stir in 1/2 of the Parmigiano. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and set aside.
• Finish the filling: Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Melt the butter in the 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until they are deep golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add leeks, carrots and garlic, and continue to cook until tender, another 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the tomato paste and stir, cooking until it is well combined, another 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the mixture, stir and cook for 1 minute. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups broth, cooked lentils and peas, and cook until thickened. Remove thyme stems and stir in lemon juice to taste.
• Top the mixture with dollops of the mashed potatoes, then spread them out over the top. (Or transfer the lentil mixture to a 3-quart casserole dish and spread into an even layer, and top with potatoes.) Sprinkle with the remaining Parmigiano. Transfer to the oven and, if the mixture is at the top edges of your pan, set a foil-lined baking sheet underneath the pan to catch any drips. Bake the pie until the potatoes have begun to brown and the edges are bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.