Healthy Life

INGREDIENTS (serves 4 + leftovers)

prep time 30 minutes, cooking time 25 minues

For the pie:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely chopped

1 celery, finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp tomato puree

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp veggie stock powder or a veggie stock cube, crumbled up

2 tin of chopped tomatoes

2 tins of green lentils

1 large handful fresh coriander, chopped

1/2 tsp chilli flakes optional (leave out when cooking for children)

1 tsp garam masala optional (leave out when cooking for children)

For the mash topping:

500g of carrots, peeled and cut into chunks

500g of sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

1-2 tbsp olive oil

A dash of milk (ca 100ml) dairy or oat milk

A sprinkle of cumin

Salt and pepper

200g feta cheese, cut into small cubes

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 180 degree fan.

Heat the oil in a large pot or pan. Add onion, carrot and celery and cook for 10 minutes until soft. Add tomato puree, garlic, vegetable stock and all your spices. Stir and cook for a few more minutes.

Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook for another 15 minutes. Taste and season.

If you are using the chilli and garam masala add this now.

Stir in the lentils and fresh coriander and cook for a few minutes more. Add a dash of water to loosen up the mixture a little.

Meanwhile bring a large pan pf water to boil and cook your carrot and sweet potato chunks until soft. Once soft, drain and set aside and allow to cool a little. Add oil, season, add a dash of milk and a sprinkle of ground cumin and mash until smooth. Set aside.

Transfer your lentil mix into your baking dish, spoon the carrot mash on top and then press in the feta chunks.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes.

Tips:

1. Double up your quantity and keep a second meal. Cook once, eat twice is the best kitchen hack!
2. The pie can be frozen before baking; defrost and bake to serve.
3. If it’s browning too fast when baking, cover with foil.
4. If you’re cooking for a whole family don’t use the chilli flakes and garam masala as this will make the pie too hot.
5. If your children are not keen on feta, then only use 100g and pop the cheese cubes into one side of the pie only.
6. You can use dried lentils too, make sure you read the packet instructions and check cooking times as these will vary, but you’ll most likely add the lentils with your chopped tomatoes and allow to cook until the lentils are soft.
7. You could make a parsnip and carrot mash too which also tastes really lovely.
8. Or try making just a carrot mash – it’s fun to experiment with this!