- Prep-time: / Ready In:
- Makes one 3-quart casserole
- Serving size: ⅛ of recipe
- Print/save recipe
This flavorful veggie casserole uses portobello mushrooms to create a delicious, meaty filling that’s brimming with savory umami flavors. Juicy peas and tender carrots add tantalizing texture, while the velvety mashed potato topping gets its creamy consistency from plant-based milk and starchy potato water. Fresh thyme and smoky paprika infuse the saucy filling with all the cozy flavor you’d expect from comfort food, just minus the unhealthy ingredients. Pop this casserole in the oven until golden brown and scoop out a steaming serving when you’re craving a warm meal to satisfy your stomach and your soul.
Tip: To make this meal extra hearty, you can substitute 2½ cups cooked lentils for the mushrooms.
From straightupfood.com
For more cozy vegan casseroles, check out these tasty ideas:
- Healthy Salsa Verde Taco Casserole
- Vegan Hash Brown Casserole with Tempeh Crumbles
- Potato-Spinach Casserole with Trumpet Mushrooms
- Or take a look at our full collection of vegan casseroles
By Cathy Fisher,
Ingredients
- 3 lb. russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 2 teaspoons granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 4 cups chopped portobello mushrooms
- 2 cups chopped onions
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 cups green peas
- 1 to 2 cups unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large pot combine potatoes, granulated onion, granulated garlic, and enough water to cover. Bring mixture to boiling; reduce heat slightly. Simmer, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook mushrooms, onions, carrots, and celery over medium-high 3 to 5 minutes or until onions are golden, stirring frequently and adding water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking. Add minced garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, thyme, paprika, and 1½ cups water. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender. Stir in peas. Remove from heat.
- Drain and reserve cooking water from potatoes. Transfer potatoes to a medium bowl. Mash potatoes, gradually adding milk (or potato-cooking water, or a combination of the two) until potatoes are the desired consistency.
- Stir 1 cup of the mashed potatoes into vegetable mixture in skillet. Spread mixture in a 3-quart baking dish. (The mixture should be like a thick stew but not watery. Spoon out any extra liquid.) Spread the remaining mashed potatoes over top. Drag a large serving fork or other utensil over the surface of the potato layer to create a textured pattern.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Season with pepper.
Per serving (⅛ of recipe): 242 calories, 52 g carbohydrates, 8 g protein, 0.6 g total fat, 0.1 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 129 mg sodium, 8 g fiber, 6.5 g sugar
Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.
Comments (18)
(5 from 3 votes)I may be interested in your thorough cooking course in the future. I can’t this year though financially, perhaps 6 months to a year from now. Here’s my question. I’m a pretty good cook, even vegan, but I really need to learn how to keep that plant “meat-like” protein, Seitan for example from being gross and slimy! Not to mention the taste is lacking too. I bought some chicken nugget seitan at a grocery store once and having it in my mouth for even a few seconds was traumatic and nauseating. I understand there is a way to not have it be slimy that way. So I googled it and even I could not clearly interpret how to prevent this, even after reading the articles. It seemed complex and ambiguous and I have no trouble interpreting recipes. Does your course cover this specific issue? Prepared products like Gardein and Moningstar Farms have some stuff that’s good and nicely textured depending on the meat that is being imitated, but I may want to do more on my own. Please advise. I do have two of your cookbooks btw. Thanks!
Can I cut all the ingredients in half in the Shepherd's Pie recipe to serve 2 people?
Hi Alan, Yes, you can. You'll want to find a smaller dish, or, if you don't have a suitable dish for half the recipe, push it down one end of the dish, leaving half empty. That way you'll still have a robust pie, just half the amount. Shepherd's pie freezes well, so you could also freeze leftovers for another day!
Can I substitute powdered or minced for granulated in the Shepherd's Pie recipe? Couldn't even find any granulated spices
Garlic powder and granulated garlic are pretty interchangeable when I've made stuff like this.
Can this be frozen and reheated later?
Hi, Karin. Yes, this would freeze well!
Can you recommend a cooking time for an individual serving size...for example baking in individual ramekins?
Hi Amy, While we haven't test this, we think they'll need a similar amount of time in the oven, perhaps a little less. I would check them at 20 minutes but be prepared to let them cook the full cook time if they need it. If you decide to try it, let us know how it goes!
Hi, I’m allergic to mushrooms, what could I substitute Thanks
oops I see 21/2 cups no worries
How many lentils should I use?
The recipe says to use a 3-qt casserole dish but the picture shows a rectangular dish being used
Hi Kristine, A 3-quart casserole dish is another name for a 13x9inch casserole dish. We hope you enjoy the recipe!
I subbed the lentils for the mushrooms and it turned out fantastic!
Made this for Thanksgiving with yukon gold potatoes instead of russet - so good!!
The picture of this dish shows a red diced vegetable in the mix as well as carrots, peas, etc. I don't see a red diced vegetable in the ingredients listed on the recipe. Could you clarify? Thanks
I think those are carrots