Shepherdless Pie

Directions

1. Boil the potatoes: Place potatoes in a medium to large pot. Add cold water until potatoes are covered by an inch or so. This keeps the potato flavour! Season the water with 1-2 tablespoons of salt. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove lid and simmer until cooked though. Test with a fork tenderness at around the 12 minute mark. (doneness depends on the size and type of your potato)
2. Begin to prepare the filling: While your potatoes are cooking: In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, celery, and carrot. Add a pinch of salt, stirring occasionally. Saute until onions are slightly translucent and begin to brown - about 3-5 minutes.
3. Caramelize the tomato paste in the pan with the filling: Add tomato paste, vegan Worcestershire and balsamic vinegar and stir to incorporate. Cook off for about 5 minutes, add a splash of the vegetable stock if it starts to stick, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
4. Drain the potatoes: Carefully drain the potatoes through a colander and return them to the pot on the stove to keep warm, and to allow the extra water to evaporate. Keep covered. If preferred, Remove skins once cool enough to touch.
5. Cook the lentils: Add lentils, thyme, rosemary, herbes de provence and a pinch of salt & pepper to your vegetable mix filling and combine. Pour vegetable stock over the lentils and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer until lentils are tender - 35-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. (sometimes this is where I might add an extra dash of Worcestershire, pepper etc)
6. Mash the Potatoes: If mashing manually, Add 2-3 tbsp vegan butter and plant based milk to the potato pot, allow to melt, and mash until creamy. Season with salt and pepper and stir into your mash. Taste and add more seasoning if desired. Set aside.
7. Assemble your dish: Preheat oven to 425F. Rub 1 tablespoon of vegan butter inside a ceramic or glass casserole dish. 9x9 or 9x13 both work well. Transfer lentil mixture to your casserole dish, then top with an even layer of corn. Top with mashed potatoes and use the back of a spoon or a rubber spatula to smooth them down.
8. Get Fancy: We love crispy bits. Some people like to use a fork and drag it gently over the surface of the potatoes for the butter to melt into. I prefer to use the back of a spoon and gently press inward to create divots on the surface - repeating across the entire surface of the mash. Either way, I use the microwave and melt the small amount of butter left in a ramekin and stir in the smoked paprika. Use a silicone brush to coat the potatoes with it. Sometimes I add more butter. Sprinkle the top of your Shepherdless Pie with a bit of kosher salt, pepper.
9. Bake: Place your dish on the centre rack of your preheated oven for about 15 minutes. Then broil for up to 5 minutes to lightly brown the top. Let Cool 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
10. Tips & Notes: Add 1/2 cup frozen veggies of choice 10 minutes before the end of the lentil cook time. Cauliflower, more carrots, peas all work well. If you're into cauliflower mash - this works well. (or do half / half) Reheat servings in individual ceramic bowls. Add a tbsp of water, cover with a plate and reheat for 2 minutes (depending on your microwave). This prevents the potatoes from drying out. Want 'cheesy' mash? Add 3-4 tbsp nutritional yeast to your potatoes before you mash them. A few chopped chives works well here too. Worcestershire sauce usually contains fish. Source some vegan sauce or make your own. Alternatively, you could leave it out and sub for a recipe found here on Food52.