Looking for a comforting but healthy dinner recipe? This delicious Vegan Shepherd's Pie made with sweet potato is easy to make and tastes incredible!
It's that time of year where we all want warming, cosy meals that make us feel full and content.
If you're Canadian or American, it's also that time of year where we celebrate Thanksgiving. Maybe you're having someone over who doesn't eat meat and you have no idea what constitutes vegan Thanksgiving food?
Or maybe you're plant-based yourself and are just looking for some new holiday food options. Enter my Vegan Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potatoes.
This delicious recipe is a little different to standard vegan Thanksgiving dishes. As a nod to tradition, sweet potatoes still play a central role in this dish, but I've mixed it up by adding beans and aubergine/eggplant to create a beautiful, textured meal that is as filling as it is tasty!
It's also quicker to make than a traditional Shepherd's Pie as it doesn't get baked in the oven. Instead it just gets placed under your oven's grill/broiler for 10 minutes to crisp the mash. This not only reduces cooking time but helps retain extra nutrients in the vegetables.
Vegan Shepherd's Pie with Sweet Potatoes
If your kitchen game is strong, you could make this Vegan Shepherd's Pie in 1 hour if you prepare some of the later ingredients as you're beginning to cook the first ones. I find this stressful so I've allowed extra time, to compensate for the fact that we're not all Nigella.
Also, feel free to substitute ingredients in this dish as you see fit. If you don't have an aubergine, use mushrooms instead. If you don't have black beans, you can absolutely use white.
This recipe is for you to make your own and my hope is that it will become a weekly staple for you. Get creative!
Love this recipe? You might also like my Vegan Stuffed Pumpkin, Classic Nut Roast or my Vegan Frittata with Leek & Onion.
If you're looking for even more vegan Thanksgiving recipes, Minimalist Baker has a load too.
Vegan Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato
Ingredients
Filling
- 1 medium onion, sliced thinly
- 2 sticks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 1 medium aubergine/eggplant, diced
- 1¼ cups crushed tomatoes
- 1 410ml can black beans (about 1½ cups), drained
- 1 410ml pinto or romano beans, drained
- ⅓ cup vegetable broth (if using stock cubes, dissolve ½ a cube in ⅓ cup water)
- 1½ tablespoon Braggs Soy Seasoning or tamari
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mash Topping
- 1 extra large yellow/white potato (Russet, Maris Piper or similar), cut into 2cm cubes
- 1 extra large yam/sweet potato, cut into 2cm cubes
- 3 tablespoon coconut oil or olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients as instructed above.
- Sauté the chopped onion in a large pan for 5 minutes on a medium heat. Use a little water to coat the pan so that the onion doesn’t stick.
- Add the celery and garlic and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes.
- Add the carrot, aubergine/eggplant, beans, crushed tomatoes, stock/broth, Braggs, coriander and mixed herbs to the pan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer – stirring frequently – for 15-20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and cooked through. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- For the mash, place only the yellow/white cubed potato in a medium saucepan and cover with water.
- Bring to a boil and simmer the potato for 5 minutes.
- Add the yam/sweet potato to the saucepan and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, or until both types of potato are cooked.
- Drain the water from the potatoes and add in the coconut oil and salt/pepper.
- Mash the potatoes thoroughly with a potato ricer until they are fluffy and smooth.
- Pour the pie filling into a deep oven-proof dish (about 12″x10″ is ideal) and spoon over the mash.
- Use a fork to spread the mash evenly, ensuring it covers the filling.
- Place the pie under your oven’s grill or broiler for 10 minutes until the top of the mash is crispy.
- Serve with steamed broccoli, kale and any other greens you fancy!
If you’ve tried this vegan shepherd's pie recipe, please leave a comment or tip for others below. I'd love to know how you’ve made it your own!
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RFN
This looks really good, but I don't think very many shepherds are out herding vegetables these days. Vegan/Vegetarian recipes don't have to be imitations of meat-based recipes.
Peggy
This looks like such a satisfying meal! I’m looking forward to sharing it with my best people this autumn. I especially appreciate your notes with suggestions on how to make it my own: having an allergy to delicious eggplant, I was wondering what might make a hearty substitute, without adding sweetness. Mushrooms were the perfect suggestion! I’ll do them in a pan, first, to sweat off water, get ‘em golden, & firm them up. I’ll check back when I’ve dug in, a few days hence. Brava!
Elizabeth
Oh Peggy that sounds wonderful! Mushrooms are the perfect replacement, and I'd also suggest zucchini as a great alternative. Really hope you loved it!
Marvis
I was going to suggest zucchini also!
Elizabeth
Such a versatile option!
Sarah
So tasty. Easy to follow and good for leftovers
Elizabeth
Thanks Sarah!