Vegan cottage pie recipe

This vegan cottage pie boasts a richly flavourful mince and veg filling with a deliciously smooth gravy, all topped with creamy, peppery mash. It's SO good!

To make this totally plant-based family dinner, I'm using The Meatless Farm Co Meat Free Mince.

This is an amazing mince that looks, cooks and tastes like beef. It's really different from anything else on the market.

Made from a mix of pea, rice and soya protein, it's packed with taste and texture, especially if you give it the chance to crisp up in the pan before using in your chosen recipe.

The only challenge when cooking with this mine is resisting eating it straight from the pan!

Making the vegan cottage pie is really easy.

You'll fry up the mince until crisp, then make a base with onion, celery and carrots. The veggies and mince will then pair with tomato puree, flour, vegan stock and vegan wine and simmer to create the most incredible gravy.

Finally, you'll make up a simply but oh so creamy mashed potato with vegan spread and unsweetened plant milk before spreading it over the filling and baking to perfect.

Here's how to make this wonderful plant-based meal that is sure to satisfy the whole family.

Instructions

Make the filling

Warm 1 tbsp of oil in a pan over medium heat

Add the whole block of Meatless Farm Mince without breaking it.

Remove the paper.

Let it brown underneath without touching. This will take about 3 minutes. Turn the block.

Break it up by squeezing with your utensils from either end.

Add a pinch of salt and another tablespoon of oil. Keep cooking until the strands are brown all over to get the best bite.

Tip onto a plate. Warm a tablespoon of oil to the pan.

Add the onion, garlic, celery and carrot.

Fry for 5-10 minutes until the onions are soft.

Add the flour and tomato puree - these act as thickeners for your sauce.

Stir through.

Add the Meatless Farm Mince, stock, red wine, dried sage and a pinch of salt and pepper. 

Add the dark soy and the bay leaf

Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced, dark and thick. If your gravy is too thin, the potato topping will sink into it.

Season to taste and remove the bay leaf.

Make the topping

While your filling is simmering, put the potatoes in a large pan of water, bring to the boil then simmer for 10-15 minutes until a butter knife slides into one easily.

When your potatoes are done, drain them and return them to the pan. 

Add the vegan margarine and milk.

Mash until smooth and season to taste.

Assemble your vegan cottage pie

Preheat your oven to 200C (180C fan).

Grease your roasting tray.

Add the cooked filling

Spoon the potato over the top of the filling.

Add texture with a fork.

Scatter with pepper. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and bubbling.

Serve onto plates.

We like to serve ours with plenty of lightly steamed veg.

How will you serve yours?

Get more meatless inspiration by following @meatlessfarm on Instagram and don't forget to check out the #meatlessfarm hashtag.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect vegan cottage pie

Is vegan cottage pie easy to make?

It's really simple to make this cottage pie - you'll make the filling in one pan and the topping in another.

And you won't need anything you can't pick up in your local supermarket.

Will I need any special equipment to make vegan cottage pie?

You don't need any special equipment to make vegan cottage pie, just things you will already have in your kitchen:

Weighing scales, measuring spoons, measuring jug, a kitchen knife and chopping board, two saucepans, a slotted spatula and potato masher, and a medium roasting dish.

Where can I buy The Meatless Farm Co Meat Free Mince?

The Meatless Farm Co products are currently sold in Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Ocado and The Vegan Kind Supermarket. You can check here for retailers near you.

Is this cottage pie suitable for vegetarians?

This recipe doesn't contain any meat, poultry or fish and is totally suitable for vegetarians.

Is this cottage pie suitable for vegans?

Yes, this cottage pie is completely plant-based.

Is this cottage pie gluten-free?

This recipe isn't gluten-free as it contains flour, and there may also be gluten in the stock.

The Meatless Farm Co Meat Free Mince is gluten-free, though, so if you wish to make the whole cottage pie gluten-free, you could use cornflour instead of flour, and check the labels on all other ingredients to ensure they are suitable for a gluten-free diet.

Is this cottage pie keto-friendly?

As this cottage pie is topped with plenty of mashed potato, it is not suitable for a keto diet.

If you wish to reduce the carb content, you could swap the potato for cauliflower mash.

Is vegan cottage pie healthy?

A quarter of this pie contains approximately 470 kcals, 18g carbohydrates, 21g protein and 33g fat (of which 8g are saturated).

I'd recommend serving with plenty of fresh, lightly steamed vegetables.

Is vegan cottage pie safe to eat while pregnant?

There is nothing in this recipe that should present a risk to pregnant people if the ingredients are in good condition and have been stored correctly, and the recipe is cooked hygienically and safely.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. You can review the NHS advice here and you should consult with your medical professional regarding any concerns.

Is vegan cottage pie suitable for babies and toddlers?

Babies and young children will probably love this recipe, because it's flavourful yes quite soft for young palates.

I would leave out the wine, salt, soy, especially for babies. I would also either use a low-salt stock or use your own salt-free stock.

Always give food at an appropriate size and shape for your baby or child. Cut small, round foods, like grapes and cherry tomatoes, into small pieces.

