Friends, prepare yourselves for a hug in the form of a recipe.
Consider this your go-to dish when comfort food is on the brain. Not only is it hearty and satisfying, it’s also simple, requiring just 10 basic ingredients and 40 minutes to make (from start to finish). Let’s comfort food!
The base for this dish is a mushroom and lentil gravy/stew.
It starts with sautéed shallot and mushrooms seasoned with coconut aminos, salt, and pepper for rich, deep flavor. Then come lentils, thyme for aromatics, and vegetable broth. As that’s simmering away, start your mashed potatoes.
The mashed potatoes are easy to make as well. Simply peel (or leave skin on for more texture), boil until tender, and mash!
You can go 100 different ways with seasoning mashed potatoes, but we kept things simple: a little salt, pepper, and olive oil, with a few dashes of almond milk for creaminess. SERIOUS yum. For more flavor, you could also add fresh garlic, herbs, or even some vegan parmesan cheese.
All that’s left to do is serve! For garnish, we went for more fresh thyme and a little parsley. Vegan parmesan adds a bit more flavor, but it’s certainly optional.
We hope you all LOVE this dish! It’s:
Super hearty
Comforting
Flavorful
Healthy
Fiber- + Protein-packed
Quick + Easy
& So tasty
This would make a delicious easy weeknight meal for two or a hearty side for four. It’s reminiscent of Shepherd’s Pie but far easier to make! Plus, you can sauce up the filling a bit more so it’s more like mashed potatoes and gravy. Total swoon!
If you’re into hearty meals, check out our Moroccan Lentil Stuffed Eggplant, Rich Red Curry with Roasted Vegetables, 1-Pot Everyday Lentil Soup, Crispy Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan, or Vegan Pumpkin Mac ‘n’ Cheese!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Lentil Mushroom Stew over Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
POTATOES
- 1 pound yellow potatoes, peeled and quartered evenly (I left on some skin for texture)
- Sea salt + black pepper to taste
- 1-2 Tbsp olive oil (if avoiding oil, add more almond milk or vegetable broth)
- 2-4 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk or vegetable broth (for added moisture)
MUSHROOM LENTIL GRAVY
- 1 Tbsp water (or avocado or olive oil)
- 1/2 cup chopped shallot
- 2 cups sliced cremini (or button) mushrooms
- 1-2 Tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 pinch each salt and pepper
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme (or sub rosemary // use dried if fresh is unavailable)
- 2/3 cup dry green lentils (rinsed + drained // optional: soak overnight in cool water to improve digestibility)
- 2-3 cups vegetable broth (or store-bought)
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste (optional)
- 2 Tbsp mashed potatoes (recipe above // for thickness)
GARNISH optional
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large rimmed pan over medium heat. Once hot, add oil or water and shallot and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add mushrooms and coconut aminos and increase heat to medium-high. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Add thyme, lentils, and 2 cups vegetable broth (480 ml // or the smaller end of the range if adjusting recipe size). Bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cook on low for about 20 minutes, adding more broth as needed if the mixture looks dry.
- In the meantime, add potatoes to a large pot and cover with water so they are just submerged. Bring to a boil on high heat and cook for 12-15 minutes or until they slide off easily when pierced with a knife.
- Once tender, drain potatoes and add back to pot or a mixing bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and a bit of olive oil and mash until tender and fluffy. For added moisture in place of oil, add unsweetened plain almond milk or vegetable broth.
- Once lentils are tender, taste sauce and adjust flavor as needed, adding more salt or coconut aminos for saltiness, pepper for spice, or tomato paste for more depth of flavor (optional – we didn’t find it necessary). Turn off heat and let the mixture rest so flavors can deepen. Add the 2 Tbsp (30 g // or more as needed) mashed potatoes to the lentil mushroom stew and stir in to thicken.
- To serve, divide mashed potatoes between serving plates or bowls and top with desired amount of lentil and mushroom gravy. Garnish with fresh parsley, vegan parmesan cheese, or more thyme, if desired.
