Hearty & Healthy: Vegetarian Lentil Cottage Pie with Garlic Butter Sweet Potato Mash

Few dishes evoke the same sense of warmth and home as a classic cottage pie. It’s a timeless comfort food, perfect for chilly evenings and family dinners. However, this particular rendition takes that cherished classic and elevates it to a new level of health and deliciousness with a plant-based twist. This vegetarian cottage pie, or what some might call a lentil shepherd’s pie, is a meal I find myself returning to time and again. It’s incredibly simple to prepare, yet delivers a profoundly hearty and wholesome experience that satisfies everyone at the table.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its clever substitutions, transforming a traditionally meat-heavy dish into a vibrant, vegetable-packed powerhouse. At its core, this pie champions the humble lentil, a nutritional superstar that shines as a fantastic and healthy replacement for meat. Lentils bring a wonderful texture and rich, earthy flavour to the filling, making it wonderfully substantial and deeply satisfying. Beyond their excellent taste, lentils are packed with protein and fibre, making this a truly nourishing meal. I always keep a variety of different lentils in my pantry – from green and brown to red and puy – ready for any culinary adventure.

While I frequently enjoy cooking with dried lentils, which offer a delightful texture and flavour, they can sometimes require a bit of foresight, with some varieties needing an overnight soak before cooking. For those busy days when time is of the essence, canned, pre-cooked lentils are an absolute lifesaver. They offer all the nutritional benefits and bulking power of dried lentils with minimal effort. In this vegetarian cottage pie recipe, a tin of green or puy lentils truly makes the filling substantial and far more satisfying than a vegetable-only base, ensuring every spoonful is packed with goodness and flavour. It’s a game-changer for creating a low-effort yet incredibly flavourful and filling meal.

Adding to the impressive health credentials of this dish, the traditional mashed potato topping is swapped out for a vibrant, naturally sweet, and incredibly nutritious sweet potato mash. This simple exchange dramatically increases the vitamin and mineral content, making every bite of this vegetarian pie bursting with wholesome goodness. Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A and C, and dietary fibre, contributing to a truly balanced and healthy meal. When combined with the protein-rich lentils and the optional, yet highly recommended, topping of cheese, this pie becomes a complete and incredibly nutritious dish.

But make no mistake, this lentil and sweet potato cottage pie isn’t just about health; it’s a celebration of flavour! The deep, rich taste of the filling is largely attributed to the inclusion of red wine in the sauce. This isn’t an ingredient to omit; it adds an unparalleled depth, complexity, and umami that truly transforms the dish. The alcohol cooks off completely during the simmering process, leaving behind only its magnificent flavour contribution, ensuring it’s perfectly suitable for children and adults alike. Paired with aromatic vegetables like onions, leeks, carrots, and mushrooms, the sauce forms a savoury foundation that perfectly complements the hearty lentils.

The sweet potato mash itself is far from ordinary. It’s infused with the irresistible aroma and flavour of garlic butter, a simple addition that elevates the topping from good to truly exceptional. The rich, mellow flavour of sautéed garlic permeating the creamy sweet potato creates a luxurious and deeply satisfying texture. And to truly finish this pie with a flourish, I always recommend a generous sprinkle of grated mature cheddar cheese over the top before it goes into the oven. While optional, in my humble opinion, the more cheese, the better! It bakes to a beautiful golden-brown, forming a delightful crust that adds another layer of texture and savoury delight to this already incredible dish.

For those looking for a slightly lighter touch, I used Clover original spread in place of traditional butter in this recipe. Clover original is crafted with buttermilk and contains half the saturated fat of butter, with no artificial ingredients. This makes it a fantastic choice for everyday family cooking, offering a creamy texture and delicious flavour without compromise. It effortlessly blends into both the rich filling and the velvety sweet potato mash, contributing to the overall wholesome profile of the pie.

One of the many reasons this vegetarian lentil cottage pie is a staple in my kitchen is its incredible versatility and make-ahead convenience. You can bake it as one magnificent large dish, perfect for family dinners or entertaining, or portion it into about six individual smaller dishes for elegant single servings – ideal for meal prepping throughout the week. Furthermore, this pie is wonderfully forgiving and perfect for advanced preparation. It can be assembled and then refrigerated for up to a couple of days before baking, making it an excellent option for busy schedules. Even better, it freezes exceptionally well! Having portions of this wholesome pie stashed in the freezer is a true blessing for those evenings when you lack the time or inclination to cook from scratch. Just pull one out, reheat, and enjoy a comforting, nutritious meal with minimal effort.

This vegetarian cottage pie is essentially a complete meal in itself, requiring no additional accompaniments. However, I do enjoy adding a splash of vibrant green to the plate, often serving it alongside a generous portion of steamed peas, tender broccoli, or both. These simple additions not only enhance the visual appeal but also contribute extra vitamins and fibre, rounding out the meal beautifully. Whether you’re a seasoned vegetarian or simply looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into your diet, this healthy, hearty, and unbelievably flavourful lentil and sweet potato pie is sure to become a cherished favourite in your recipe repertoire.

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Vegetarian Cottage Pie With Garlic Butter Sweet Potato Mash

Servings 6 people

Author Domestic Gothess

Ingredients

Filling

• 50 g (1.75 oz) Clover original butter
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 1 leek finely chopped
• 2 large carrots cut into small dice
• 2 fat garlic cloves crushed
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 200 g (7 oz) mushrooms, finely chopped
• 150 ml (⅔ cup) red wine
• 1 400 g tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 400 g tin green or puy lentils drained
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt and pepper

Sweet Potato Topping

• 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 50 g (1.75 oz) Clover original
• 4 fat garlic cloves crushed
• 75 g (2.75 oz) mature cheddar, grated

Instructions

• Melt the Clover in a large pan and gently fry the onion, leek, carrots and garlic for 15 minutes until soft. Add the mushrooms and thyme and continue to cook for 5-10 minutes until the mushrooms are soft and any excess liquid has evaporated.
• Pour in the red wine and tomatoes and add the lentils, stock cube, soy sauce and sugar. Bring up to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes then season to taste with plenty of salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/gas mark 5.
• To make the sweet potato topping, boil the sweet potatoes in a large pan of salted water until tender, drain well then return to the pan.
• In a small pan, melt the Clover, add the garlic and cook gently for about 5 minutes until the garlic begins to turn golden, pour the garlic butter into the potatoes then mash them and season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer the filling to a large ovenproof dish and spread the mash over the top (or get fancy like I did and pipe it on using a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle); sprinkle over the cheddar (at this point the pie can be refrigerated for up to a couple of days). Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden and bubbling.

This post is sponsored by Clover, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. I genuinely believe in the quality and benefits of the products used to create this delicious recipe.

I am delighted to share this wholesome and flavourful vegetarian lentil cottage pie with the wonderful communities of Fabulous Foodie Fridays, Fiesta Friday hosted by Cooking With Aunt Juju and The Kiwi Fruit, Foodie FriDIY, Foodie Friends Friday, Friday Favourites and Friday Features. Join us for more culinary inspiration and delightful recipes!