Vocal Voices

As requested by Ally

I do several different versions. The original was in one of those Dairy cookbooks, roughly (for 2 but obviously just a guide):
Chop an onion, 2 celery sticks, and 2 carrots onto biggish dice. Cut a leek into short chunks, and plenty of mushrooms into halves/quarters.
Fry the onion, carrot, celery for a few mins, then add leek. Cook 5 mins with lid on, then add a tablespoon of paprika (not hot or smoked), salt & pepper. Stir in well, then add a sprinkle of flour, a dollop of tomato puree and a tin of tomatoes.
Cook with lid for about 15-20 mins, add mushrooms, then put in ovenproof dish.
Meanwhile cook potatoes, mash and mix in grated cheese.
Top veg with mash, sprinkle more grated cheese on top and bake about 20 mins 180c.
All very 'Ish'

Veg are inter-changeable. I add broccoli if I have it, or cauli, or a tin of any kind of beans if I'm short of veg. And red pepper if I have a piece hanging around, or a courgette.
For larger quantities, stick with one tin of tomatoes and add some veg stock.

Then I do an actual veggie shepherds pie. For that I cook green lentils. While they're cooking chop onion, carrot, celery finely (in mini-chopper), the idea is it all is mince-sized but sometimes I leave the carrot a bit bigger as that's how I do shepherds pie.
Fry the veg, add lentils once cooked. Add finely chopped mushrooms (really meaty taste from these). Add mixed herbs, salt & pepper and stock. I often use a beef oxo, because we're not veggie and it tastes nice, Worcester sauce too. Otherwise veg stock.
Mash on top as usual, plain or mixed with swede

Thanks Di.

I absolutely love veggie based meals so this recipe is great.

Luckily the men in the house will enjoy it too!

That sounds really nice Di, I think it'll go down well in our house though it'll be mushroom-free as Tom detests them

BTW it's Tom's birthday on Sunday and he's deciding what to have for dinner - he's thinking either a roast or the Jambalaya that you posted the recipe for

I'm making that jambalaya again on Thursday - my lot could eat it twice a week!

I probably make it 3 or 4 times a month.

It's so simple and quick and bloomin tasty.

That Jambalaya remains very popular here too Jo - even better when it's so easy eh?

The veg pie is good, one of our favourites The paprika used as flavouring is what makes it a bit different and less bland. If they all like beans I think I'd add some then, similar texture to the mushrooms.

The second one, with the lentils, I've also done with curry powder added, and turmeric in the mash

I always have to make extra portions so that John can take it to work for his lunch for a couple of days

Have added a couple of amendments to the first recipe

The veg pie looks great

Making the veg pie for dinner tomorrow

Hope you all like it Jo