Layers of deliciousness! A one pot wonder...Layer Bake Pie

Layers of potato, lentils and a creamy sauce with the secret ingredient of herbed cabbage. Make it the day before you're doing a big dinner party and it's ready to pop in the oven. Don't know what to call this dish...but it's really, really tasty. How about "Amazing Bake Layer Pie"?

Amazing Layer Bake Family Pie

It seems time consuming because there are four separate layers (like lasagna) but it's not once you've got the hang of it.

Cabbage layer

½ large cabbage fine shredded (I initially used cabbage and shredded brussels sprouts) (about 6 good cups)

1 ½ onion, sliced finely

2 carrots, grated or finely chopped or thinly sliced with a potato peeler

1 grated zucchini

2 teaspoons dry Italian herbs (or mixed herbs)

Gently heat the cabbage, carrots, zucchini and herbs until they’re soft (5 – 8 minutes)

Lentil layer

4 cups cooked lentils (black, red, green)* (you can also use cooked beans)

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 cups pasata (or a can of diced tomato)

1 teaspoon vegetable stock powder*

1 finely chopped onion

5 cloves garlic finely chopped

Chilli flakes (optional)

5 cups water

*Or a litre of vegetable stock (instead of the water and stock powder)

Saute the onion till transparent (5 minutes), add garlic, sauté 1 minute. Add all the other ingredients, except the lentils/beans, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring ocassionally. Add the beans and cook for another ten minutes until it's a nice “spreadable” consistency.

Sauce

1 raw onion chopped

2 chopped carrots

2 tablespoon whole grain flour (brown rice/ chick pea etc)

1 1/2 cup cashews

3 cups soy milk (make sure it’s not the soy milk with preservatives and stuff)

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoon vinegar

2 teaspoon vegetable stock

Pinch salt

Water

2 teaspoons of something sweet (date paste/ maple syrup, coconut sugar etc.)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 - 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

Put all ingredients in a saucepan, except the lemon juice and nooch and simmer for 20 minutes. Blend. If it’s not nice and smooth, add more water and put back on the heat for a while. It should be the thickness of a while sauce. Add nooch and lemon juice.

Potato Layer

4 - 5 large potatoes – slice 1/2 cm thick. (may need more if using a big baking dish - need to completely cover )

Steam until tender. Treat gently because want them to stay intact.

ASSEMBLY

Layer all twice (except potato)

That is: cabbage, lentil, sauce, potato, cabbage, lentil, sauce

Cook for 30 mins in 180 degree oven.

Will keep for up to 4/5 days and freezes well.

*Note, green and black lentils will show as whole lentils whereas the red lentils will break down into a more “gluggy” texture. Cook them for less time before using them.