- Store leftovers separately, covered, up to 4 days in the refrigerator or in the freezer up to 1 month. Reheat on the stovetop or in a 350 degree F (176 C) oven until hot.
Video
Notes
*As written, this recipe heartily serves 2 as an entrée or 4 as a side.
Darlene Bell says
This was excellent. My husband who really doesn’t like meals that don’t have animal protein, loved it!!!
I soaked dried mushroom in 2 cups of water and used them as well as the soaking liquid for the broth.
This dish had so much flavour!
True comfort food.
Thank you
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you both enjoyed this one, Darlene. Thank you for sharing! xo
Gina says
This was delicious and such comfort food (and when have we ever needed comfort food more than the present time…). I followed your recipe to the letter, and it was just so good. And easy. And healthy. Many thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it provided some comfort, Gina! Sending lots of love! xoxo
Melissa says
I made this last night and it was surprisingly delicious! I had all the ingredients on hand, including a big assortment of dried mushrooms, including crimini and oyster, which I rehydrated. After rehydrating the water was used as mushroom broth. It had so much flavor and delicious meaty texture.
This was enjoyed by the whole family. Filling and healthy comfort food. Thanks for a great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad everyone in the family enjoyed it. Thank you for the lovely review, Melissa! xo
Elle says
This was absolutely fantastic! I served mine over cauliflower mash and used Bragg Original aminos instead of coconut. Will definitely make this again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Elle! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Nina says
I’ve made this a few times so far – I absolutely love it. Perfect comfort food for a fall day and a great source of plant based protein. I use low sodium soy sauce instead of coconut aminos as that’s what I have on hand – still delicious. Definitely in our winter rotation
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you’ve been enjoying this recipe, Nina. Thank you for sharing! xo
Hannah says
I made this and it was like a liquid warmth straight to my chilled bones. I did have to make several substitutions, since I don’t have coconut aminos or shallots in my local grocery store. I used diced onion in place of shallots at a 1:1 ratio, and a mix of balsamic vinegar and Worcestershire sauce in place of coconut aminos. I’d really recommend soy sauce as the first substitute here, though. I did end up adding regular milk and butter to my mashed potatoes, and this made them richer and more creamy. I also had to add some potato boiling water to my lentil/mushroom mix and put a lid over to soften my lentils a bit longer than what was called for. I added tomato paste, even though I don’t think I needed it. Tastes really lovely, thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad this recipe helped warm you up, Hannah. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Tulsi says
The flavor of this dish was good; however, mine had the consistency more of a soup than a stew.
I wanted to thicken it so I pureed some of the lentils and added another spoonful of potatoes. I think perhaps my lentils were not cooked enough because they were still quite firm and chewy after 20 minutes of cooking (I did the overnight soak).
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Tulsi. We’re sorry it didn’t turn out quite right! Is it possible your lentils were old? That can cause them to have trouble softening.
Howard Stovall says
coconut enzymes!?!? I’ve never even heard of this and certainly don’t have any in the pantry. A substitute?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Howard, coconut aminos is a soy-free alternative to soy sauce or tamari. It’s a bit sweeter and less salty. You can use a lesser amount of soy sauce or tamari, if you’d like!
M says
Absolutely delicious, and even better the next day when sauce has thickened up more. I didn’t follow recipe exactly but used as a guide. I added carrots, garlic and used different spices as don’t like thyme (coriander, fresh oregano, cumin), used soy sauce in place of coconut aminos and made mash with mixture of sweet potato and normal. So good – thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Your modifications sound lovely! Thank you for sharing! xo
Lyly says
wow this was so good that I am cooking this again today. Seriously yesterday I was cooking this recipe after a long day and when it came out, I felt alive again, it was so easy to make and so so delicious!! I made mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, added in a bit of almond milk. The sweetness of sweet potato went so well with the saltiness of the dish!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you’re enjoying this recipe, Lyly! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
meghan says
Delicious and simple. I didnt use the tomato paste, but I might next time just to see but it didn’t need it. I poured it over riced cauliflower because I didnt have potatoes and it was still super tasty. Can’t wait to try it with potatoes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Meghan! Thank you for sharing! xo
JJ says
Very good comfort food. I made this without the tomato paste. I used soy sauce instead of coconut aminos.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, JJ!
Shirley says
This was wonderful! I used canned lentils to make it quicker, and followed the recipe otherwise. I usually make riced cauliflower mashed potatoes, and will do that next time. Definitely will be making this again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Shirley. Thank you for sharing! xo
Amy says
I’m working on putting together a collection of easy vegan dinner recipes, (preferably with leftovers.) This was absolutely delicious and satisfying! I used tamari and brown lentils, but otherwise followed the recipe precisely. The lentils took much longer to cook for me, and I think next time I might add some parsnips to the mashed potatoes for variety, but still a solid winner. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Amy! We’re so glad you enjoyed the result! xo
Becky Plante says
I made this and liked it, but it was a little too sweet for me. Could I sub soy sauce for the aminos? Or any other suggestions?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Becky! Yes! That will definitely make it less sweet!
Jill says
Why does this say to heat a large rimmed pan and then go on to describe cooking the gravy in a pot?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jill! The large rimmed pan is for the gravy and the pot is for the potatoes. Hope this helps!
Ru says
The recipe calls for green lentils. Would the brown type work as well?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work!
Christina says
I love this recipe! I’ve made it for years. (I believe it had a different name but everything else is the same.) It is always is so good and one of my winter staples that I make a lot this time of year. Thanks for all your creative tasty dishes!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Christina! Thanks so much for the lovely review. xo
Ashley J Batley says
This was fabulous. My doubting kids even enjoyed it. Made it without the tomato paste and thought it had plenty of flavor.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad it was a hit with the whole family. Thank you for sharing, Ashley! xo
Christine says
Really good. I used soy sauce instead of coconut aminos. I made rice instead of mashed potatoes and added a little gluten free flour to sauce to thicken since I didn’t have any mashed potatoes. I will make this again. Thanks for the recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Christine! xo
Kristen says
I’ve made this several times and it’s always delicious. It’s so nice to have a winner for the whole family that fills everybody’s food requirements. I usually add chopped carrots for interest and I usually stick with a glob of tomato paste in there. We all really love it. Next time i have a potluck to attend I plan to take it made up like a shepherd’s pie.
Note – black lentils will make the whole thing a weird shade of grey. Ask me how i know, haha. Thanks for this recipe! K
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Kristen! xo
Kim says
The mushroom lentil gravy was delicious. Like a few other folks, I made minor substitutions (dry rosemary, onion instead of shallot, added the tomato paste). The potatoes were quite dry, though, so I’ll make some modifications next time — perhaps add more broth to the gravy, as the recipe suggests. Otherwise, I’ll definitely make this again. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for the feedback, Kim! Glad you enjoyed it overall!
Kat says
This was delicious, and such a nice change of pace from pasta or rice. I used fresh rosemary, which is probably my favorite herb, plus some dried herb mix. My husband, who doesn’t like anything on his mashed potatoes except butter, just ate the lentil stew separately in a bowl and thought it was really good that way. I did put in the optional tomato paste to add more umami flavor. Thank you for a great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing, Kat! xo
Alina S says
Made this tonight and it was delicious!
