Welcome to another edition of Emma-makes-two-meals-at-once-and-freezes-one. Also tagged as “freezer meals” on the blog. This is like passive income—work hard now and you can reap the benefits later.
I was listening to a Smart Passive Income podcast earlier today, so that may or may not be why my references are weird. 🙂
The weather seems to have finally gotten winter cold here in southern Missouri where I live. This puts me in the mood for pasta, casseroles and all manner of warm, creamy carbs.
But this doesn’t mean we can’t make a super comforting meal that is also packed with plants and nutrition. 🙂 This meal has both going on, and it’s delicious! Not to mention the half and half potato situation makes it pretty cute too.
Simple & Comforting Shepherd’s Pie, makes 4 servings, which we’ll be dividing in two (freezing one for later).
Adapted from Rachel Ray’s 30 Minute Shepherd’s Pie
2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 cups once peeled and cubed)
3-4 small to medium russet potatoes (about 1 1/2 cups once peeled and cubed)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped onion
6 cloves of garlic
8 oz. tempeh
1 1/2 cups frozen veggie mix (mine had carrots, peas, green beans and corn)
2 tablespoons vegan butter (or regular if you don’t care about being vegan)
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour (or gluten free if you need)
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice (I used blood oranges.)
3 tablespoons almond milk
salt + pepper throughout
a few tablespoons chopped parsley for the tops
First, peel and cube the potatoes. Boil in lightly salted water in a medium size pot for 12-15 minutes until very tender.
In the meantime, cook the onion and 4 cloves of minced garlic in the olive oil for a few minutes over medium heat. Cube the tempeh (it’s OK if it crumbles some) and add that to the pan along with the frozen vegetables. Continue to cook over medium heat, seasoning with a little salt and pepper, until the vegetables have warmed through.
In a small saucepan or pot, heat the vegan butter over low/medium heat. Whisk in the flour so a paste forms. Whisk in half of the vegetable stock until a thick gravy begins to form (2-4 minutes depending on your heat). Turn off the heat and whisk in the remaining stock. We’re making a thin gravy, so adjust your heat or cook time as needed. Season with a little salt and pepper. (Taste first. Most stocks tend to be well salted, but see what you think it needs.)
Once the potatoes are done, drain and transfer each to a separate mixing bowl. Add the orange juice to the sweet potatoes and mash until smooth. Add the almond milk to the russet potatoes and mash until smooth. Taste each and add salt and pepper as needed.
Now you’re ready to assemble everything! Combine the tempeh mix with the gravy. Transfer this to two ramekins or small baking dishes and one freezer-friendly, small baking pan. You could also make one big shepherd’s pie from this recipe, in which case you could add everything to a pie pan. Top with the mashed potatoes.
If you are baking the two ramekins that day, simply bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes. This won’t take long because most of your ingredients are probably still warm from cooking. Top with fresh parsley and enjoy!
For the freezer version, on the day you plan to enjoy this, transfer from the freezer to the refrigerator 8-10 hours before you plan to bake. Then bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes. Top with fresh parsley before serving. Happy make-ahead dinners! xo. Emma
P.S. If you don’t care about keeping it vegan, feel free to top with cheese before baking or add a dollop of sour cream before serving … in case that hadn’t occurred to you already. 🙂
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
Shepherd’s Pie is my absolute favourite! I make my mine with a full sweet potato topping (I am a sucker for sweet potatoes) and use a soy mince filling. It freezes really well too and is the perfect bang-in-the-oven meal for cold days, especially as winter is coming here in Istanbul. Love your take on the recipe – I will be trying this version this weekend! Thanks!
Freezer meals: also tagged under “Emma wins at life.”
Thanks Emma for making a vegan friendly recipe. I’ll totally have try this… it looks delish. l love the idea of mixing the regular potatoes with the Sweet potatoes. www.edenpureliving.com
Hey Emma!
This is my second recipe that I’ve tried from you 🙂 I’ve been a reader for a few years now (you guys are fun!). Tonight I made this for my family and omg all burners were on at the same time. I don’t cook too much so this was a lot for me. Overall I loved it! I felt so proud when I was done. I put a little ‘E’ made out of onion on the top of the potatoes before I put it in the oven (my name is Emma too). My favorite side was definitely the sweet potato. Thank you for putting this together! I enjoyed actually making a dish that you shared. Btw, thank you for the reheat instructions. I know that will be handy next time I make this.
Looks great! I’ve never made Shepherd’s pie before. I’m going to give it a go.
Who Let the Mum Out?
This looks sooooo yummy! Sheppard’s pie is one of my favorites, and no see a no meat version is really refreshing! This is a definite must try 🙂
xoxo. Holly Erinn
happinessbrand.blogspot.com
Cottage pie is just beef instead of lamb, not sure there is actually a veggie one without it just being a vegetable pie!
Yum!!! Thanks for the vegan friendly recipe!!! :3
Freezer meals: also tagged under “Emma wins at life.”
Just one question. Do you half of the top coverded with sweetpotatoe mash en half with the other or is the sweetpotatoe over half of the regular potatoe mash? Couldn’t make that out. Other than that is sounds delicious en like something I would very much enjoy
This pie looks amazing! I’m going to have to give it a try for dinner next week!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
It’s just a balsamic vinegar reduction. I put it on EVERYTHING. 🙂 You can google how to make it. It’s one of those things that the name is also the directions.
-Emma
Ah. 🙂
-Emma
This all looks so yummy and cute! But I’m also super curious about the dressing on your arugula salad! Did you make that as well Emma?
Thank you!
lol. I like how passionate you are about your herbs. ha! 🙂
-Emma
I’m a vegetarian and my recipe rotation could definitely use some sprucing up, this looks so interesting! I’ll try it out tonight! Thanks for the dinner inspiration!
Yes please! x
http://jessicawoods.fr
Love the idea of using tempeh for the protein – I never would have thought of that. Of course, I’m the only weirdo in the world who doesn’t like sweet potatoes, but that’s an easy fix. Can’t wait to add this to my premade food for the week!
This recipe looks so good and I love that it’s vegan friendly! I can’t wait to impress my friends with this. 😀
-Helen
http://www.sweethelengrace.com
I LOVE the mix of regular and sweet potatoes in this. Great recipe!
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