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Spiced Vegan Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 149 reviews

This Spiced Vegan Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash is a hearty, comforting dish perfect for cozy dinners. Featuring a flavorful lentil and vegetable filling seasoned with warming spices like cumin, smoked paprika, and garam masala, this recipe uses a creamy, nutrient-rich sweet potato mash topped for a golden bake. It’s a wholesome vegan alternative to traditional cottage pie, packed with protein, fiber, and savory depth, making it ideal for plant-based eaters seeking a satisfying main course that’s both delicious and nutritious.

Ingredients

Scale

Filling

  • 3 tbsp olive oil (approx. 42g)
  • 4 medium yellow onions, diced (approx. 600g)
  • 4 stalks celery, finely sliced (approx. 280g)
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and diced (approx. 400g)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced (approx. 18g)
  • 3 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 2 14 oz cans brown lentils, drained and rinsed (approx. 800g total, 480g drained)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste (approx. 30g)
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce (approx. 30mL)
  • 3 ½ cups vegetable broth (approx. 830mL)
  • 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes (approx. 800g total)

Sweet Potato Mash

  • 1.5 kg sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 3 tbsp vegan margarine (approx. 42g)
  • 2 tbsp white miso paste (approx. 30g)
  • ½ cup nutritional yeast (approx. 20g)
  • ¼ cup unsweetened soy milk (approx. 60mL)
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 360°F (regular bake, not fan-forced). If using a fan-assisted oven, reduce temperature to 340°F to prevent overbaking.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions, celery, and carrots, cooking with occasional stirring for 6–8 minutes until softened and fragrant.
  3. Add Spices and Garlic: Stir in minced garlic, ground cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, and garam masala. Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture releases a fragrant aroma.
  4. Incorporate Lentils and Sauces: Add the drained lentils, tomato paste, and soy sauce. Cook for another 1–2 minutes to evenly coat lentils with the spicy mixture.
  5. Add Liquids and Simmer: Pour in the hot vegetable broth and canned diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil before reducing to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, allowing the filling to thicken and reduce.
  6. Cook Sweet Potatoes: While the filling simmers, place chopped sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with salted cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook for 10–12 minutes until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain thoroughly.
  7. Mash Sweet Potato: Return drained sweet potatoes to the pot. Mash together with vegan margarine, white miso paste, nutritional yeast, and unsweetened soy milk. Season with salt to taste and mash until creamy and smooth.
  8. Assemble Pie: If using a Dutch oven, evenly spread the sweet potato mash directly over the lentil filling. If the filling is in a skillet, transfer it to a large oven-safe baking dish before topping with the mash. Smooth out the top and use a fork to create texture.
  9. Final Bake: Lightly drizzle or spray olive oil over the sweet potato topping and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until the top is golden and the lentil filling is bubbling around the edges.
  10. Rest and Serve: Let the pie rest for 5–10 minutes to set before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator and consume within 4 days to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • For a fan-assisted oven, reduce the baking temperature to 340°F to avoid burning the top.
  • Ensure lentils are well-drained to avoid excess moisture in the filling.
  • You can substitute white miso paste with regular miso if unavailable, but flavor will vary slightly.
  • Use vegan margarine and soy milk to keep this recipe fully vegan.
  • Leftover pie can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
  • Adding a pinch of smoked paprika on top before baking intensifies flavor and color of the crust.

Keywords: vegan cottage pie, sweet potato mash, lentil pie, plant-based dinner, vegan comfort food, gluten-free alternative, vegan holiday dish

Find it online: https://famdishes.com/spiced-vegan-cottage-pie-with-sweet-potato-mash-recipe/