Friday, January 6, 2012

rooted stew

rooted stew
A few weeks ago I sent out my first maya*mail. It featured Rooted Stew and a promise to soon include it in the eat section of the blog. So here it is, and this is how I described it:

 This recipe for my favorite winter stew is not only delicious, but the perfect antidote to the excesses that go hand in hand with the (holiday) season. Humble root vegetables are featured for their ability to nourish and ground us. A steaming bowl literally roots you to your body after a long day of rushing about. Try eating with chopsticks and take one bite at a time before drinking the savory broth. It's a mini meditation in a bowl. Keeping a pot of Rooted Stew in the fridge ensures a balancing meal just when you need it most. An assortment of roots are used, and I would  encourage you to experiment with some new ones, especially Burdock. It has a long history in Asian and Native American cultures in both cuisine and for medicinal purposes. Its robust, earthy flavor warms me down to my toes.

Rooted Stew
Ingredients:   
  • a tablespoon or two of olive oil 
  • 1 diced onion 
  • 2 pressed cloves of garlic 
  • 5 cups of scrubbed and chopped roots (choose from: burdock, carrots, daikon, rutabagas,         parsnips, turnips, celeriac) 
  • 4-6 shitake mushrooms sliced, stems removed 
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped or grated fresh ginger (more to taste if you're a ginger lover) 
  • 1 piece of kombu (sea vegetable) 
  • 1/2 cup tamari 
  • 1/4 cup kuzu or cornstarch for thickening 
  • fresh scallions sliced
Make:
Saute onions and garlic in olive oil  for several minutes before adding all of the roots. Pour in 7 cups of water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and add the ginger, shitake, kombu, and tamari. Simmer until vegetables are just tender. Around 40 minutes. Add cornstarch or kuzu to 1/2 cup of cool water. Whisk. Add this mixture to the pot and keep cooking until the stew thickens.Serve with rice or alone in a deep bowl. Top with scallions and enjoy!



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I  believe we could all use a bowl of Rooted Stew this weekend: to nourish our bodies and remain grounded as we kick-start fresh goals...  and follow our January dreams. Here are two links along those lines-
  • This cookbook I  saw at annekata looks wonderful!
  • Michelle has a fantastic video on how to begin juicing over at Squam's happy, shiny, new blog. So fun to watch, especially because she totally demystifies the process with her sweet self and affordable (thank goodness) juicer.
roots
Be well!
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14 comments:

  1. Just reading the ingredients makes me feel better!
    You have the most wonderful recipes Maya and I can't wait to try this one.
    Enjoy the weekend.

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  2. Yes, I am so in the mood for this....wintry, good, warm food! Yummy.

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  3. I'm on my way to Farmers Market this morning to stock up on much needed greens and veggies! A hearty soup is just what I need!
    Thanks Maya!
    xoxo
    ~ joey ~

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  4. Wonderful winter wrmong dish Maya, thanks for sharing. Love burdock, so sweet when cooked. xox Corrine

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  5. That soup is what fed my body and soul as I snuggled on the couch all day before New Years Eve. Thank you. I drank cup after cup and read my middle school son's book. The best a busy mom can ask for!

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  6. Alli- guess what I did over the holidays? Same thing! Lots of this stew and ready my middle schooler's books! So good, yes?

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  7. Maya, this stew sounds great. I always roast roots and never think of an all root stew. I've never tried burdock, and this sounds like the perfect way! I really love your photo of the raw roots with sunlight and shadows.

    Oh, and I saw you at the gym this morning! I was going to say hello, but you were talking to someone and I was on my way to try BodyPump for the first time. It was fantastic--I feel so good! Here's to health!!

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  8. Tracey is right, you always have the most wonderful recipes! The soup looks delicious. The photo is perfect and that bowl....oh that bowl is so pretty with the design for the chop sticks. Never seen those before.
    For now, have a great weekend.

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  10. i am loving this recipe since i received it in my maya*mail last month. i've made it multiple times already!
    tastes and feels so good to eat...

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  11. This looks so beyond yummy. Thank you for sharing your beautiful recipes with us!

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  12. Looks super yummy and perfect for this chill in the air...hmmm might just be dinner tonight.

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  13. I made your stew last night. It was so delicious. I threw in a sweet potato and served it over quinoa, for some protein. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.

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