Shepherd's Pie (Meatless and Meated!)

 Meated

 

Meatless

I made this, tonight, for St. Patrick's Day.  After one bite, Ace said I needed to make this once a week, and even got seconds.  He was super excited when I told him I would teach him, to make it, and he can make it when he goes to college.
I veered off from the original, a bit, doubled the recipe, and made 2, 9x13 casserole dishes, for dinner.  One vegetarian, and one with meat. This recipe is for only one casserole dish.
I served this with homemade, Irish soda bread.  Ace (my carb monster) didn't even eat a slice! All he wanted was the Shepherd's Pie!

Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

Top Crust

instant mashed potatoes, for 4 servings

1/4 cup cheddar, shredded

Filling

olive oil for bottom of pan

2 large carrots, diced

2 large parsnips, diced

1 small onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 can lentils (about 1 1/2 cups), drained (omit if making meat version)

1lb. ground lamb (or beef, or turkey), browned and crumbled

1 can peas

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp onion powder

1 Tbsp soy sauce

2 cup vegetable broth

1 Tbsp flour

salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

Prepare potatoes -Prepare directions, on the box.  OR, you can make your own, or use leftovers.  If you make your own, use 4 large potatoes. Set aside.

Prepare filling - In a large frying pan over medium heat, drizzle olive oil. Cook carrots, parsnips, onions, and garlic until vegetables are softened (about 5 - 8 minutes). Add in lentils (or meat), peas, garlic & onion powder, and soy sauce. Whisk the flour into a few tablespoons of the vegetable broth and then stir in the rest of the broth. Add the vegetable broth to the pan. Season with salt & pepper.

Cook and stir until mixture thickens.

Scoop mixture into prepared casserole dish.

Spread the mashed potatoes on the top. (If yours don't spread well, add a bit of milk, to the potatoes, a little at a time, until they get smushier.)

Place into 350 oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and top with shredded cheese. 

Turn broiler on. Return casserole dish to oven and broil until cheese is melted.