Serves 8

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes

 

500g Jersey Royal potatoes, sliced to thickness of £1 coin

500g butternut squash, peeled and chopped into 2cm cubes

4 tbsp olive oil

pinch chilli flakes

300ml vegan stock

finely grated zest 1 lemon

250g filo pastry, defrosted if frozen

1tbsp dry semolina or polenta

225g ready cooked beetroot (not in vinegar), sliced to thickness of £1 coin

400g asparagus, sliced lengthways

300g roasted peppers from a jar, drained

20 basil leaves

20 mint leaves

1/2 tsp sumac (optional)

salt and pepper

 

For the salsa verde:

25g flat leaf parsley, chopped

15g chives, snipped

1 tbsp capers, roughly chopped

1 gherkin, diced

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Juice 1 lemon

6 tbsp olive oil

 

Salad leaves to serve

 

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 220C/fan oven 200C/gas mark 7. Line a baking tray, add the butternut squash and 1 tbsp olive oil. Sprinkle with chilli flakes, some salt and pepper and toss to mix.  Roast for 30 minutes until tender and beginning to char. Reduce the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6 or switch off if not baking the pie yet.
2. Bring the stock to the boil. Add the potatoes, cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until just cooked. Drain any excess stock and then dry the potatoes on kitchen paper.  Scatter over the lemon zest.
3. Brush a deep 20cm loose bottomed cake tin with a little of the oil. Keeping your filo pastry covered whilst you work, brush the sheets with oil and use to line the tin, carefully pushing it down to sit against the sides and base.  You will need to overlap them and leave overhang at the top to cover the pie.  Reserve 1 sheet of filo. Sprinkle the semolina or polenta over the base then begin layering your vegetables, pushing down each layer gently to make it level and ease out any air gaps.  Season with a little salt and pepper as you go.  Finish with the basil and mint leaves.  Fold the overhanging filo sheets on top ensuring the pie is covered and brush with oil.  You can cover and chill the pie at this point overnight.
4. When ready to bake, gently ease the pie from the tin and place on a lined baking tray. Brush the remaining filo sheet with oil, gently scrunch and place on top of the pie.  Sprinkle with a little sumac (if using) and bake for 30-40 minutes until golden. You may need to cover the top if it gets too brown.
5. Whilst the pie cooks, combine the ingredients for the salsa verde. Taste and add salt, pepper and extra lemon juice as required. Serve the pie with a few green leaves and the salsa verde.

 

Tip

Vary the layering in this pie with different vegetables according to what is seasonal. Try: 500g steamed and chopped spinach, squeezed of excess liquid and seasoned with a little nutmeg. Or 500g cooked and roughly crushed peas.