We eat a lot of mushrooms these days. They add a meaty umami flavor to vegetarian dishes and everyone in my family finds them delicious, including my toddler. Not surprisingly they’re also nutritious – this post from well-known Dr. Fuhrman discusses how mushrooms have cancer prevention properties.
Try this delicious one-dish vegetarian casserole from the Eat Happy Meal Plan as an easy way to get lots of veggies, whole grains and mushrooms into your diet:
Broccoli, Mushroom and Farro Casserole with Cheddar
From No Plan Meal Plan 12/10/12
Total Prep Time: 45 minutes
Active Time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
1 small onion or 2 shallots, minced
1 head broccoli, broken into small florets, or 1 lb frozen
1 lb mushrooms, roughly chopped or sliced
1 cup farro, rinsed (can sub another grain, such as rice or quinoa)
2 cups whole milk
2 cups, about 6 ounces, good-quality cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons minced garlic from about 2 cloves
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or sub cornstarch
Paprika, optional
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper
Directions
- Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a casserole dish or 13 x 9 inch pan.
- Fill a medium saucepan 2/3 full with water and bring to a boil. Add broccoli and boil for 2 minutes, until bright green, then remove with a slotted spoon to a large bowl. Add the farro and cook per package instructions, about 20 minutes. Drain and add the bowl.
- While the farro is cooking prepare the mushrooms and cheese sauce: Heat a little EVOO over med-low heat in another medium or large saucepan. Add the mushrooms and thyme, season with a little salt and pepper, and saute for about 7 minutes or until they have let off their moisture. Place them in the bowl. Add the onion or shallots and some EVOO to the pan and saute 3 or 4 minutes until soft and fragrant, then add the garlic and saute for another minute.
- Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and gently stir to cook the flour for 3 minutes. (If using cornstarch, dissolve the cornstarch in a little cold water before adding). Add the milk and increase the heat. Stir until the mixture begins to simmer and has thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until melted, then remove from the heat and add the sauce into the bowl.
- Stir everything to combine and add the mixture to your casserole dish. Sprinkle with a little paprika on top and bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly and warmed throughout.
- Ideally let sit for 5 minutes before serving so the casserole can firm up a bit.
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