I made a double batch, couldn’t find shallots so I used yellow onion. I added minced garlic to the mushrooms, and also added a couple splashes of balsamic vinegar in addition to the soy sauce. I used a mixture of butter and olive oil for the mashed potatoes. I look forward to making this again, perfect comfort food meal.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed it and will be making it again. Thank you for the lovely review, Alina! xo
Teresa M Rodriguez says
Another incredible recipe!! My plan was to let it cool and flavors to blend before eating it…that did not happen! After reading all the reviews here, I made a double batch so I would have A LOT and I am so glad I did! Added the tomato paste, a bunch of black pepper, 2 tbsp cornstarch in place of potato, and ate it over wild rice. Also used baby bella mushrooms. Soaked the lentils overnight and it took no time to cook up! I don’t know the who’s and what’s of how this website has the best recipes ever, but it does, so, Thank you so much! Also, this is one of the easiest, low cost recipes I have ever made. Definitely making this many more times!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes, Teresa. It’s really important to us that our recipes work for as many people as possible so we’re thrilled to hear you’ve had a positive experience here! Thank you so much for your kind words and lovely review! xo
Kaelyn says
I’ve been making this recipe for years and I keep coming back to it! SO flavourful, satisfying and delicious. thank you <3
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you’ve been enjoying it, Kaelyn. Thank you for sharing! xo
Seth says
This was delicious and smelled great. The mashed potatoes were a great addition to this dish. Made as written. I think I soaked my lentils for about 4-6hrs and they cooked just fine in 20 mins.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing, Seth!
reader says
This is absolutely DELICIOUS!!! The only change I made the second time was to soak the lentils in hot water for an hour, then drain and continue the recipe as written — they never made it to the right texture the first time, even though I cooked them 20 minutes longer than the original 20 minute instruction. Must’ve had weird lentils! LOL Anyhoo, soaking made it work perfectly for me — and we loved it so much that the second time I made a double batch! We ate it alone, spooned over baked potatoes or brown rice, even as a filling for enchiladas topped with vegan cheese sauce. We eat a ton of soup beans (navy and pinto mix), black beans, etc., but not many lentils, so it’s great to add them to our rotation. THANKS!! (though I have to say the pop-up ad along the bottom, the pop-up wanting to track my location, the moving ads in the right margin that don’t have an X to close….. whew… good thing I’m not epilectic or have ADHD because it’s just too much visual crap to ignore if I hadn’t wanted to leave a review, so I doubt I’ll be back)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your feedback. We’ll look into it! We always try to optimize for user experience, while also having ads to keep the content free and high quality.
marijka says
Just made this stew for the first time, and my ONLY comment is that for me, I had to cook it 35 minutes for the green lentils to soften enough – not 20 minutes, so I had to add more water along the way. (will soak them next time) It is DELICIOUS!!! I added it to my weekly food prep for the fridge of roasted butternut squash, steamed potatoes, brown rice, crispy quinoa, steamed broccoli, fresh salad greens, vegan cheese sauce, etc., and am freaking excited to top any and all of these things! I used 1 tbsp of Braggs Liquid Aminos and found it a bit strong for my taste when eaten alone off a spoon, but know it will be perfect combined with a starch. THIS ROCKS! THANK YOU! (and as I type am thinking this would be amazing blended into a dip and scooped up with vegs and homemade corn tortilla chips)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Marijka! xo
Leia Spencer says
I made this but used vegetable broth and white wine instead of aminos, as I had none. I didn’t feel like tomato sauce so just skipped them all together! It turned out very nice. More the flavour of a risotto for sure. Not sure how anyone expect lentils to cook in 20mins, hands down they take at least 40. So I had to add more water for the lentils.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing, Leia!
Holly says
Just wondering how this would turn out without mushrooms, we’re not fans. Otherwise it looks delicious…any try it sans mushrooms?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Holly, we don’t think it would be as good, but you could try subbing more shallot and maybe another veggie, too. Other readers who dislike mushrooms have commented they like this one though (especially when finely chopping the mushrooms)! Let us know if you give it a try!
Lorraine says
Have you ever cooked this in an instant pot please?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Lorraine! We’d suggest sautéing through step 2. Then add 2 to 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth, seal the lid, and pressure cook for 7-8 minutes. At the end of pressure cooking, there will be leftover liquid which you can evaporate out by setting to sauté for ~10 minutes (uncovered), stirring occasionally until thickened. Let us know how it goes!
