As the global conversation around sustainability and health continues to grow, more people are recognising the importance of incorporating meat-free meals into their weekly routines.
In South Africa, the South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association is leading the charge with a tantalising recipe featuring Cape Malay mushrooms that promises to turn your Meatless Monday into a flavour-filled celebration.
Meatless meals shouldn’t feel limiting or dull, and this sumptuous dish aims to shatter any preconceptions.
This delightful recipe serves four, making it perfect for family dinners or intimate gatherings.
Cape Malay mushrooms with butter bean mash and brown butter sultanas
Ingredients
Butter bean mash
2 large (ideally white flesh) sweet potatoes, peeled
2 x 400g tins butter beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp garlic powder
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
Brown butter sultanas
4 tbsp butter
100g sultanas
4 tbsp sherry vinegar
A handful of fresh curry leaves
Mushrooms
500g mixed cultivated mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp Cape Malay curry powder or spice mix
1 red onion, sliced thinly into little petals
To serve
Store-bought poppadoms
Olive oil, for cooking
Salt and pepper, to taste
Method:
For the butter bean mash
Boil or steam the sweet potatoes until very tender.
Add the sweet potatoes, butter beans, and garlic powder to a food processor.
Pulse until chunky.
Pour in the olive oil and lemon juice and season well with salt and pepper.
Pulse until smooth.
Add a little water if you need more liquid to achieve a nice consistency.
Scrape into a saucepan and heat just before serving.
For the brown butter sultanas
Cook the butter in a small frying pan over medium heat until the foam subsides and the butter is golden brown.
Immediately transfer butter to a bowl.
Add the sultanas and vinegar and mix.
Keep in a warm place until serving.
For the curry leaves
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a small frying pan.
When hot, add the curry leaves.
Swirl them around the oil and cook for about a minute until they are crisp at the edges.
Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to crisp up for serving.
For the mushrooms
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large frying pan.
Add the oil you cooked the curry leaves in to add flavour and avoid wastage.
When hot, add the mushrooms.
Sprinkle it with curry powder and season it with salt and pepper.
When the mushrooms are golden brown, add the onion.
Cook until the onion is just tender but still has a nice little bite to it.
Serve the mushrooms on a bed of warm butter bean mash.
Spoon over some brown butter sultanas.
Finish with crispy curry leaves, and enjoy!
Starting your Meatless Monday journey
Wondering how to kick-start your Meatless Mondays? Here are some tips:
- Start simple: Begin by choosing recipes that highlight familiar ingredients and flavours, easing the transition into plant-based meals.
- Incorporate variety: Experiment with different cuisines, exploring international flavours that utilise seasonal vegetables and legumes.
- Engage your household: Involve family members or housemates in meal planning and preparation, turning it into a fun weekly ritual.
- Educate yourself: Learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet through documentaries, articles, and community workshops.
