Mary Berry Potato & Lentil Vegetarian Bake

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 onions, roughly chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 175g (6oz) dried Puy lentils
• 150ml (5fl oz) white wine
• 1½ tbsp sun-dried tomato paste
• 600ml (1 pint) vegetable stock
• 8 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1½ tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 25g (1oz) butter, plus extra for greasing
• 500g (1lb 2oz) chestnut mushrooms, sliced
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the topping

• 350g (12oz) sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 2cm (½in) cubes
• 350g (12oz) white potatoes, peeled and diced into 2cm (½in) cubes
• a knob of butter
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 2 tbsp snipped chives
• 50g (2oz) mature Cheddar cheese, grated

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 4 and butter the dish.

2. Heat the oil in the frying pan, add the onions and fry for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and fry for about 10 seconds. Add the lentils, white wine, tomato paste and stock, stir and bring to the boil. Add the sun-dried tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan with a lid and transfer to the oven for about 50–60 minutes or until the lentils are cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce.

3. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan, add the mushrooms and fry over a high heat for a minute. Cover with a lid and cook for few minutes more over a gentle heat. Remove the lid and increase the heat to evaporate the liquid. Season with salt and pepper. Add to the lentil mixture, stir and spoon into an ovenproof dish.

4. Increase the oven temperature to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas 7.

5. For the topping, cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling water for 5–8 minutes until just soft, then drain well. Melt the butter in the empty pan, tip the potatoes back in and add the garlic and chives. Season with salt and pepper and carefully mix to coat the potatoes in the herby, garlicky butter.

6. Spoon the potatoes on top of the lentil mixture and sprinkle with the grated cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes until crispy brown and bubbling around the edges. Serve piping hot, with some green vegetables.

   Prepare ahead: Can be made up to a day ahead, up to the final 20 minutes of baking with the topping.