Amanda says
So hearty and yum. Any instructions for cooking this in the Instant Pot?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amanda, we’d suggest sautéing through step 2. Then add 2 to 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth, seal the lid, and pressure cook for 7-8 minutes. At the end of pressure cooking, there will be leftover liquid which you can evaporate out by setting to sauté for ~10 minutes (uncovered), stirring occasionally until thickened. Let us know how it goes!
Joan Money says
This is wonderful! I made it into a stew using leftover baked potatoes cooked in the air fryer a couple of nights ago instead of mashed potatoes. I cut them up into big chunks and added them at the end so that they could re-heat. Also, I made a broth from white miso paste and water – great flavor. Finally, instead of tomato paste I used about 5 slices of dehydrated roma tomatoes from the summer bounty. All in all, great flavor and quick to put together. I will make this again! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Joan!
Kay says
Delicious. I used shiitake and oyster mushrooms. But no amount of mashed potatoes was thickening the gravy. I ended up using quite a bit of cornstarch, even after using the low end amount of broth.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it overall, Kay!
The Vegan Goddess says
Delicious! This is a perfect meal for a cold, wintry day: hearty, healthy and satisfying. More vegan goodness!
It comes together easily and thyme is a nice fragrant touch.
I will make this again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Great! Thank you for sharing! xo
Ani says
Made this over creamy polenta because I had some leftover. Yummy combo! I also threw some queso fresco on top because it was hanging around and it brought some night saltiness. There was a sweetness I wasn’t sure about…maybe from the coconut aminos? I would be curious to try with tamari next time. Overall pretty easy and very yummy and I will for sure make again. And I don’t usually like mushrooms!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing your experience, Ani!
AnwenT says
Made this for lunch just now and it is DELICIOUS! I held off on the tomato paste actually because even as it was coming together I could tell there would be no need. There’s something about the way that mushrooms and thyme combine that is magic. As usual, I didn’t have a perfect set of ingredients, so I subbed finely chopped onion for shallots, and Bragg’s Aminos for Coconut Aminos. Don’t pass on the mashed potatoes element of this receipt! I left the skins on and mashed mine with a small amount of soy butter, salt and pepper (no milk, because I like my potatoes less wet). It truly is a hug in a meal!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Anwen. Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Heather Stoelting says
This was the second year I made this for the vegan Thanksgiving entree. So full of flavor. I didn’t add mashed potatoes because I thought it was perfect. Served with mashed potatoes, vegan stuffing, and some delicious salads for an amazing vegan Thanksgiving.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! So glad you enjoy this recipe, Heather!
Ruth says
This was a great, cheap, easy, comforting meal. I added some garlic to the onions, and some nutritional yeast to the potatoes. Only had dried thyme, but added some fresh dill to the finished dish. Another keeper! Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks, Ruth!
Sofia says
Hi! Could I sub green lentils for red?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sofia, You can, but red lentils cook faster and tend to become mushier. So if you’re OK with that, go for it!
Mary says
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Approx how much less time should I cook the stew if I use red lentils?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Mary, you can cook them for about 10-15 minutes in step 3, depending if you’re using split or whole red lentils. Split red lentils will cook faster than whole. We’d suggesting tasting them at 10 minutes to see if they’re tender, adding more time, as needed. Hope that helps!
Mary says
Thank you, appreciate it so much! Best ,Mary
Sandra says
I did add a jump of tomato paste but I think it would have been fine without it. Also used soy sauce. Started with only 1 tbsp but added another when I was adjusting it after cooking. Needed to cook the lentils for a bit longer than the initial 20 minutes. My potatoes were a bit watery too but that’s my fault lol. Grated Parmesan before serving. Tasty and filling. Will make again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing, Sandra!
Brian Hall says
I made this with cheesy polenta base. Not vegan, but dang, was it good! This is now on the list of food I would proud to serve to guests.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing, Brian!