Always keep babies supported upright while eating and supervise your baby when they’re eating in case they start to choke.

The NHS has some excellent advice on feeding babies.

This website does not offer medical advice: always consult your health professional if you have any concerns.

What goes well with vegan cottage pie?

This cottage pie is perfect to serve as part of a gorgeously comforting and satisfying family dinner.

It's great served with greens such as peas, cabbage, sprouts, kale or wilted spinach. I also try to get some colour on every plate. Carrots, sautéed peppers and sweetcorn all compliment the pie beautifully.

Can I make this recipe without the wine?

There's only a small amount of alcohol in this recipe, and most of it will "cook off" as the dish simmers. The wine helps with flavour and also helps to emulsify the gravy.

However, if you prefer to leave the wine out, you can replace it with an equal amount of stock.

I haven’t got potatoes can I use packet mash?

Yes, absolutely. If you have either frozen mash or instant mash in your kitchen, mix it up and go ahead and use it as you would freshly made.

Can I add extra vegetables to this recipe?

You can definitely add more veg to this recipe, if you wish. A handful of peas would work really well, for example.

Bear in mind, though, that the more veg you add, the more gravy you might need, in which case, just add more flour, tomato puree and stock accordingly.

How should I store vegan cottage pie?

If you have any leftover pie, allow it to cool and then either cover the dish well or transfer the leftovers to a sealed container and place in the fridge within 2 hours of making.

Can I leave vegan cottage pie out on the counter?

No, you mustn't leave your cottage pie out on the counter as it could develop harmful levels of bacteria.

Make sure you get it cooled, into a sealed container and into the fridge within 2 hours of making.

Can I freeze vegan cottage pie?

This vegan cottage pie freezes well.

Allow leftovers to cool and then transfer to a sealed container and place in the freezer within 2 hours of making.

You could also make the whole pie in freezer-safe roasting dish, then cover well and freezer before baking, so that you've got a meal ready to bake when you need it.

How long does vegan cottage pie keep?

Properly stored, your vegan cottage pie should keep in the fridge for 3-5 days, or in the freezer for 2 months.

Can I make this vegan cottage pie ahead?

Yes, you can make this recipe ahead, if you like.

You could make the vegan cottage pie filling the night before and chill in the fridge in a sealed container, then make the mash, top and make the next day.

What is the best way to reheat vegan cottage pie?

If reheating individual portions, I like to plate them on a microwave-safe plate, cover with an upturned microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 1 minute blasts until piping hot to the centre. Allow to sit for 1 minute before eating.

If you're baking the whole pie from frozen, cover with foil and cook at 180C (160C fan) for 1-1.5 hours until defrosted right to the centre, then remove the foil, turn the heat up to 200C (180C fan) and bake for a final 20-30 minutes until golden and piping hot all the way through.

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. You can review the NHS advice here and you should consult with your medical professional regarding any concerns.

Can I make vegan cottage pie in a different quantity?

You can indeed change this recipe to make a smaller or larger pie.

To do so, simply scroll down to the recipe card found at the bottom of this page and click or hover over the servings number. A slider will appear that you can use to adjust the serving number, which will also automatically adjust all the ingredient quantities you need.

If you make a significantly larger or smaller amount, bear in mind that this will affect the cooking time.

Can I make vegan cottage pie in individual portions?

Yes, in theory you could make the filling and the topping and then assemble several small pies in pie dishes or ramekins. This would be similar to the way I made these mini fish pies. Let me know if you try it.

How can I make sure my potatoes are perfectly cooked?

Your potatoes are ready when a knife slides into them easily. If you think they're ready but you're not sure, taste a piece.

If you drain your potatoes and then decide they're slightly underdone, pop them back in the pan, put the lid on and leave them for five minutes. They'll continue to cook in their own steam.

Why did my pie filling turn out dry?

It's possible that you didn't add enough stock or wine. If you feel like you'd like more gravy, you can add more liquid.

It's also possible you simmered at too high a heat, or for too long, which would over-thicken the filling.

Why did my filling turn out wet?

It's possible that you added too much stock or wine.

Alternatively, the flour may not have mixed in properly, therefore preventing it from acting as a thickener.

Finally, it could be that you simmered at too low a heat, or for too little times, which could result in a watery filling. Use your judgement to get the gravy how you like it.

How can I add/change the flavours in this dish?

This vegan cottage pie is already packed with flavour, so I'd recommend making it just as directed the first time.

After that, you can try all sorts of tweaks. How about chucking some curry powder in with the onions, adding a handful of peas to the filling, or blanketing the potato with grated vegan cheese?

What is the origin of cottage pie? Why is called cottage pie?

Traditional cottage pie is beef mince with mashed potato topping.

The cottage pie is thought to have gained popularity in England in the 18th century, when poorer classes started to favour potato as a way to bulk up meals. These families tended to live country cottages hence, cottage pie.

It's often confused with shepherd's pie, which is essentially the same thing, but with lamb mince rather than beef.

This version of the classic cottage pie, of course, uses meat-free mince to allow the pie to be totally plant-based.

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