Soup: Spanish Lentils and Mushrooms

Terrific vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dish.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 60 mins

Total Time: 75 mins

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Crimini Mushrooms, Basil

Health benefits of Spanish Lentils and Mushrooms

Crimini mushrooms are a tasty way of loading up on vitamins B2. Vitamin B2 plays an integral role in normal thyroid function and metabolism, which is vital for those with PCOS, as those with the disorder also tend to have a thyroid that doesn’t produce sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in sufficient quantities (Reference: http://www.thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatment/vitamins.html). Getting sufficient Vitamin B2 allows androgen and testosterone to be better restrained, preventing them from causing a whole host of undesired symptoms from thinning scalp hair to acne. Basil is an excellent stress reliever, and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Ingredients

1 small white onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, finely diced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 cups French green lentils
1 tsp smoked paprika
3 dashes sea salt
2 tbsps sherry vinegar
1 lb crimini mushrooms, quartered lengthwise
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
6 leaves basil (chiffonade)
1 dash black pepper
4 cups water

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, sauté the onion and garlic with a good glug of olive oil and a pinch of salt until softened, about 3 minutes.

2. Add the lentils and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender.

3. Add the smoked paprika. Season with salt, sherry vinegar, and more smoked paprika to taste. I like there to be just an edge of vinegary sourness without it being overpowering.

4. Meanwhile, in a very hot sauté pan, fry the mushrooms with another glug of olive oil, turning occasionally. Try to get them to brown well on most sides. Season with salt.

5. Toss the cherry tomatoes and basil with a little olive oil, sherry vinegar, and salt.

6. To serve, divide the lentils into bowls. Top with the mushrooms, and top that with the salad. Give the whole thing a grind of black pepper and maybe another little dusting of smoked paprika.

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