MiladyB

Spring Vegetable Stew

Meaty artichoke hearts, earthy morels (cone-shaped mushrooms with a smoky flavor) and tender leeks give a rich, satisfying flavor, making this an ideal vegetarian entrée for entertaining. This recipe is also abundant with antioxidants. If you wish to add an indulgent flair, omit the butter at the end and drizzle each serving with some truffle oil or good-quality extra-virgin olive oil.


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 2 hours


Ingredients
1/2 ounce dried morels or porcini mushrooms (1/4 cup)
1 cup warm water
6 large artichokes
1 large lemon
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 medium leeks, white part only, cleaned and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 cup baby carrots
12 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 1/2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup baby lima beans, fresh or frozen
1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
4 teaspoons butter
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley


Preparation
1. Cover mushrooms with warm water in a small bowl. Let stand for 30 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid. Rinse the mushrooms well under cold water; drain and chop. Strain the reserved liquid through a coffee filter or paper towel to remove any dirt.


2. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with water; juice the lemon and, reserving half the juice, add the rest along with the lemon halves to the water.


3. Pull off outer leaves from an artichoke. Using a small, sharp knife, pare the artichoke down to the heart. Trim the bottom of the stem, then peel the stem. Scrape out the choke with a melon baller or spoon. Cut the heart into quarters and place in the lemon water to prevent browning. Repeat with the remaining artichokes.


4. Heat oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add leeks, carrots, garlic, thyme, mushrooms and the artichoke hearts; cook, stirring often, until the vegetables start to brown, about 5 minutes.


5. Add wine and cook until slightly reduced, 2 to 3 minutes.


6. Add broth, salt and the reserved mushroom liquid. Cover and cook over low heat until the artichoke hearts and carrots are almost tender, 30 to 40 minutes.


7. Stir in lima beans and peas. Increase heat to medium, cover and cook for 10 minutes more. Stir in butter and the reserved lemon juice. Season with pepper.


8. Serve the stew in shallow bowls, garnished with chives and parsley.

Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Per serving:
261 calories
6 g fat (2 g sat, 2 g mono)
7 mg cholesterol
45 g carbohydrate
11 g protein
14 g fiber
646 mg sodium
1005 mg potassium

Nutrition Bonus: vitamin A (110% Daily Value), vitamin C (90% DV), folate (50% DV), iron (30% DV), magnesium & potassium (29% DV), calcium (15% DV)

__________________
~Beth~

Little Victories; Grand Rapids, MI
Bariatric Support Group

Diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol,
peripheral vein disease, joint pain and 210 lbs GONE!!


Century Club: July 3, 2006
ONE-derland: Dec. 22, 2006
Double Century: May 29, 2007
Goal: June 15, 2008

Lap RNY: 1/30/06-Dr Randal Baker
TT/BL: 09/21/07-Dr Ronald Ford
PS Revisions: 04/29/08-Dr Ronald Ford
Gallbladder: 05/14/08-Dr Randal Baker
Emergency surgery (Intussusception): 02/29/09-Dr James Foote