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Vegetarian shepherd’s pie with spiced lentils

Vegetarian shepherd’s pie with spiced lentils

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Vegetarian shepherd’s pie with spiced lentils

This vegetarian recipe for spiced lentil shepherd's pie is a great vegan version of a classic. It's ready in 1 hour and is enough to feed the whole family
Print Recipe
Total Time 1 hr
Servings 6
Calories 325 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • coconut oil for frying
  • 1 onion diced
  • 2 carrots peeled and diced
  • 1 stalk celery diced
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes plus 2 pinches
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tbsp garam masala plus 1 pinch
  • 1 tbsp tomato purée
  • 200 g green lentils
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 600 ml vegetable stock
  • a bunch coriander chopped
  • 4 parsnips peeled and quartered lengthways
  • 4 (about 600g) floury potatoes peeled and chopped

Instructions
 

  • Heat 2 tsp coconut oil in a large pan and fry the onion, carrots and celery with a pinch of salt for 5 minutes, until tender. Add the garlic, chilli, cumin and garam masala, and fry for another 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomato purée, green lentils, bay leaf and lots of seasoning. Add the stock, bring to a simmer and cover with a lid. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until the lentils are tender but not mushy. Add a splash of water if the lentils are sticking. Stir in the coriander, and a pinch more chilli flakes if you like.
  • Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Trim and discard the woody middles from the parsnips and roughly chop the rest. Cook the potatoes and parsnips in boiling salted water for 10-15 minutes, until both are tender when pierced with a knife. Drain, leave to steam dry for a minute, then mash well.
  • Add a pinch of garam masala, a pinch of chilli flakes and 1 tsp coconut oil, mix well, then season. Put the lentils into an ovenproof baking dish, cover with the mash, smoothing over with a fork. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbling and the top is lightly golden. Scatter over more coriander to serve, if you like.

Sweetcorn pancakes with avocado salad

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Sweetcorn pancakes with avocado salad

This dish is simple to prepare and makes perfect finger food for a light starter or low fat dinner. Sweetcorn pancakes are topped with a salad of avocado, cherry tomatoes
Print Recipe
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4
Calories 279 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 100 g plain flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 150 ml milk
  • 340 g tin sweetcorn (1 large tin, drained)
  • 4 spring onions chopped (use the green bits as well)
  • 1 avocado chopped (use the green bits as well)
  • 150 g cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/4 cucumber cut into small chunks
  • 2 tsp sunflower oil to fry

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together the flour, baking powder, egg and milk and season well. Stir in the sweetcorn and half the spring onion. Mix the rest of the spring onions with the avocado, tomatoes and cucumber.
    Heat a non-stick pan with 2 tsp oil and cook spoonfuls of the batter until golden. Turn over and cook the other side.
    Put 3-4 pancakes on a plate and serve the avocado salad on top.

Carrot and cumin soup with fresh coriander

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Carrot and cumin soup with fresh coriander

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Ingredients
  • onion 1 chopped
  • olive oil
  • cumin seeds 1 tsp toasted
  • chilli flakes or powder a small pinch
  • carrots 6 medium peeled and chopped
  • soft brown sugar 2 tsp
  • chicken or vegetable stock fresh made up to 400ml
  • coriander 1 bunch chopped
  • low-fat crème fraîche optional

Instructions
 

  • Method
  • STEP 1
  • Fry the onion in a little oil until it softens. Add the cumin and chilli and cook for a minute then add the carrot, sugar and stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes or until the carrot is very soft, then whizz in a blender. Add some more stock or water if the soup is too thick and reheat if you need to. Stir through the coriander, season well. Add a spoonful of crème fraîche to each bowl to serve, if you like.

Notes

Adapted from olivemagazine.com
This soup is a classic for a reason, and this recipe is quick, easy and healthy. Stirring through fresh coriander before serving really brings the flavours out. Make double and freeze it, or save it for lunch