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Veggie Cottage Pie

Recipe by Alex Hall on InstagramAdded 8 November 2026.

20 minutes to prep, 1 hour 30 minutes to cook. A hearty vegetarian cottage pie packed with protein‑rich lentils, buttery butter beans, and a cheesy potato topping. The savory filling is brightened by tomatoes, mushrooms, and a splash of balsamic, while the topping becomes crisp and golden in the oven.

Free. No account needed.

Method

Filling

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F fan.

  2. Toss onion, carrots, sliced mushrooms, olive oil and dried thyme in a baking dish and roast for 20 minutes.

  3. Add cooked lentils, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, vegetable stock, Northern Relish and balsamic vinegar; continue roasting uncovered for 15 minutes until the mixture thickens.

Topping

  1. Place cubed potatoes in a separate dish with semi‑skimmed milk, salt and pepper, cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

  2. During the last 5 minutes of the potato bake, stir in the drained butter beans.

  3. Remove the potatoes and beans, mash together, then let cool for 2 minutes.

  4. Beat in the egg and half of the grated cheddar into the mash.

Assembly

  1. Spread the mashed topping over the lentil filling, drag a fork across the surface, and scatter the remaining cheddar on top.

  2. Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is golden and the pie is bubbling.

Tips while you cook

Roast vegetables before adding liquids
After tossing the onion, carrots, and mushrooms, roast them for the full 20 minutes before mixing in the lentils and sauces.
Stir butter beans into potatoes near the end
Add the drained butter beans during the last 5 minutes of the potato bake.
Cool mash briefly before adding egg
Let the mashed potatoes and beans rest for 2 minutes before beating in the egg and cheese to prevent curdling.
Use a fork to create texture on the topping
Drag a fork across the mashed topping before adding the final cheese layer.

Notes from ReelsMeals, based on this recipe's ingredients, times and method. They are not the creator's instructions.

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Alex Hall made this.

The recipe comes from Alex Hall’s Instagram reel. ReelsMeals wrote it down from the caption and the voiceover. Check the original if something looks off, and for anything about allergens.

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