This tasty vegetable homely hotpot is the perfect traditional family meal packed full of wholesome fresh veggies and beans cooked in a creamy herby sauce, finished off with a toping of fluffy, crispy, golden potatoes. Hotpots are ideal for batch cooking so why not prep a couple for an instant warming, comforting and satisfying meal.
This tasty cozy vegetable hotpot with a crispy mashed potato topping is the epitome of humble, family home-cooking. It's just the best hotpot comfort food dinner.
Origins of British Hotpots
The British hotpot, originated in the northern region of England, specifically Lancashire. Lancashire hotpot is a substantial and classic casserole from the 18th and 19th centuries. This dish became popular during the Industrial Revolution because it provided a convenient and economical dinner alternative for working-class households.
The first hotpots were kind of like the precursor to slow cookers or crock pots. Hotpots were prepared in the morning and placed in a deep clay pottery dish, and left all day to slowly bake. The hotpot would be ready to enjoy at the end of the day when the workers arrived home, or could be tended to during the day by stay-at home workers.
Traditionally hotpots were a layered mix of sliced thin potatoes, meat and chunks of vegetables, cooked within a casserole dish or pot until soft, golden and crisp. Lamb, mutton or beef are the traditional meat ingredients for hotpot. Which meat is chosen usually depends on the region.
Arguably the most famous kind of British hotpot is the Lancashire hotpot which features meat and gravy, with a thin sliced crispy potato topping. For a delicious vegan adaption of Lancashire hotpot check out our easy recipe as its another family favourite.
However, modern hotpots come in a variety of other adaptions including a mashed potato topping. Also other vegetables can be used for the mashed topping including sweet potato, swede (turnips/rutabaga), cauliflower, carrot, parsnip, or celeriac. A mixed mash of root veggies is particularly tasty.
Also, modern hotpots can have either a gravy or a creamy sauce base and are often topped with grated [shredded] cheese which browns and bubbles during baking.
This vegetable hotpot is perfect for vegetarians, vegans, plant-based diets, and everyone and anyone who loves eating lots of tasty veggies! And especially great for those who love easy, quick, budget-friendly and versatile home-cooking recipes!
The best vegan vegetable hotpot
This veggie hotpot is a sure-fire family favourite that especially goes down well with kids. It's a great dish to get lots of vegetable goodness into kids. My kids have always loved this hotpot and one particular daughter always asks for this hotpot for her birthday dinner.
Usually I just use whatever vegetables happen to be in my fridge. It's a good clear-out-your-fridge or freezer budget recipe. Large bags of frozen vegetable mixes are perfect for this recipe. For extra nutrition, texture and flavour I generally throw in a can of beans.
The beauty of this recipe is that you don't have to be exact with the vegetable measurements. Any combination of vegetables and beans will work. It couldn't be simpler to prepare this hotpot.
First the potatoes are cooked and mashed. At the same time the veggies are sautéed in vegetable stock or a little oil. Plain flour is mixed through the vegetables and plant milk poured in to create a thick sauce.
The veggies, beans and creamy sauce is then transferred to a casserole dish and topped with the mashed potatoes.
Lastly the hotpot is baked for 30-40 minutes until crispy, golden and bubbling.
Vegetable hotpot is substantial and filling enough to serve on its own. But a fresh green salad or steamed green leaves or peas are a tasty accompaniment.
For hungrier appetites offer a wedge of bread and some vegan gravy.
Traditional vegetable hotpot is the ideal dish to prepare for autumnal and winter warming, comforting and satisfying meals.
How to prepare vegetable hotpot
It couldn't be simpler to prepare this tasty vegetable hotpot. It's so easy its a good idea to batch prep two at the same time as this way cooking fuel, time and energy will be saved.
First the potatoes are cooked and prepare mashed potatoes.
While the potatoes are cooking, onions and garlic is sautéed in vegetable broth or oil.
Next, mixed herbs, mixed vegetables and cannellini beans are stirred through the onions.
Next, plain flour is stirred through the vegetables and plant milk poured in to create a thick sauce.
