Today I brought a recipe from my childhood to share with you. A recipe that everytime my mom made it were guaranteed smiles and satisfied stomachs! Shepherd´s pie!
She made shepherd´s pie and tuna shepherd´s pie, and the two were equally adored by everyone at home. I’m not sure why shepherd´s pie is a meal that gathers so much consensus around it, but the truth is that I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like shepherds pie yet.
The creamy and golden potato puree on top, the moist and full of flavor filling, maybe are the secret of success.
The shepherd´s pie is never a very complex recipe, nor has it reason to be, it is in the simplicity of this dish that lies all its charm. It’s also a good dish to use that vegetables that are getting riper in the fridge, and that sometimes we don’t like to eat as ripe anymore, but when turned into a filling, they’re perfect again.
The shepherd´s pie is a dish that had its origins in the north of England. Traditionally made with lamb and topped with mashed potatoes. A cheap and humble dish that served to warm families on cold nights of harsh winter.
To me the perfect description of this dish is short and simple, comfort food.
CREAMY | TASTY | COMFORT FOOD | EASY | CHEAP
I could bring a proposal for a shepherd´s pie made only with vegetables? Yes i could. But there are already many of it spread across the web. The recipe that I bring to you today is Vegan “Tuna” Shepherd´s Pie. Yeeeeees! Vegan tuna!
I didn’t think such a thing was possible either, but after the veggie alternatives to cheese, sausage and meat, fish alternatives, particularly tuna, arrived, and I couldn’t resist bringing a 100% plant based version of one of my all-time favorite dishes. .
The “tuna” I used to make this recipe was Unfished’s PlanTuna in water. A product made from soy protein and algae oil, which gives it the aroma and flavor of the sea. It is a product that also provides essential nutrients from traditional fish such as protein and omega 3! I’m honest, this product surprised me a lot! I wasn’t expecting something that was so similar to tuna (even the tin). Despite obviously having differences, the similarities are undeniable especially when added to recipes like this shepherds pie for example. A worthy alternative to the table of all those who chose to leave fish out of the plate.
This recipe, like almost every one that I bring to you, is super simple to make! The ideal recipe for everyday life but also for a party table. This particularity that the shepherd´s pie has to adapt to occasions fascinates me.
Let’s get to know the necessary ingredients.
FOR THE PUREE
2kg of potatoes
2 tablespoons of vegan margarine
Nutmeg
Salt
Black pepper
1 cup (250ml) of unsweetened soy milk
FOR “TUNA” FILLING
1 chopped onion (200gr)
3 chopped garlic cloves
1 chopped red pepper (170gr)
1 bay leaf
2 tsp of paprika
Olive oil
1 handful of chopped cucumber pickles
600gr of PlanTuna in water from Unfished
2/4 cup (120ml) of unsweetened soy milk
FOR THE PUREE
2kg of potatoes
2 tablespoons of vegan margarine
Nutmeg
Salt
Black pepper
1 cup (250ml) of unsweetened soy milk
FOR “TUNA” FILLING
1 chopped onion (200gr)
3 chopped garlic cloves
1 chopped red pepper (170gr)
1 bay leaf
2 tsp of paprika
Olive oil
1 handful of chopped cucumber pickles
600gr of PlanTuna in water from Unfished
2/4 cup (120ml) of unsweetened soy milk
1- Peel the potatoes, cut them in half and boiled them with a little salt.
2- In the meantime, prepare the shepherds pie filling. Put a little olive oil in the pan and add the onion, the garlic, the bay leaf and 2 teaspoons of paprika and let it cook until the onion is translucent and smooth.
3- Add the bell pepper and let it cook until it reaches a tender texture.
4- Add the “tuna”, the cucumber pickles and the salt to taste. Stir well and occasionally, until the “tuna” is soft. Add the soy milk and let it reduce for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.
5- Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC.
6- Once the potatoes are cooked, mash them with a potato masher. Add the soy milk, black pepper, nutmeg, butter and salt if necessary, and bring to low heat, stirring constantly until the puree is creamy. If necessary add a little more soy milk, the puree should be creamy and smooth. Adjusts seasonings.
7- Place half of the puree in a pyrex. On top, place all the “tuna” fillling, and finish with the remaining puree.
8 – With the tip of a spoon, press on the pie to create a texture and pattern on the surface. You can also do it with a fork. This step is completely optional. Mix a little curcuma with soy milk and brush the entire surface of the pie. Bake it for about 30 minutes, or until the surface is golden.
9 – Serve immediately.
1- Peel the potatoes, cut them in half and boiled them with a little salt.
2- In the meantime, prepare the shepherds pie filling. Put a little olive oil in the pan and add the onion, the garlic, the bay leaf and 2 teaspoons of paprika and let it cook until the onion is translucent and smooth.
3- Add the bell pepper and let it cook until it reaches a tender texture.
4- Add the “tuna”, the cucumber pickles and the salt to taste. Stir well and occasionally, until the “tuna” is soft. Add the soy milk and let it reduce for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve.
5- Pre-heat the oven to 180ºC.
6- Once the potatoes are cooked, mash them with a potato masher. Add the soy milk, black pepper, nutmeg, butter and salt if necessary, and bring to low heat, stirring constantly until the puree is creamy. If necessary add a little more soy milk, the puree should be creamy and smooth. Adjusts seasonings.
7- Place half of the puree in a pyrex. On top, place all the “tuna” fillling, and finish with the remaining puree.
8 – With the tip of a spoon, press on the pie to create a texture and pattern on the surface. You can also do it with a fork. This step is completely optional. Mix a little curcuma with soy milk and brush the entire surface of the pie. Bake it for about 30 minutes, or until the surface is golden.
9 – Serve immediately.
*This recipe was supported by NaturallyGreen.pt
*You’ll find Unfished’s PlanTuna on Naturally Green’s online store with 10% off every time you use the TAVG code.
*This recipe was supported by NaturallyGreen.pt
*You’ll find Unfished’s PlanTuna on Naturally Green’s online store with 10% off every time you use the TAVG code.
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Tag @things_about_a_vegan_girl on instagram and hashtag it #thingsaboutavegangirl so we can see all the masterpiece you made!!!
Tag @things_about_a_vegan_girl on instagram and hashtag it #thingsaboutavegangirl so we can see all the masterpiece you made!!!