Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

vegan Christmas main

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 55m
Cook Time: 20m
Total Time: 1h 15m
Temp.: 425 °F
Servings: 9
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (11 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For the sweet potato topping

For the filling

For the mushrooms (optional)

Nutritional Information

273
calories
5,7g
fat
43,6g
carbohydrates
12,6g
protein
0mg
cholesterol
409mg
sodium
Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Recipe Description

This Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie is a fantastic vegan Christmas dish which can be enjoyed by everyone! In this recipe, I give an option for adding a layer of mushrooms to the pie. I always add mushrooms because I love their flavor but I know some people can’t stand them, so you can leave them out if you’re not a fan. 

I start by cooking and mashing the sweet potatoes for the topping. Then sauté the onions and garlic before adding lentils, broth and thyme. Cook this mixture until the lentils are soft and tender. If you decide to use mushrooms, marinate them with balsamic vinegar, oil, salt, pepper and garlic before cooking them in a large skillet. Layer up the shepherds pie starting with lentils at the base, followed by mushrooms and topped with the mashed sweet potato.

To make my Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Cook the sweet potatoes

    15 min
    Step 1 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Place the sweet potatoes in a pot and cover with cold water. Bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-high and simmer for 15-20 minutes until soft.

  2. 2

    Mash the sweet potatoes

    3 min
    Step 2 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Drain the water from the pot and transfer the sweet potatoes to a large bowl. Mash until smooth.

  3. 3

    Add coconut oil and season

    2 min
    Step 3 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Mix in coconut oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. If you like sweeter sweet potatoes, add a teaspoon of maple syrup to taste. Cover loosely and leave to rest.

  4. 4

    Heat the oven and prepare a baking dish

    5 min
    Step 4 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Preheat the oven to 425°F and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

  5. 5

    Marinate mushrooms

    5 min
    Step 5 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    If using mushrooms, add the portobello mushrooms to a bowl and marinade with balsamic vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Mix well and leave to marinate for 5 minutes.

  6. 6

    Sauté onions and garlic

    5 min
    Step 6 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Sauté for about 4-5 minutes until caramelized. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  7. 7

    Add lentils, broth and thyme

    15 min
    Step 7 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Stir in the lentils, vegetable broth, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until lentils are tender.

  8. 8

    Cook the mushrooms

    5 min
    Step 8 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s PieStep 8 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Place a large frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil and the mushrooms along with their marinade. Cook for 2-3 minutes in an even layer. Flip carefully and continue to cook on other side for 2-3 more minutes.

  9. 9

    Add frozen vegetables

    10 min
    Step 9 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s PieStep 9 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Ten minutes before the lentils are cooked, stir in the frozen vegetables. Stir the mixture and cover. Drain off any additional vegetable stock and season again with salt and pepper to taste.

  10. 10

    Assemble the pie

    2 min
    Step 10 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s PieStep 10 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s PieStep 10 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Place the lentils in the bottom of the lightly greased baking dish. Top with portobello mushrooms and spoon the mashed sweet potatoes on top. Smooth the potatoes and season with more salt, pepper and thyme (optional).

  11. 11

    Bake

    20 min
    Step 11 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Bake for 20 minutes, until the edges start to bubble and the potatoes are lightly browned on top.

  12. 12

    Serve

    Step 12 - Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

    Leave to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

I can’t wait for you to try this Lentil and Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie. It’s delicious, filling and 100% plant-based! Try it out soon and come back to leave a review below letting me know what you think.

About the author

Nina Cole

Nina dreams of gender equality and for women all over the world to feel empowered and enjoy the same freedom she has. She’s a careful consumer, believing that by being more conscious about the way we live we can make the world a better place! Already a vegetarian, she uses animal products sparingly and tries to produce as little waste as possible. Most of her recipes are vegan as a result!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (11 reviews)
Natalie Johnson
March 12, 2025
Verified

Delicious, I made this for friends and we all loved it.

Lolly
April 11, 2024
Verified

This pie was simply great! Made it for my kids, they loved it!

Aaron
January 22, 2024
Verified

Superb

Ed
November 11, 2023
Verified

Incredibly delicious!

Andrew
October 10, 2023
Verified

So simple yet delicious. Made this pie for my friends last week and they loved it. My first time cooking lentils, and it turned out perfect.

Irene Johnson
October 3, 2023
Verified

Amazing festive flavor!

Tina
June 21, 2023
Verified

This recipe was superb! I made it for my friends last week and they loved it. The sweet potatoes add a sweet touch that everyone enjoyed.

Laura Johnson
August 21, 2022
Verified

Absolutely delicious and perfect!

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