VEGAN CHESTNUT RECIPES RECIPES

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
2. Peel and chop all the potatoes into rough 2cm chunks. Place the Maris Pipers into a large pan of cold salted water over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender, adding the sweet potatoes after 5 minutes.
3. Drain and leave to steam dry, then return to the pan with the margarine and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Mash until smooth, then set aside.
4. Peel and finely slice the onion, carrots and 2 garlic cloves, then trim and finely slice the celery.
5. Bash the coriander seeds in a pestle and mortar until fine, then add it all to a medium pan over a medium heat with a good splash of oil. Pick in the thyme leaves, then cook for around 10 minutes, or until softened.
6. Meanwhile, roughly chop the mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, then add to the pan along with the vinegar and 2 tablespoons of the sun-dried tomato oil from the jar.
7. Cook for a further 10 minutes, then add a splash of wine, turn up the heat, and allow it to bubble away. Stir in the stock, lentils and chickpeas (juice and all), then leave it to tick away for 5 to 10 minutes, or until slightly thickened and reduced.
8. Pick and roughly chop the parsley leaves, then stir into the pan. Season to taste, then transfer to a baking dish (roughly 25cm x 30cm).
9. Spread the mash over the top, scuffing it up with the back of a spoon.
10. Finely slice the remaining garlic clove, then place into a bowl with the rosemary leaves, lemon zest, breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon of oil. Mix well, sprinkle over the mash, then place in the hot oven for around 10 minutes, or until piping hot through.
11. Place under the grill for a further 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden, then serve with seasonal greens.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas mark 6. In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp oil over a medium heat and sweat the onion, carrot and celery for 10 minutes until very soft and starting to caramelise. Add the sliced garlic and rosemary and continue to cook for 1 minute before adding the tomato purée. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add the fresh and dried mushrooms to the pan with the flour, reserving the liquid. Fry for 2-3 minutes, then add the mushroom liquid, stock, tinned tomatoes and balsamic. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the liquid is starting to reduce.

Add the lentils and continue to simmer for 10 minutes, or until the sauce is thick and glossy. 

Meanwhile, blanch the potatoes for 4-5 minutes, until just tender. Transfer the lentils to a large pie dish. Arrange the potatoes on top so they overlap in circles. Mix the crushed garlic with the remaining oil and brush over the potato. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until the potatoes are crisp and golden.