Saturday, January 3, 2009

Recipe of the day: Vegan Shepherds Pie

Shepherds Pie, a traditional English heart attack. Quick to make and great for chilly nights. If you are pressed for time, use vegan instant mashed potatoes instead of mashing your own. And you can sub 1 cup of ketchup for the tomato paste mixture. This recipe is super kid friendly. Enjoy!

FILLING
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1 package Smart Ground by Light Life (my fav, any other brand will work too, in a pinch, you can even use thawed veggie burgers that are chopped up fine. 4 is a good amount.)
1 onion chopped
1 Tbs minced garlic
2 Tbs cooking oil
2 Tbs tomato paste
1 Tbs white vinegar
1 tsp sugar
3/4 cup water
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce (there are vegan ones out there!)
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3/4 cup corn (fresh, frozen or canned)
3/4 cup carrots (fresh, frozen or canned)
3/4 cup sweet green peas (fresh, frozen or canned)

TOPPING
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5-6 big russet potatoes peeled and chopped
soy creamer
margarine
salt to taste

Boil potatoes in big stock pot for about 8 minutes. While they are boiling, saute the onion and garlic in the oil for about 3 minutes. Then add the Smart Ground, mix in well. In a bowl, blend the tomato paste, vinegar, sugar and water until mixed. Pour over mixture in pan, stir to mix well. Now stir in remaining filling ingredients. Cover and simmer over med-low heat for about 10 minutes. Add water if filling gets too thick.

Now start on your mashed potato topping. Drain potatoes in a strainer, return to pot. Add about 2-3 Tbs of margarine and a bit of salt to the potatoes and start mashing with a wooden spoon. Add a splash of soy creamer at a time just until you get the right consistency. By adding small amounts of creamer at a time, you can avoid having soupy potatoes. By now, the filling should be ready. Spread it into a well greased casserole dish. Now the mashed potato gets spread on top. Place casserole dish into a 350 degree oven and bake for about 45 minutes. You can add your favorite chz alternative on top before baking if you like.




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