My Thanksgiving main dish was amazing – The mashed lentils acted almost like a thick gravy over the flavorful veggies.
Really, this is more like pot pie. But I already have a Vegan Pot Pie Filling.
So for the above recipe title, I needed to get creative, and I got creative with the actual recipe as well.
It was originally Shepherds Pie. Potatoes aren’t my favorite veggie, but flipping through my cookbooks, I thought the filling sounded good. By the time I was finished cooking, my “stuffing” looked nothing like the one in the cookbook.
However, it still tasted absolutely delicious!
In fact, it was so delicious that I’ve already made this multiple times.
The second time, I decided to add zucchini (which is why there’s zucchini in the second photo but not the first).
it’s your choice whether to add the zucchini – I love it both ways.
.
Vegan Lentil Stuffing
(or pot-pie filling)
- 1 medium onion, sliced (175g)
- 1-2 cups spinach (I used 60g)
- 2-4 carrots, cut into coins (I used 140g, but feel free to use more) (I actually recommend non-organic carrots for this, as they tend to be much sweeter.)
- 1/2 can diced tomatoes
- Optional: 1 zucchini, cut in coins (I used 280g, but I steamed 1/2 separately and mixed them in later.)
- 1 stalk celery, cut into coins (I used 65g)
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup cooked lentils, drained and mashed (I used 110g Westbrae)
- 1 1/2 tsp dry basil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup water
- 2 tsp olive oil, or more if desired (You can omit this, but you’ll lose the yummy, buttery taste!)
Heat oil, then add carrots, zucchini, onion, and celery. Cook a few minutes (like 10), then add spinach, lentils, spices, and tomato. Cook 2 more minutes. Add the water, bring to a boil, then cover and lower to simmer for 45-50 minutes, or until the carrots are soft and stuffing is flavorful. Without the optional ingredients, this makes around 3 cups, or around 2 servings. (However, if you follow my personal gram measurements, it makes quite a bit more.)
The ingredient list might seem long, but this recipe comes together surprisingly easily. (It helps to have a sweet mom willing to chop all the veggies for you.)
What’s your favorite way to eat beans?
Yes, I know lentils are technically not beans. But just go with me here. Some of my favorite bean recipes include bean soups, salads, refried beans on sandwiches, and bean chili.
All CCK bean recipes can be seen here: 50+ Healthy Bean Recipes.
Links Of The Day:
Twelve healthy & delicious ways to eat pumpkin for breakfast, including pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and pumpkin grilled cheese!
Mini Apple Pies – Baked In A Muffin Tin
yum this looks yummy! I’ve NEVER cooked with lentils! i really want to though.. i didn’t realise they cooked in such a short time!
I looooove beans. Black bean burgers are one of my most favorite foods! 😀 That picture of you and your mom is GORGEOUS, Katie!
I eat beans everyday. It is a great source of protein. My favorite beans are chickpeas and pinto beans but I’ll eat whatever bean I have. Mostly, I eat chickpeas in hummus and pintos in stirfries and tacos/burritos. Now I need to try spoonfullofsugarfree’s idea of lentils and veggies in the crockpot. Have a great day. 🙂
i’m not a huge fan of beans but i’d love to try subbing in more squash. this looks amazing! i didn’t have stuffing at my table since i’m gluten intolerant wish i would have seen this sooner!
That recipe sounds great – bookmarked it. 🙂 What type of lentils do you use in the recipe?
I love beans and lentils. My favourite bean recipe is a bean casserole recipe I’ve making a lot recently. I love beans in soups as well and in vegetable chilli.
Westbrae canned lentils
I meant green/brown or red. Sorry if I wasn’t clear! 🙂
Ooooh 🙂
Green or brown. Just make sure it’s 1/2 cup AFTER they’re cooked, if you’re not using canned.
This recipe sounds fabulous – the lentils really sold me on it. Love them. 🙂
And I originally missed your post on Pinto Bean Pudding and am very intrigued by how that one tastes. I’ll have to give it a whirl. Beans are great because of their versatility (which it appears you’re quite experienced in getting creative with them).
That looks awesome!!!! I love veggies in any form!
This looks awesome!
I am a huge fan of beans, especially black beans. As you may have heard, they are the magical fruit 🙂 Bahaha, I am so mature!
Um… YUM. In my mouth, please, now. 🙂
Thanks for another great looking recipe!!
I wonder if you have caught up with all of these blogs lately with vegan bloggers switching to omnis? Just wondered what you thought about it. I realize you might not want to do a whole post about it because it could be controversial.
Have a good day!
Woah, I actually don’t know anything about this! Any bloggers in particular? lol now I’m curious. As strange as it may seem, I don’t have many food blogs in my Reader… I just got tired of reading about food all day!
As for posting on it… well, I kinda LIKE controversial posts, because they get the most fun comments :). Plus, sometimes people with differing views end up enlightening me and changing my opinion about something!
The only one I know is that the voracious vegan is now voracious eats.
Lindsay of Happy Herbivore posted her take on it – not specifically that ONE blogger, of course! -apparently there have been a rash of ex-vegans in the blogosphere lately? I’m out of the loop, too!
Yes, the Voracious Vegan is the main one I am speaking about. But she also linked on her post (Vegan No More) to other food bloggers who have switched from Vegan diets back to omni. It’s kind of crazy to read!
Oh and she also made reference to several vegan food bloggers who really aren’t even vegan behind the scenes. I was like OMG, now that’s just really wild. It’s an interesting blog post to read if you have time (it’s really, really long).
Wow, I just read it.
Wow some more times. Thanks for showing me this post, Annette. I think I might just have to respond. Might take me a few weeks to get something together, though… there’s a lot of info in her post!
Katie – I look forward to reading your response! Especially since you’ve been vegan for a very long time and she was for 3.5 years. It’s interesting how different people can be.