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Gardener’s Pie with Root Vegetable Mash Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 59 reviews

Gardener’s Pie with Root Vegetable Mash is a comforting vegetarian casserole featuring a flavorful medley of sautéed vegetables and lentils, topped with creamy mashed root vegetables including potatoes and rutabaga. This hearty dish is baked until golden and bubbling, perfect for a cozy meal that’s nourishing and full of texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Root Vegetable Mash

  • 1 ½ lb (680 g) potatoes
  • ¾ lb (340 g) rutabaga, or other root vegetable such as celeriac or turnip
  • 4 tbsp (56 g) butter, softened
  • 1 tsp (6 g) kosher salt, plus extra to taste
  • 2 – 4 tbsp (30 to 60 ml) heavy cream
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Pie Filling

  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • ½ lb (227 g) mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh thyme, or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp (6 g) kosher salt, plus extra to taste
  • ½ tsp (3 g) black pepper
  • 1 tbsp (8 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (250 ml) vegetable broth
  • 1 can (540 ml) canned lentils, drained and rinsed
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh parsley
  • Extra chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prepare Root Vegetables: Peel and cube the potatoes and rutabaga. Place each in separate saucepans, cover with water, and season with a generous pinch of kosher salt. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender, with rutabaga taking about 5 to 10 minutes longer than the potatoes. Drain and keep warm.
  2. Mash Root Vegetables: Using a potato masher, roughly mash the rutabaga and potatoes until mostly smooth. Combine them in one pot, add softened butter, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, and mash until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and continue mashing; add more cream if needed to achieve a creamy consistency. Keep warm.
  3. Sauté Vegetables: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Heat a wide skillet or shallow braiser over medium heat and add olive oil. Add diced onion and season lightly with kosher salt. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until the onion softens. Add diced carrots and celery, reduce heat to low, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until the vegetables soften.
  4. Add Mushrooms and Aromatics: Add sliced mushrooms to the skillet and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes until tender. Stir in minced garlic and chopped fresh thyme, and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant. Then, mix in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and pepper; cook briefly to combine the flavors.
  5. Thicken Filling: Stir the all-purpose flour into the vegetable mixture until well combined. Gradually pour in vegetable broth while stirring continuously. Increase heat until the mixture comes to a boil and cook until it thickens slightly.
  6. Incorporate Lentils and Herbs: Add drained canned lentils to the thickened vegetable mixture and cook for 2 to 3 minutes to marry the flavors. Stir in chopped fresh parsley.
  7. Assemble and Bake: Transfer the vegetable and lentil filling to a shallow casserole dish or leave in the braiser if oven-safe. Evenly spoon the mashed root vegetable topping over the filling. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the topping is lightly browned.
  8. Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle extra chopped fresh parsley on top for garnish, and serve warm. Enjoy your hearty Gardener’s Pie!

Notes

  • You can substitute rutabaga with other root vegetables like celeriac or turnip according to preference.
  • Adjust the heavy cream in the mash for desired creaminess; it can be reduced for a lighter version.
  • For a vegan version, substitute butter with plant-based margarine and use a vegan Worcestershire sauce.
  • The filling can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated; assemble and bake before serving.
  • Ensure the casserole dish used for baking is oven-safe if using the same skillet/braiser for sautéing and baking.
  • Add extra herbs such as rosemary or sage to the filling for a different flavor profile.

Keywords: vegetarian pie, root vegetable mash, gardener's pie, lentil casserole, comforting vegetarian dish, baked vegetable pie, hearty plant-based meal

Find it online: https://dylangranv.com/gardeners-pie-with-root-vegetable-mash-recipe/