Sara says
This recipe was absolute perfection! I followed the recipe exactly as written and it couldn’t have been better. My 7 year old, who isn’t always a fan of mushrooms, asked for seconds. As a bonus, it came together quickly making it the ideal weeknight meal. Only downside is that my family lived it so much that there aren’t enough leftovers for my lunch tomorrow!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed it, Sara. Thank you for sharing! xo
Salena says
So easy, delicious, and savory! I wasn’t feeling lentils though so I threw vegan apple sage field roast sausages in a food processor to replace them and I really liked the texture. It was like thanksgiving! Thank you MB!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing, Salena! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!
Elizabeth says
This was delicious. We used a mixture of cremini and shiitakes. Our mash contained gold potatoes plus one white and one orange sweet potato, plus olive oil and oat milk. I added in some tomato powder near the end of the cooking time. Yum.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad you enjoyed this, Elizabeth. Love your modifications as well! Thanks!
Ashley McGrath says
I just made this tonight, and it was absolutely perfect – warm, comforting, healthy and a good balance of flavors.
I didn’t have shallots, so I used onion (and added some minced garlic cause why not?!) I used mini portabellas, and I love the flavor they retain with the coconut aminos. The lentil stew with the mashed potato combo evokes thanksgiving but with an interesting depth of flavor. Thank you Minimalist Baker for the lovely, reliable recipes!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Ashley!
Shelley says
Thank you! This was really delicious. We loved it.
I had to cook mine much longer because I did not soak the lentils. I did a quick 15 min boil and it still took forever. Next time I will soak them.
I didn’t use tomato paste and it was perfect!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the great review, Shelley!
Tawana Bruce says
If you have four servings, are they a cup each? I guess I’m not sure if it’s a 1/2 cup or 1 cup.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Tawana, we’d estimate this recipe makes ~3 1/2 – 4 cups in total.
Anne N. says
I made this last week after searching for a mushroom gravy recipe. It was delicious! I love the idea of making a meal out of mushroom gravy by adding lentils to make it more filling and give it some protein. It’s also a great recipe for when I’m feeling lazy because it doesn’t require sauteing the mushrooms. I also love the vegan mashed potato recipe that is a part of this recipe. I have saved this recipe under my “vegan_faves” bookmark and I will definitely be making it on a regular basis all fall and winter!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Thanks for the great review, Anne!
Paula Chapin says
I made the lentil mushroom stew over mashed potatoes tonight. Although we are not vegan, this was a delicious dish and very different than what we are used to having. Definitely recommend it for ease of preparation and a unique dish.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the great review, Paula!
Kristen says
Really good. It’s tough to find comfort food that the cheese and meat eaters in my house will accept. On this rainy, cold evening it totally fit the bill for the whole family. I substituted homemade chicken broth in both potatoes and stew and went for about 1tsp of tomato paste just for colour. Thanks for such a delightful recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the review and for sharing your modifications, Kristen!
Sheryl says
This is a quick and easy meal. I love tomatoes so added a chopped tomato toward the end of cooking. It was great with nutritional yeast sprinkled on top.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Thanks for the review and for sharing your modifications, Sheryl!
Michelle says
Delicious and very easy to make. Only substitute I did was to use soya sauce Instead of the coconut aminos as I didn’t have any on hand. Will definetely be making again! Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for the review, Michelle!
Cathy Eville says
I don’t care for lentils. What would be a good bean substitute? I usually use Rancho Gordo beans. Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Cathy, we haven’t tried this with beans but we think most varieties would work as long as they’re on the smaller side. Let us know how it goes!
Kelsey says
This was a perfect “use what’s in the pantry” recipe! Used canned brown lentils instead of green, replaced coconut aminos with soy sauce because that’s what we already had in the fridge. Omitted tomato paste.
Added nutlex vegan butter to the mash, cracked pepper. Added garlic powder to the mushroom lentil mix. Didn’t bother peeling the potatoes at all, and it was still delish. :)
Omitted vegan cheese because it’s pricey at the moment.
