Veggie Shepherd’s Pie

Prep time:     20-30 minutes

Cook time:   1 hour

Cost:              $10

Makes:          6 servings

If you do not add cheese on top of this dish, or have gravy on the side, this recipe is vegan (no animal products). I bought extra veggie meat from Thrifty Food’s, (sale ends today) and got my vegetables from the Farmer’s Market. Again, the costs for vegetables at this market are similar to those at grocery stores.

I added Jerusalem artichokes to the mashed potatoes that go on the top layer of this dish. They are a root vegetable, which are also good when roasted in the oven, and add extra flavour.   

Ingredients:                                                                          Cost:

-          Veggie ground round                                                          $2       

-          Olive oil

-          Cheese (optional)

-          Vegetables (optional)

o   1 medium onion                                                 $0.50

o   A few cloves of garlic                                        $0.50

o   3 medium carrots                                               $2

o   6 small potatoes                                                 $2

o   4 small Jerusalem artichokes                            $2

o   Peas

-          Spices (optional)

o   Basil

o   Cumin

o   Paprika

o   Chili powder

o   Salt and Pepper

Cook carrot, onion and garlic in frying pan

Boil potatoes (and Jerusalem artichokes) until soft

Add veggie meat and spices to frying pan

 

What to do:

1.      Preheat oven to 300°C

2.      Cut up all vegetables into small pieces

3.      Put large frying pan on medium heat on the stove

4.      Add oil, onions, garlic and carrots and cook until browned

5.      Add veggie meat and spices

6.      In a pot on medium heat boil potatoes (and Jerusalem artichokes)

7.      When potatoes are soft, drain water and mash

8.      Oil baking pan and add layer of veggie meat and vegetables

9.      Cover with layer of mashed potatoes

10.  Cook for about 20-30 minutes

11. (optional) add grated cheese on top and bake another 5 minutes until cheese is melted

Put veggie meat and vegetables into baking pan

Cover with layer of mashed potatoes

Bake at 300°C for 20-30 minutes

  

 

Veggie Gravy (optional)

If you don’t add cheese to the top of your dish, gravy is a nice addition, as the dish might be a little dry on its own. You can double the recipe I made for more – it’s really just equal amounts of butter and flour, and then add liquid until it’s as thick as you want it.

Ingredients:                                                                         

-          ¼ cup of flour (white or whole wheat)

-          ¼ cup of butter

-          Vegetable broth OR vegetable stock powder and water

-          Spices (optional)

o   Basil

o   Pepper

What to do:

1.      In a pot on medium heat melt butter

2.      Add flour and stir (it should become a thick paste)

3.      Add broth OR powder and water and spices

4.      Continue to heat and stir, adding broth or water until the gravy is as thick as you want it

5.      Pour over shepherd’s pie and eat warm