sideDish: Aida Mollenkamp's Shepherd's Pie

Aida Mollenkamp hosts

Ask Aida on Food Network and

foodcrafters

on the Cooking Channel. She makes a vegetarian shepherd's pie for her family's Thanksgiving dinner.

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

By Aida Mollenkamp

1 1/2 cups low-sodium mushroom broth

1/3 cup red wine, such as Mirassou California Merlot

1 Tablespoon tomato paste

1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

3/4 oz dried porcini mushrooms

3 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, and cut into large dice

5 Tablespoons unsalted butter

2 lbs cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered 
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

3 medium celery stalks, finely chopped

5 medium garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 medium celery root, peeled and small dice

3 medium carrots, peeled and small dice

2 medium parsnips, peeled and small dice

1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves

1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves

2/3 cup whole milk

In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, wine, tomato paste, and flour until evenly combined and smooth. Stir in dried mushrooms and set aside to reconstitute, at least 30 minutes. Strain mushrooms before using, reserving liquid.

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with heavily salted water by 2 inches. Bring potatoes to a boil and cook until fork tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Heat the oven on broil and place a rack in the upper third.

Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a 3 to 4-quart Dutch oven (or oven-ready saucepan) over medium-high heat. When it foams, add half the mushrooms and cook, stirring rarely, until mushrooms are browned, about 5 minutes. Remove mushrooms from pan, season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and set aside. Repeat to cook off remaining mushrooms.

Return pan to stove over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the butter, onion, celery, and garlic, and cook until softened and golden, about 2 minutes. Add celery root, carrot, parsnip, and herbs, and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Cook until browned and softened, about 6 minutes. 
Add wine mixture to pan and deglaze by stirring and scraping up any browned bits. Let cook until simmering and slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Stir in reserved mushrooms and any juices that have accumulated and simmer until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and reserve in pan.

When potatoes are ready, drain well. Return to pan and mash until uniformly smooth. Fold in remaining 2 tablespoons butter and milk, and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If necessary, keep warm over low heat. 

Dot potatoes over vegetable mixture and spread to edges of pan to cover completely. Rough up the surface of the potatoes so there are bits that will get browned and crunchy. Bake until top is golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve.