MUSHROOM SALAD WITH LENTILS AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Mushroom salad with lentils and caramelized onions, topped with crunchy pine nuts and briny capers -it's a symphony of textures, and a fantastic meal in itself, that doubles up as the perfect potluck dish, or Easter/Thanksgiving side dish.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 - 2 lbs medley of raw mushrooms

  • 2 Tbs butter

  • 2 big onions

  • 3 tbs olive oil

  • 1/2 tsp of black pepper

  • 1/4 tsp of salt

  • 1/4 cup dry black lentils

  • 3/4 cups vegetable broth or water

  • 1/4 cup pine nuts

  • 1/4 cup capers

  • a splash of truffle oil optional

  • 2-3 tbs of chopped garlic chives for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Clean, and cut mushrooms in small pieces. Saute in 2 tbs of butter with salt and pepper, until completely cooked (about two cups cooked mushrooms).

  2. Chop the onions, and saute in the olive oil, on low heat, until they caramelize and turn golden brown (10-15 minutes). You should end up with 1 cup of cooked onions.

  3. Boil the broth or water, add salt, and the dry lentils. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the lentils is fully cooked without being mushy.  You should get 1 cup of cooked lentils.

  4. Assemble the salad by mixing the cooked lentils, mushrooms, and onions. Adjust the salt, and add truffle oil if desired.  Mix in the capers and pine nuts, and serve over a bed of arugula, sprinkled with lots of garlic / onion chives.

-Viktoria Stable

SaladsKatharina Kunz