Pumpkin Biscuit Pot Pie

I found this recipe from fatfreevegan  here.  It was easy to make and most importantly, great to eat.  *Note this recipe makes 2 casserole dishes full.  When I first made it I tried my best to pare it down to one dish, but I still had more veggies than anticipated.  (I put one in the fridge for later.)

Vegetables:
2 pounds potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I used half white potatoes and half sweet potatoes)
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 ribs celery, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
2 large carrots, diced
1 1/2 cups frozen baby peas (I used green beans instead)

Spices (whatever you like, or:)
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper — or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon mellow white miso
6 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 4 tablespoons water

Biscuit Topping
2 cups unbleached white flour
2 cups white whole wheat flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup pumpkin (canned or cooked and water pressed out)
1 cup non-dairy milk –mixed with 2 tablespoons lemon juice
additional milk or water as needed


Optional: Seitan (or make your own with:)

1 cup vital wheat gluten
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup Imagine No-Chicken Broth, cold (or other veg. broth)
1 tablespoon tahini or other nut butter



Dice up each vegetable (potatoes, onion, celery, mushrooms, carrots) (add peas later) and add it to a pot with water as you go.  When you finish chopping make sure the water covers the veggies with a little extra.  Add the spices.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer uncovered for about 20/ 30 minutes depending on how small you chopped your veggies.

Meanwhile, prepare the seitan if using: Mix the dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Combine the broth and nut butter. Stir the broth mixture into the dry ingredients until well blended. Knead gently 10 times. Turn out onto a cutting board and press it as flat as possible. Let it rest for about 5 minutes. Then using a sharp knife, cut it into 1/2-inch cubes. Add the seitan cubes to the simmering vegetables, taking care to separate them before they go into the pot. Stir well and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

After 20/30 minutes, remove the bay leaves and add the peas. Mix the miso, cornstarch, soy sauce in a small bowl with a little of the hot broth, and then add it to the stew, along with the nutritional yeast.  Bring to a boil, stirring often. When mixture thickens, reduce heat and allow to simmer while you make the biscuits. (If stew does not seem thick enough, add a little more cornstarch/water.)
(You can make the recipe up until this point the day before serving and refrigerate the filling. When ready to assemble, reheat the stew as you make the biscuit topping. Stew should be hot when the biscuits are placed on top.)

Preheat oven to 400 and oil two or more deep casserole dishes (any combination of casserole dishes or pie pans to hold about 6 liters). Mix the dry ingredients for the biscuits in a medium bowl. Stir in the pumpkin and the soymilk/lemon juice. Add additional soymilk or water a teaspoon at a time as you stir until all flour is moistened and dough forms a ball. Turn out onto floured board and knead two or three times. Roll out to 1/2- inch thick, and cut into circles using a 1 1/2-inch wide floured glass or biscuit cutter. Gather remaining dough and use it to cut additional biscuits. You should have between 24 and 30. (Alternately, cut the biscuit dough to fit the pans, leaving about an inch all around to allow for dough to expand.)
Pour the stew into the prepared pans, making sure there is at least 1/2-inch free at the top. Place the biscuits on top, spacing them evenly. Bake until biscuits are lightly browned, 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to stand for a few minutes before serving.