Only regret is not making more of it. Will keep this one on file for go-to easy meals to make in bulk.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Kelsey. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Jennifer R says
Wow! This was delicious! I used dried thyme and added a little garlic with the onions in the beginning because it felt weird not to. I did use some tomato paste at the end – maybe a tablespoon. Not sure why it hit the spot so hard but this was very, very yummy!!! Thank you for posting this recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad it hit the spot! Thank you for the wonderful review, Jennifer! xo
Charlotte says
What does 128g of dry lentils equate to when cooked? I want to use canned.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Charlotte, according to google the amount of cooked lentils is usually ~2.5 x the dry amount, so it would be ~320 grams. Hope this helps!
Bryan says
Great recipe. Really hit the spot. I made a double batch to freeze and use for a quick weeknight meal. Next time I might add some carrots to add a little more color and texture, but it’s excellent as is.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Thanks for the great review, Bryan!
NancyB says
Very good! I added spinach and carrots for color and sweetness. I served over pasta.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing, Nancy! xo
Lauren says
Another amazing recipe! I used a tablespoon of fresh thyme and 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary, also I’m not a fan of large pieces of mushrooms so I chopped them up instead and it came out great!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Lauren! xo
Emily says
Wow! I made this for meal prep last night and I am eating it today. It turned out so great! I used tamari in place of the coconut aminos because that’s what I had on hand. I added 1 clove of garlic because I love garlic. I also served it over brown rice instead of potatoes and it paired well together. Will definitely be adding this to my regular rotation!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you’re enjoying it, Emily! Thank you for sharing! xo
Louise says
Oh my! Made this for the first time tonight and when my wife came home from work the delicious smell had her practically floating to the kitchen like a cartoon character. I made it exactly as written did not add the optional tomato paste and it was delicious!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Louise! Thank you for sharing! xo
Ess says
Terrific recipe! I used organic ketchup (just a TBSP) instead of tomato paste (none in the house) with crimini mushrooms. And I used russet potatoes as I didn’t have yellow. I used vegetable broth and added some nutritional yeast to the mashed potatoes. Total yum. Will be making this again. Even my meat-a-tarian spouse asked for this again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Ess! Thank you for sharing! xo
JP says
Love this dish! Made it twice. One with coconut aminos, and one with tamari instead. Not sure if that is what made the difference, but the tamari version had a deeper flavor. I also cooked the lentils a little longer as we like them on the softer side. Amazing! Thanks for another great recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it! Tamari would have a deeper flavor. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Nikki H. says
This was really tasty!! I love it! I tried it with sweet potatoes and the sweetness of those mixed with the savory lentils was lovely!!
One note: I couldn’t find the step when we are supposed to add the tomato paste. I just added it with the lentils and broth. Not sure if that’s where it was supposed to go but it worked:)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Nikki! Thank you for sharing! That definitely works – or you can add it in step 6.
Kristin Fatouros says
Delicious, hearty and comforting.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Kristin! xoxo
Heather says
I made this for Thanksgiving dinner and it was so delicious! Our extended family had turkey and lots of vegan friendly sides, so I had the stew on vegan mashed potatoes and stuffing, with plenty of other veggie sides and the non-vegans admired my plate and told me to take a pic! Loved this and will be making it all winter!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, we’re so glad you enjoyed it, Heather! Thank you for the lovely review and hope you had a great Thanksgiving! xo
Zarah says
Absolutely delicious!
I added a few tsp of red wine, but stayed rather true to the recipe otherwise, and it was really just SO good! Definitely one to be added to “the rotation”. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That sounds like a wonderful addition! We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the lovely review, Zarah! xo
Kara says
Hi, I was wondering what you would suggest for broth:lentil ratio and cook time if I attempted this in the instant pot.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kara, we usually use 3 cups liquid: 1 cup lentils in the Instant Pot so they’re completely covered, which encourages even cooking. At the end of pressure cooking, there will be leftover liquid which you can either drain out or set to sauté for ~10 minutes with the lid removed to evaporate. We’d suggest taking a look at our Instant Pot lentils recipe. Hope that helps!
