Creamy Vegan Cauliflower and Butter Bean Pie with Golden Crust

This comforting vegan pie transforms classic cauliflower cheese into a hearty main dish, featuring a creamy sauce, tender cauliflower, protein-rich butter beans, and a crispy golden pastry top.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp vegan butter
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp plain flour
  • 750ml unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 1 medium cauliflower, cut into small florets
  • 2 x 400g tins of butter beans, drained and rinsed
  • 6 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 tsp English mustard
  • 1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 200g grated vegan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 500g vegan-friendly shortcrust pastry

Method

  1. Prepare the sauce:
    • Melt vegan butter and cook onions until translucent
    • Add flour, then gradually whisk in milk
    • Simmer until slightly thickened
  2. Cook the cauliflower:
    • Boil cauliflower florets for 3 minutes, then drain
  3. Assemble the filling:
    • Add cauliflower, beans, nutritional yeast, mustard, nutmeg, lemon juice, and half the cheese to the sauce
    • Pour into a 24cm pie dish and top with remaining cheese
  4. Prepare the pastry:
    • Roll out pastry and cut a circle to fit the pie dish
    • Place pastry over filling and crimp edges
    • Brush with milk and cut slits for venting
  5. Bake the pie:
    • Cook at 200°C fan for 30 minutes until golden

This Creamy Vegan Cauliflower and Butter Bean Pie is a delicious twist on traditional comfort food. The combination of creamy cauliflower cheese filling and crispy golden pastry makes for a satisfying and impressive meal. Don’t hesitate to try this recipe – it’s perfect for both casual family dinners and special occasions, and is sure to please vegans and non-vegans alike!