The sauce is brought to a simmer and cooked for 10-15 minutes.
The creamy vegetables are poured into a baking or oven dish, and the mashed potatoes are added to the top.
The hotpot bakes for around 30 minutes until the filling is bubbly and the topping is golden with crispy bits.
Before the vegetable hotpot is baked, a tasty idea is to sprinkle grated [shredded] vegan cheese over the surface or a few tablespoons of nutritional yeast flakes.
Recipe notes
Leftover hotpot can be stored covered, within the fridge, for 3 days. I usually keep leftovers in the casserole dish and cover with a sheet of greaseproof paper.
Leftovers can be frozen for 4-6 months, well wrapped. If necessary carefully decant the hotpot into a smaller casserole dish or freezer container.
Leftovers can be reheated at the cooking temperature until piping hot, about 20-30 minutes. Place a cover over the hotpot, and place on the middle shelf, so that it does not brown too much and overcook.
Remove from the fridge at least 30 minutes before reheating so that the hotpot can loose its chill and come more to room temperature.
Absolutely.
Entire hotpots can be frozen either baked or up to the stage just before baking.
For individual or smaller hotpots prepare using small pie or casserole dishes.
To save time prepare two or three hotpots at a time, just use different size casserole and pie dishes if you don't have enough dishes of the same size.
Enjoy one for dinner and freeze another. You'll thank yourself in a few months!
Yes.
It is easy to prepare this vegetable hotpot as gluten-free with a few considerations.
Ensure that your vegan stock and flour is gluten-free. My vegetable hotpots are always gluten-free.
The flour that I use is the Doves Farm gluten-free plain flour and it usually makes tasty sauce.
A few ideas:
* steamed or boiled peas, mix a little dried or fresh chopped mint through the peas for extra flavour
* corn-on-the-cobs, steamed or boiled frozen sweetcorn
* steamed green veggies, such as kale, collards, spring greens, cabbage
* mangetout, green beans, asparagus
* fresh green salad
* crusty vegan bread such as this vegan Irish soda bread, its traditional in Britain to serve most meals with bread and butter
* baked beans
* vegan gravy
A few suggestions:
* sprinkle some grated vegan cheese over the hotpot after 30 minutes of baking in the oven, and pop back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes to melt.
* add some fresh herbs to the creamy sauce such as parsley, chives, dill or thyme
* sprinkle chopped parsley over the cooked hotpot
* instead of white potatoes use sweet potatoes, or a mix
* top with mashed celeriac or cauliflower, or a mix with potatoes
* prepare champ as a topping (mashed potatoes, turnip (swede/rutabaga) and white cabbage
* replace the cannellini beans with a bean of your choice such as haricots, butterbeans or chickpeas
* use dried onion and garlic instead of fresh, a few teaspoons of each
More easy vegan family dinner recipes
***please note: for US measurements click the 'US customary button' within the recipe and the measurements will switch to tablespoons, cups, and ounces.***
Recipe
The Best Vegan Vegetable Hotpot
Equipment
- Skillet or sauté pan
- Casserole dish around (9-10 inch wide / 11-12 in long) or use a pot that is suitable for both stove-top and oven to save washing up
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 250 millilitres vegan stock for sautéing onion and garlic, or replace with one tablespoon of oil
- 1 medium onion rough chopped
- 4 cloves garlic thin sliced or minced
- 1.4 kilograms mixed vegetables Chopped into chunks/florets. Or use a big bag of frozen vegetable mix.
