It’s winter, which means a lot of us are seeking comfort food . We’re here to help, so may I please direct your attention to this recipe for vegan Shepherd’s Pie with a roast sweet potato top? This delicious vegan winter warmer comes from Kate Flowers and our friends over at Wiltshire . Give it a try if you need something tasty and full of hearty vegetables.

Vegan sweet potato shepherd’s pie recipe

What you’ll need: For the filling

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp of semolina
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 1 large carrot, peeled and finely diced
• 1 medium red capsicum, diced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 sticks of celery, diced
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 2 cups cauliflower rice
• 4 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 cups beef style Masel vegetable stock (vegan)
• 2 cups water
• 1 x 400 g tin of lentils, rinsed and drained
• 1 x 400 g tin of chickpeas, rinsed and drained

For the sweet potato top

• 2 large sweet potato, skin on
• Olive oil
• Season
• Rosemary
• Lemon zest
• Breadcrumbs

Directions for vegan sweet potato Shepherd’s pie:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.
2. Place sweet potato on a tray and place in the oven for about 30 minutes or until fork-tender to the centre.
3. Remove and set aside to cool. Lower oven temperature to 180°C.
4. Meanwhile, heat a large pan to high heat, add oil, onion, carrot, red pepper and celery and cook stirring for around 5 minutes or until the vegetables are beginning to caramelise.
5. Add the garlic, rosemary and bay and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
6. Add tomato paste, cauliflower rice and vinegar and stir through. Continue to cook stirring for another few minutes before adding stock, water, lentils and beans.
7. Bring the pan to a simmer and allow the liquid to evaporate until there is around a cup left.
8. Scatter the top with semolina and stir through to thicken, season to taste then turn off the heat.
9. Pour the filling into your Wiltshire Enamel Pie Dish 1.5 ltrs and set aside.
10. To make the top, peel the sweet potato and place the flesh in a bowl. Add oil, salt and mash roughly with a fork.
11. Place the topping on your pie filling and gently manipulate the sweet potato to evenly cover the filling.
12. Use a spoon to create an organic pattern on top then sprinkle the remaining ingredients across the top and place the pie back in the oven.
13. Cook for around 25 minutes, or until the top is starting to brown at the tips and the filling is bubbling.
14. Serve immediately.

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If you’re after some more warm winter recipes to go with your sweet potato pie, check out these delicious soup ideas.

The post Why Have Regular Shepherd’s Pie When You Can Add Sweet Potato? appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

"Succession" actor James Cromwell super-glued himself to a Starbucks counter in protest of their extra charge for vegan milk. pic.twitter.com/ou63Zp0om7

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 10, 2022

Traditionally, we get our protein from a variety of animal-based food sources like meat, fish, eggs and dairy. However, once you make the switch to a plant-based diet, vegan protein sources are limited to foods like beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.

And while all of those foods are great sources of protein, they might not be enough on their own, especially if you love to workout . That’s where supplements like vegan protein powder are worth considering.

Protein is required in your diet to support your overall health and aid with fat loss and muscle gain. Adding a protein powder to your diet is a super-easy way to boost your intake without having to eat a million chickpeas. You can simply add it to things like yoghurts, porridge and smoothies, or mix it in with a little water or milk for a pre or post-workout hit.

Each protein powder will come with recommendations for when and how to consume that particular protein powder, so it’s best to always read the instructions before you work it into your routine.

Over the last few years, plant-based protein supplements have become much more accessible (and way better-tasting), so we’ve rounded up a bunch of places you can find some of the best options in Australia and get them delivered straight to your door.

Vegan Protein Powder from Amazon Australia

Vital Protein’s Chocolate Protein Powder, $49.29

Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein Powder, $48.99

Pure Product Australia Pea Protein Powder, $50.95

iHerb

Nature’s Plus Organic Pea Protein Powder, $28.36

Vega Sport Premium Protein Powder, $78.83

Sunfood Raw Organic Hemp Protein Powder, $81.18

Chemist Warehouse

Healthy Care Pure Vegan Hemp Protein & Greens Powder, $27.99

Protein World Vegan Slender Blend Chocolate, $23.99

Bondi Protein Co Vegan Chocolate, $29.99

The post The Best Vegan Protein Powder to Add to Your Morning Smoothie appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .

If you follow a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle and love to exercise, the chances are you might not be getting enough protein from food sources alone. Cue: vegan protein powder.

A supplement like vegan protein powder is worth adding to your diet to aid in muscle recovery and refuel your body post-workout . Over the last few years, plant-based protein supplements have become much more accessible (and better-tasting), so there’s really no excuse to not fuel your body with the right kind of nutrients.

Read on as we unpack everything you need to know about vegan protein powders and how you can incorporate it into your diet.

First up, what is protein and why do we need it?

Protein is required in your diet to support your overall health and aid with fat loss and muscle gain, meaning if you’re someone who likes to exercise, protein should be a key part of your diet. Our main source of protein comes from food sources like meat, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, dairy and seeds — however, it can be hard to get enough protein through food alone, especially if you’re plant-based. That’s where supplementing your diet with protein powder comes in. You can add protein powders to a range of foods like yoghurts, porridge and smoothies to ensure you’re getting the right amount of essential amino acids without having to binge a bunch of chickpeas.

So what exactly is vegan protein powder?

Vegan protein powder is just like your regular protein powder just without animal biproducts. Regular protein powders like whey and casein typically contain dairy, whereas vegan protein is usually derived from things like soy, pea and brown rice.

Are all vegan protein powders the same?

Short answer, no. While they are all vegan formulas, they’re all derived from different plant-based sources including mixed, and deliver a different variety of essential amino acids and protein servings. When choosing a vegan protein powder that’s suited to your diet, there are a few key things to keep in mind: Look for powders with at least 15-20 grams of protein per serve, check that they have a clean ingredients list, cater to any intolerances and have been tested by a reputable third party.

Below, we unpack different plant-based protein powders so you can pick the right on for you.

Soy protein powder

Soy-based protein powders are known as a complete protein, meaning that it contains all the essential amino acids that the body can’t make but needs when it comes to protecting your muscle tissue. Although the protein count varies between brands, most soy protein powders have around 20 grams per serve and have much of the fat and carbs removed.

Our picks:

• Nature’s Way Instant Natural Protein, $16.99

• Now Foods Sports Soy Protein Isolate, $29.78

Pea protein powder

If you prefer to avoid soy-based products, pea protein powder has fast become another popular plant-based alternative. Pea protein comes from split peas, a legume that’s high in essential amino acids and particularly high in branched-chain amino acids or BCAAs, which is great for repairing muscle damage caused by intense or strenuous exercise.

Our picks:

• Nature’s Plus, Organic Pea Protein Powder, $28.35
• Now Foods Sports Pea Protein, $29.78
• Vega Sport Premium Protein, $78.81

Hemp protein powder

Hemp protein is a vegan superfood powder made from ground hemp seeds and tends to contain less protein per 100g than milk-derived protein. So you might need to incorporate a little more into your morning smoothie to make sure you’re getting enough.

Our picks:

• Healthy Care Pure Vegan Hemp Protein & Greens Powder, $27.99
• Sunfood, Raw Organic, Hemp Protein Powder, $81.16
• Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Yeah! Protein Powder, $38.21

Mixed protein powders

Many vegan protein powders are made from a mixture of different plant-based proteins, like brown rice, pea, hemp, chia seeds, flax seeds, and quinoa. Vegan protein powders often combine a variety of plant-based protein sources so that you can receive the right amount of essential amino acids and protein necessary for a well-balanced diet.

Our picks:

• Vital Protein Pea & Hemp Powder Blend, $35.10
• California Gold Nutrition, Chocolate Plant-Based Protein, $35.42
• Biochem 100% Vegan Protein, $45.27

Where can you buy vegan protein powder in Australia?

You can purchase vegan protein powders from retailers like Amazon Australia , Chemist Warehouse , iHerb , Priceline , Coles, Woolworths and health food stores.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Vegan Protein Powder appeared first on Lifehacker Australia .