VEGE LOADED LENTIL COTTAGE PIE
Serves 4-6 people.
A simple dish that might not sound very exciting but actually is, delicious in its simplicity.
This is my variation but you might like to try other vegetables or different spices.
INGREDIENTS
1 onion, finely sliced
2 stalks of celery, finely sliced
2 carrots peeled & grated
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2 x 400g tins brown lentils, rinsed & drained
400G tinned crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1.5 cups frozen peas
1 generous tsp vege stock powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp Tuscan herb mix
600g Agria potatoes (unpeeled weight), peeled & sliced thinly
A sprinkle of fresh or dried herbs of your choice to serve
METHOD
Preheat oven to 200 deg C or 180 deg C fan bake. Peel potatoes, pop in the microwave whole, poking with a fork first, cook for 6-8 minutes on high (time will depend on microwave power) until just cooked. Set aside to cool.
Heat a non-stick frying pan, add sliced onions, garlic and celery into frying pan, cook for 4-5 minutes until soft, stirring regularly. Add water to prevent sticking and cover with a lid for best cooking results.
Add grated carrot, cover and continue cooking until soft, stir as needed.
Add stock, lentils, herbs, tinned tomatoes and tomato sauce, stir well & simmer.
Whilst the filling is simmering, slice the potatoes thinly.
Stir in the frozen peas to the lentil mixture and cook for a further minute. Taste & adjust seasoning. Transfer to a large lasagna sized dish or round casserole dish. You want your mixture to be deep.
Top with the sliced potatoes and bake in the oven at 200 degrees C for 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are cooked, golden & crispy. The time will depend on the type of potatoes and how cooked they were before you sliced them.
Remove from oven & sprinkle over your herbs of choice. Serve up on its own or add some extra steamed veggies or a salad.
NOTES
This recipe is not mine I got the idea from here: https://www.claireturnbull.co.nz/recipes-news/vege-loaded-cottage-pie and adapted it to suit The New You and anyone watching their weight.
Feel free to add the oil & cheese if you’re vegetarian which will add 545 calories and has 51g of fat (of which 24g is saturated) to the dish.
For weight reduction every time you change your choices to removing the fats & oils you remove calories & increase the likelihood of getting into a calorie deficit more easily. For more help check out my services available here: https://www.thenewyou.nz/pricing-options
