🥧 Spiced Lentil & Jackfruit Shepherd’s Pie (Vegan)

✨ What Makes It Unique:

• Jackfruit adds a pulled, “meaty” texture
• Warming spices give it a bold twist
• Mashed potatoes made ultra-creamy with plant milk and olive oil

🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4)

For the Filling:

• 1 can young green jackfruit in brine (not syrup), drained and shredded
• 1 cup green or brown lentils (cooked, or 1 can drained)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 carrots, diced
• ½ cup peas (frozen or fresh)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• ½ cup vegetable broth (plus more if needed)
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Olive oil for sautéing

For the Mashed Potato Topping:

• 3–4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 3 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
• ½ cup plant milk (unsweetened oat or almond works well)
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Optional: 1 tsp garlic powder or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for extra flavor

🍳 Instructions

1. Prep the Potatoes:

• Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender (about 15–20 minutes).
• Drain and mash with olive oil and plant milk. Season with salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder. Set aside.

2. Make the Filling:

• In a large skillet, heat a splash of olive oil.
• Add onion, garlic, carrots. Sauté until soft (5–7 mins).
• Stir in jackfruit and use a fork to shred the pieces.
• Add lentils, tomato paste, paprika, cumin, thyme, and soy sauce.
• Pour in veggie broth and simmer until thickened (10–15 mins), adding more broth if too dry.
• Stir in peas last and taste for seasoning.

3. Assemble the Pie:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Spread the lentil-jackfruit mixture in a baking dish.
• Top evenly with mashed potatoes, smoothing or roughing up the surface for texture.
• Drizzle with olive oil or dot with vegan butter for browning.

4. Bake:

• Bake for 25–30 minutes until the top is lightly golden.
• Optionally broil for 2–3 minutes for a crispier potato crust.

🪄 Serving Ideas:

• Serve with a crisp green salad or roasted Brussels sprouts
• Add fresh herbs like parsley or chives on top before serving