Description
French Onion Shepherd’s Pie: A deeply caramelized onion, lentil, and cauliflower-potato mash pie that’s vegan, hearty, and naturally gluten-free.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp tamari or gluten-free soy sauce
- 1 cup dried green or brown lentils
- 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced mushrooms
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- For the cauliflower potato mash:
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 2 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
- ¼ cup unsweetened plant milk
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced onions and cook slowly for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring often, until deeply caramelized and golden brown.
- Stir in garlic, thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add balsamic vinegar and tamari, stirring to deglaze the pan.
- Rinse lentils and add them to the skillet along with vegetable broth, carrots, mushrooms, salt, and black pepper.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes until lentils are tender and mixture thickens.
- Meanwhile, boil potatoes and cauliflower together in salted water for 15 to 20 minutes until fork tender. Drain well.
- Mash with olive oil or vegan butter and plant milk until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Transfer lentil mixture to a baking dish and spread evenly.
- Spoon cauliflower potato mash over the top and smooth with a spatula.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly golden on top. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Make this dish gluten-free by using tamari or gluten-free soy sauce (instead of regular soy sauce).
- Caramelized onions can be prepared up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated.
- Let the pie rest for 10 minutes after baking to set for clean slices.
- Leftovers refrigerate well for up to 4 days; reheat gently.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: French Onion Shepherd's Pie, vegan, lentil pie, cauliflower mash, gluten-free, plant-based