Vegan Mushroom Stew

* recipe image may have been created by generative AI

Shopping Mode

Stew
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 count yellow onion, diced
1 cup carrot, sliced
1 cup celery, sliced
16 ounces baby Bella mushrooms, halved
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
0.5 teaspoon dried sage
2 tablespoons flour
0.25 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
16 ounces baby yellow potatoes, halved
1 cup uncooked split red lentils
14.5 ounces tomato sauce
3 cups vegetable broth
2 count bay leaves
1 to taste Kosher salt
1 to taste fresh cracked pepper

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrot, and celery, seasoning with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Incorporate the halved mushrooms, thinly sliced garlic, dried thyme, oregano, and sage, adding more salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
Sprinkle in the flour, stirring to coat the vegetables evenly. Continue stirring for 1 minute.
Deglaze the pan with balsamic vinegar and soy sauce, scraping up the tasty bits from the bottom of the pot.
Add the halved baby yellow potatoes, red lentils, tomato sauce, vegetable broth, and bay leaves. Season with additional salt and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent the lentils from sticking.
Reduce heat to low and let the stew simmer gently for 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve the stew garnished with fresh parsley and accompanied by mashed potatoes, if desired.

Cooking Tips:

Salt plays a crucial role in this recipe, especially in helping the potatoes cook properly in the acidic base of tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce. Make sure to season the stew moderately to liberally with salt throughout the cooking process.
Feel free to customize the stew with your favorite vegetables, like frozen peas, green beans, or canned chickpeas. Just keep the proportions similar for the best result.
Experiment with flavors by adding spices like cumin, paprika, ground ginger, or cinnamon.
For a spicy twist, incorporate red pepper flakes directly into the pot or sprinkle them over individual servings.