Red Lentil Soup with Cauliflower

I don't think cauliflower gets enough credit for all the health benefits it provides. It's high in vitamins C and K, which means it's an excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory food. It's also high in fiber. so it's good for your heart and digestive tract. This easy to make soup would be great with some garlic naan!

Red Lentil Soup with Cauliflower

1 C dry red lentils

1/2 onion, diced

3 lg carrots, quartered and diced

3 stalks of celery, halved and diced

2 cloves of garlic, finely diced

2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

1 6oz can of tomato paste

2 TBS red curry paste

1 TBS curry powder

1 small head of cauliflower, core removed and florets crumbled

1/4 C chopped cilantro

sea salt

6 C water

Add oil to a large soup pot. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic. Season with salt and saute over medium heat for ten minutes. Add the lentils, water, curry and tomato paste. Bring soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the cauliflower and simmer for an additional 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is tender. Garnish with Cilantro and serve.

NOTES: If you'd like this soup to be vegan/vegetarian, check that the curry paste is not made with fish. The red lentils do not hold their shape like other varieties. They give this thick soup a wonderful texture. Adjust the curry to suit your taste! Serves 6. 

Lentils with Red Cabbage, Shiitake and Onions

This is a quick and easy dish that can be a side, or your main course if you're vegan/vegetarian. The ingredients are natural sources of fiber, iron and protein.

Lentils with Red Cabbage, Shiitake and Onions

1 C Green Lentils

1 Yellow Onion, quartered and sliced

1 C Red Cabbage, sliced the same size as the onions

8 Shiitake mushrooms, stems removes and tops sliced

2 cloves of Garlic, finely sliced

3-4 TBS Tamari

1 Bay leaf

4-5 TBS of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Rinse the lentils and put them in a small sauce pan with the bay leaf. Cover with water, about an inch or so above the lentils and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

In the mean time, add the olive oil, onion, cabbage, mushrooms and garlic to a large fry pan with a lid. Season with salt and pepper and saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cover. Allow this to braise in it's own moisture for about 10 minutes, checking towards the end to make sure it's not burning. The veggies should be lightly caramelized. 

Drain the lentils (remove the bay leaf) and add them to the veggies. Add the Tamari, stir and serve.

Serves 4 as a main dish; 6 as a side. Vegan and Gluten Free.

*Just a reminder that I use all organic ingredients. Support your local organic farms whenever possible. Say NO to GMOs!

Mushroom Sauce

This is an easy sauce that you can use with many dishes....pasta, polenta, crepes, etc. The sauce is vegan and can be made gluten-free. Maitake mushrooms give your immune system a boost, so if they're available at your market, make sure you include them in this dish.

Mushroom Sauce

About 4 handfuls of assorted mushrooms, chopped

1/2 lg sweet onion, diced

3 cloves of garlic, diced

3/4 C vegetable broth

3 tsp flour (cornstarch for gluten free)

1 tsp fresh thyme

4-5 TBS of extra virgin olive oil or organic Earth Balance

2 tsp organic barley miso

2 TBS white wine or sherry (omit for vegan)

salt and pepper

Add olive oil or Earth Balance to a large saute pan. Add onions, garlic and mushrooms and saute over medium heat being careful not to burn the garlic. Lightly season with thyme, salt and pepper, then saute until onions and mushrooms are a light golden brown. Turn down the heat and sprinkle the mushrooms with the flour or cornstarch. Stir until the mushrooms are coated and the flour is no longer white. Add 1/2 C of the vegetable broth and the wine, continuing to stir. Allow sauce to thicken while simmering. Add the miso to the remaining 1/4 C of broth and whisk until dissolved. Add miso to the sauce and stir until blended. Makes about 2-3 cups.

NOTES: If using Earth Balance instead of the olive oil, keep in mind that it's salted and you will most likely not need to add more salt. The miso is also salty.