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Vegan Cauliflower Pot Pie with Biscuits
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5 from 3 votes

Vegan Cauliflower Pot Pie with Biscuits

This vegan cauliflower pot pie is a nutrient-dense take on the classic comfort food. Celery, carrots, tiny cauliflower florets, and peas are simmered in a rich cauliflower-cashew sauce. The nourishing pot pie filling is then topped with vegan biscuits and baked until hot and bubbly.  You don't want to miss out on this modern comfort dish!
Prep Time35 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Bigger Bites
Cuisine: American, plant-based, Vegan
Keyword: Cauliflower, Comfort Food, Pot Pie
Servings: 6 people
Author: Ashley Melillo | Blissful Basil

Ingredients

Vegan Biscuits

  • cup plain, unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 6 tablespoons cold vegan butter, diced, plus a few tablespoons of melted vegan butter for brushing the biscuits before baking

Cauliflower Pot Pie Filling

  • 6 cups fresh cauliflower florets (very small, bite-size florets), divided
  • 3 tablespoons vegan butter
  • 1 large white or yellow onion, diced
  • 4 medium carrots, peeled and finely diced
  • 4 stalks celery, trimmed and finely diced
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary or more to taste
  • 1 ½ cups frozen petite peas
  • 1 ½ to 2 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth or filtered water in a pinch (see note*)
  • ½ cup raw cashews, soaked for two hours (unless using a high-speed blender)
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons sea salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

To Prepare

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  • Wash, prepare, and chop the vegetables for the filling (cauliflower, celery, carrots, onion).
  • Preheat the oven to 450F.
  • Lightly flour a clean work surface.

For the Biscuits

  • In a spouted mixing bowl, combine the plant-based milk and the vinegar. Let stand for 5 minutes to create vegan buttermilk
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • Add the cold butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to "cut" the butter into the flour mixture until it's well incorporated and dispersed throughout the flour mixture.
  • Create a well in the center of the flour mixture. Stir in the "buttermilk" and continuing stirring until just combined.
  • The dough should be moist and malleable and only the slightest bit tacky. If the dough is too wet, add more flour a little bit at a time.
  • Turn the dough out onto the floured surface.
  • Fold the dough over on itself a few times—be careful not to knead, just fold and press. Form into a 1-inch-thick layer.
  • Use a biscuit cutter or the rim of a juice glass to punch out about 6 biscuits. Gently reform the dough scraps and repeat until you've used up as much of the dough as possible. You should have 8 to 10 biscuits in total.
  • Set aside and get to work on the filling.

To Make the Pot Pie Filling

  • Add 3 cups of the cauliflower florets to the pot of boiling water, and boil for 5 to 7 minutes, or until fork-tender (boiling time will depend on the size of your florets). Drain and set aside.
  • While the cauliflower boils, melt the butter in a large but shallow oven-safe stockpot or dutch oven over medium-high heat.
  • Add the remaining 3 cups cauliflower florets along with the onion, carrots, celery, thyme, and rosemary. Sauté for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften and caramelize, stirring occasionally. You want the cauliflower to be tender at this point.
  • Meanwhile, add the boiled cauliflower to a high-speed blender along with the broth (or filtered water), cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, sea salt, and lots of black pepper. Blend on high for two minutes, or until completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  • Add the peas and the cauliflower cream and continue to cook for 2 to 4 minutes, or until the peas are warmed through and the cauliflower cream is hot and bubbly, stirring gently but constantly to prevent sputtering and splashing.
  • Turn off the heat. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper to taste (I add ½ teaspoon more salt and a few generous twists of freshly ground black pepper).
  • Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to compact and spread the filling into an even layer in the dutch oven. Arrange the biscuits on top of the filling and brush them with the melted vegan butter.
  • I like to finish the biscuits with a sprinkle of smoked flaky sea salt before popping the dish in the oven, but this step is totally optional.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the filling is hot and bubbly; and the biscuits are golden-brown on top and baked through.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes or so. Serve warm, ensuring that each helping gets a biscuit.

Notes

*If you prefer your filling very thick (as seen in this post's photographs), use just 1 ½ cups broth/water. If you prefer your filling a bit looser and soupier, use more broth/water—up to 2 ½ cups—just be sure to add plenty more salt to taste to adjust for the additional liquid.