Baby those potatoes! Over boiling and quick mashing from mixers can cause them to be gluey rather than light and fluffy due to the breakdown of starches. Peeling the potatoes is entirely optional, depending on how you prefer your mashed potatoes. But if you do peel them as suggested in the recipe, save the potato skins for a delicious snack and reduce food waste.
Swap the butter for olive oil or a vegan butter and the milk for a plain nut milk such as almond milk.
Use a homemade chicken or vegetable stock instead of store bought or make your own vegetable bouillon. You can make your own white beans on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
Other greens such as kale or collards can be used in place of the cabbage in this shepherd's pie. Parsnips or rutabaga would easily replace the carrots but you may need to adjust the simmering time. Don’t have white beans? Veggie protein crumbles or vegetarian sausage would be a good replacement. Or try it with cooked chickpeas or lentils.