Nina says
Oh my this was fantastic! I am a MB fanatic and make your dishes several times a week. My meat loving husband just had two bowls of this tonight and wants the rest for leftovers tomorrow! I followed all the steps, had to sub in shiitakes since that’s what I had (and needed to use up). I did add a few chopped carrots when the mushrooms were added for some more color. Olive oil for all the sauteing, blend of fresh and dried thyme, coco aminos, about 3 cups of homemade veg broth (your receipe of course) and the tomato paste at the end definitely gave it a nice richness. I would probably quadruple the mashed potatoes next time, we like taters! I also soaked my green lentils overnight as suggested. I would like to try this next with black lentils as well. This was such a rich, hearty, healthy and nutritious meal – I would eat this in a restaurant! So satisfying! Thanks MB for sharing your talents with us – your recipes have made me a much more confident and adventurous cook!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, this makes us SO happy to hear, Nina! Thank you so much for the lovely review! xo
dana says
This meal is like a big hug and makes excellent leftovers. I used red onion instead of shallots + lemon thyme from the garden. Highly recommend soaking the lentils for digestion! And don’t leave out the tomato paste… I recommend adding before the liquids. Even after soaking I used 3 cups of broth, but I do prefer them slightly mushier. So good!! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, love that – definitely a huge hug! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Heather says
This is comfort food at its best. I added two bay leafs and to thicken the gravy I mixed in 2tbsp flour blended into cold water at the end rather than using potato. Great recipe, I’ll definitely use it again and again!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Wonderful! Love that, Heather! Thank you for sharing! xo
VICKY says
Delicious! This will be great for a cold winter day! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Agreed! Thank you for sharing, Vicky! xo
Kat Smith says
This was absolutely delicious, I substituted shallots for Brown onion, and coconut aminos fir tamari, used dried thyme, and added more lentils and extra stock. It was amazing. The house smelled beautiful while it was cooking, and even my mushroom hating 13yo son and meat loving 15yo son loved it, actually the 15yo had 2 bowls…. Hubby was skeptical but agreed it was yum and said he’d happily eat it again. All up I figured it cost about $10 for enough to feed a hungry family of 4, plus extra, and there was even enough left for our pet chickens to have a treat too (or lunch tomorrow, but the chickens we begging).
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed it, Kat! Thank you for sharing! xo
Amy says
Hello! Does it matter if I use red lentils?? I saw someone else ask but I didn’t see a reply. I, too, have a bag of red I would like to use up. :)
P.S. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for your kind words, Amy! You can, but red lentils cook faster and tend to become mushier. So if you’re OK with that, go for it!
Deb says
Can I use black lentils? I can’t wait to try this. Newly vegan so this will be great.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sure! They’ll just be a little more textured.
Ainsley says
Not a vegetarian but this recipe could convince me. This is absolutely delightful and hearty.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Ainsley! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Theresa says
So good! I added some sweet potatoes I had left over. I didn’t have that coconut thing so I just added some soy sauce. And I admit I added butter to the potatoes. They were amazing.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Sounds delish. Thanks so much for the review, Theresa!
Karen Sultan says
This was fabulous. Next time I will try the tomato paste. I added a little ghee to the potatoes, which made them a little sweeter and creamier.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! So glad you enjoyed it, Karen! xoxo
Jo says
This is a hearty and perfect fall meal. My toddler loves it too!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Love to hear this. Thanks so much for the lovely review, Jo!
Stacy says
We tried this last night, and it was really satisfying. The stew is very much like a hearty gravy, giving this the feel of comfort food, but knowing it’s pretty healthy. The only issue is that we have much more stew left than potatoes; we’ll use naan or something to make up the difference and add an extra potato or two next time.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing, Stacy! Glad you enjoyed it overall! xo