French Green Lentil Stew with Mushroom, Chestnut and Black Garlic on Croxetti, a delicious plant-forward vegetarian main (details below). I rummaged through the crisper and pantry to create an extra thick lentil soup using French green lentils, and scored chestnuts🥰, mushrooms and black garlic. Croxetti (Corzetti) was the perfect partner. Croxetti is a stamped round pasta typical of the Ligurian region of Italy. The embossing on each “coin” allows the pasta hold its sauce. I don’t use a formal recipe when making lentil soup. I build as I go with what I have on hand. Ingredients below, in this order. Quantities are approximate. DM any questions you may have. Olive oil 1 sweet onion, diced 1 shallot minced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 carrot, diced 1 Bay leaf Fresh ground Pepper, 1/2-1tsp Pinch Cumin Large Maitake mushroom (and/or other ‘shrooms), tough stem removed, torn or chopped Splash Sherry vinegar, red wine, or sherry 1 1/2 c French style green lentils 1 Tbs org Tomato paste Vegetable stock *cover lentils by a good 2” with liquid 2 cloves Black garlic 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp Silk chili Roasted chestnuts (~6 oz), chopped Sprig oregano A few sprigs of thyme Kosher salt Tips* •Season with salt and pepper as you go. •Allow onion and shallot to caramelize over medium/low before continuing for great depth of flavor. •When adding lentils, stir into the hot pot with cooked ingredients to coat and bring to temp before adding liquid •keep boiling water or stock handy in case you need to add more liquid to retain simmer. •Black garlic is aged, fermented garlic that develops a mild yet deep caramel, molasses like flavor and is black color. You may find it at specialty shops and some farm stands or online. It’s easier to digest than fresh garlic. You may sub one clove of fresh garlic (or more of you like). •For ease of use, packaged roasted chestnuts are great. •fortify the “sauce” with 1/4-1/2 c pasta cooking water •Adjust seasoning to suit your taste. •Leftovers taste even better •If you can’t find Croxetti sub orecchiette. #f52community #lentilsoup #chestnuts #mushrooms #plantforward #corzetti #croxetti #vegetariancomfortfood #f52grams