- 1 can cannellini beans 400 gram/ 15 oz can, drained
For the sauce:
- 4 tablespoon plain flour gluten-free plain flour/ plain flour/ all-purpose/wholemeal plain flour
- 750 millilitres plant milk
- 1 vegetable stock cube or two-three teaspoons of stock powder/paste
- 1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs or your choice of fresh chopped herbs
- 20 grams nutritional yeast flakes
Mash topping:
- 1.2 kilogram potatoes Chopped into chunks, reserve the cooking liquid
- 4 tablespoon plant-based milk plus a few tablespoons of potato cooking liquid
- 2 tablespoon vegan margarine or replace with 1 tablespoon of white miso paste or a few tablespoons of hummus
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 Fan/ 200 Celsius/ Gas 6/ 392 Fahrenheit
- Prepare the mash topping:
- Boil potatoes until soft, about 10-15 minutes depending on size of chunks.Drain and reserve the cooking liquid. Add two tablespoons of margarine, four tablespoons of plant milk, salt and pepper, and give everything a good mashing. If the mash needs more liquid a few tablespoons of cooking liquid can be added until the mash is at your preferred texture.1.2 kilogram potatoes, 2 tablespoon vegan margarine, 4 tablespoon plant-based milk
- Prepare the filling while the potatoes are cooking:
- Sauté the onion and garlic in 250ml (1 cup) of veggie stock for about 5 minutes. Or use 1 tablespoon of oil.1 medium onion, 4 cloves garlic, 250 millilitres vegan stock
- Mix through the veggies, cannellini beans, and dried herbs.1.4 kilograms mixed vegetables, 1 can cannellini beans, 1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs
- Cook for another 10-15 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of potato water as required when the pan becomes too dry.
- With a fork whisk the stock cube or powder into the plant milk.1 vegetable stock cube, 750 millilitres plant milk
- Mix the flour into the veggies.4 tablespoon plain flour
- Slowly pour in the plant-milk, mixing well.
- Cook for about 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are starting to soften and the sauce is thickening.
- If the sauce is too thick add a little potato liquid to loosen it up.
- Remove from the heat and mix through the nutritional yeast flakes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Don't worry if the sauce looks thin as it will thicken up more as it cools.20 grams nutritional yeast flakes
- Assemble the hotpot:
- Decant the veggie-sauce mix into your baking dish.
- Spoon the prepared mash over the vegetables. Use a fork to create a ploughed field kind of pattern on top, or just leave rustic.
- Place on the middle-top shelf of the oven, and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the potatoes are crispy and tinged golden.
- Exact times will depend on your oven, fan ovens will be quicker.
Notes
- Nutritional information is provided for guidance only and is not a strict calculation as ingredients vary. Data is calculated using computerized nutrition apps.
- Leftover hot pot can be stored covered in the fridge for 3 days.
- Or freeze well wrapped for 4-6 months.
- Reheat using the baking temperature but cover the hotpot to prevent too much browning and overcooking. Place on the middle or lower shelf. Check for doneness after 20-25 minutes.
- To prep individual portions, prepare and freeze the hotpots in small one serving pie dishes. This makes it so easy to pull out several or single portions.
- Serve hotpots with vegan gravy and extra veggies. Or simply serve on its own or with a light green leaf salad.
Nutrition
Thank you for trying out our best vegan vegetable hotpot! We hope you enjoyed making and savoring it as much as we do.
If you tried this recipe, please let us know in the comments below how it turned out for you, or if you made any modifications.
If you share your creations on social media, don't forget to tag us (@traditionalplantbasedcooking) and use the hashtag #traditionalplantbasedcooking, so we can see your scrumptious dishes!
Lastly, if you found this recipe helpful, please share it with your friends and family, so they can enjoy it too.
Thank you, and happy cooking!
Love, Jacq x
Beth
My hubby and I love this recipe! So quick and so delicious! Such a great dinner and perfect for my hubby's lunch the next day!
That's great! Leftover hotpot is so delicious!
Michelle
This dish looks so good! Can't wait to try it soon
Great! Let me know how you get on! Happy Cooking!
Carrie
I am loving all of the veggies in this! Looks super easy to make too. 🙂
Yes! There are so many veggies and super easy to prepare! Thanks for stopping by!
Heidy
This Vegan Vegetable Hotpot recipe looks perfect. I bet our family would love it. Heading to the store to get a few things so I can make this!
Wonderful! Happy cooking!
Allyssa
Thanks a lot for this hotpot recipe, super loved it! Thank you for sharing!
Your welcome! So glad you enjoyed the hotpot!