Mushroom, White Bean and Collard Green Stew

Do you typically avoid vegetarian recipes because you assume that they will be bland, possibly lacking in protein, and just not your favorite type of fare?  Many folks do.  I would like to change your mind with this recipe.  It is flavorful,  hearty, colorful, packed with protein (17 grams per serving),  low in saturated fat, and just fantastic.  Tender mushrooms, creamy white beans, crunchy collards, a sweet and earthy base- I just can’t say enough wonderful things about this dish.  Try it- you’ll like it 😉
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 1/2 cups chicken broth, divided
1 large white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup Marsala
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 teaspoons dried rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
12 ounces fresh mushrooms (I used 6oz. of button and 6oz. of Portobello) trimmed and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons tamari
2 tablespoons whole spelt flour
4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 (15oz.) can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 bunch collard greens, tough stems removed and leaves thinly sliced
Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:

• Bring a soup pot up to temp over a medium heat and add the olive oil
• Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes, or until you see the blaring white color begin to diminish
• Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary & thyme and sauté for another 2 minutes (you will begin to really smell the herbs)
• Add 1/2 cup broth and cook 7 to 8 minutes or until the onions are all tender
• Stir in the Marsala, turn up the heat to medium-high and cook about 2 minutes or until the wine evaporates
• Add the mushrooms and reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the mushrooms release their liquid and start to get tender, stirring once
• Stir in remaining 1 3/4 cups broth and bring to a simmer over medium heat
• While that’s warming up, in a small bowl whisk together tamari, flour, nutritional yeast and 1/4 cup of hot broth to make a thick paste
• Whisk (do not attempt to stir with a spoon no matter how good you think you are as you will end up with lumps which will cook into dumplings- trust me) the paste into the simmering broth mixture, stirring constantly
• Bring the stew back to a simmer and cook for a minute, whisking constantly
• Stir in the beans and greens, cover and cook for 5 minutes
• Season to taste with salt & pepper and serve

We chose to have our stew with a nice loaf of French country bread baked by El Jardin and purchased at the Northampton Tuesday Market (which is still on through next week).  A sourdough loaf with whole grains and toasted sesame seeds on top.