Turmeric Mushroom Salad With Beetroot And Sweet Potato

One of the most constant piece of advice I was given by my mum during my growing years was the importance of healing my body from the inside by harnessing the natural power of food. She knew exactly what food to serve to clear up a nasty cold, to perk up a sluggish demeanour and to make those monthly hormonal days seem like a breeze. I used to think she had magical powers because she could make me feel better without medicines. It was later on I realised that it was the wisdom of Ayurveda (India’s alternative traditional medicine) from her ancestors and from cooking and observing for years. According to Ayurveda, medicines and foods are either Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic. Sattvic foods are fresh, light, nourishing and vibrant. They provide energy without taxing your body and can be found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, herbs, beans and milk. Rajasic foods are fried or processed foods that cause excitement and provide a high either temporary or permanent. Tamasic foods are dry, dead or decaying foods that include all meat, fungi, eggs and liquor.

We didn’t eat mushrooms while growing up. They were considered Tamasic and believers of Ayurveda avoided them. Besides, they were not readily available. In fact, my first taste of mushroom was in Singapore when I was in my mid twenties. It was a bowl of Swiss mushroom soup and I was smitten. When I started digging into the health benefits of mushroom and the use of mushroom in a plant based diet, I was surprised by how ignorant some of the ancient teachings of Ayurveda were. I know of folklores that suggest that mushrooms got a bad rep because of yogis residing deep in the forests, foraging for food and dying because of poisonous mushrooms.

The good news is that folklores and ignorant food practices are a thing of the past. Mushrooms are slowly gaining popularity in the modern Ayurveda diet besides being immensely popular in the Western diet for years. They are one of the richest sources of folate and potassium amongst the plant/fungi kingdom with a single Portobello mushroom having more potassium than a banana. Mushrooms in recent studies have shown their prowess in inhibiting cancer cells and retarding the growth of tumours. The vitamins in mushrooms are known to repair cells and regulate new cell growth. In 2009, research from the University of Western Australia showed that women who ate an average of only 10g of mushrooms a day had a 65% lower risk of breast cancer. So mushrooms are a natural fit in a healthy lifestyle especially for women. And because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Mushroom Grower’s Association of Australia are backing it up with their Mushrooms Go Pink Campaign that spreads awareness about the disease and educates on the power of mushrooms to combat it in many different ways. Since 2010 the mushroom industry has raised almost $180,000 for cancer charities in Australia.

I cannot imagine a week without a couple of mushroom meals. It is no wonder that it makes a regular appearance on this blog in these delicious recipes. In honour of Mushrooms going pink in October, I was asked by the Mushroom Grower’s Of Australia to create a mushroom recipe. I wanted to create an empowering recipe for women everywhere that harnessed the healing power of mushrooms, the goodness of warming spices like turmeric and cinnamon, the blood cleansing qualities of beetroot, the earthiness of sweet potato and the vitality of fresh herbs and nuts. This beautiful salad is a mouthful of explosive flavours and textures that satiate and nourish from the inside out. It is great as a complete meal for work or a sight to behold on a brunch table with friends. Don’t fret over the long ingredient list. It literally takes only about 45 minutes to throw together.

Note – Anyone signing up as a member of the Mushroom Lovers Club will enter a competition to Win one of five Girls Day Out packages. Five winners (nationally) will each receive a package comprising a Day Spa voucher to the value of $1,000. Go on over and check them out.

TURMERIC MUSHROOM SALAD WITH BEETROOT AND SWEET POTATO

A warming and nourishing salad packed with the prowess of immune boosting mushrooms, turmeric and almonds and packed with blood cleansing beetroot and a bowlful of greens, herbs and nuts.

Serves – 6

Ingredients

for the sweet potato
2 small sweet potatoes (500g), peeled and cubed
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil/coconut oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chilli flakes
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 teaspoon salt

for the couscous
2 cups (400g) couscous (dry)
2 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil/coconut oil

for the dressing
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey (or 2 tablespoons rice malt syrup)

for the mushrooms
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil/coconut oil
1 teaspoon grain mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 cups (300g) button mushrooms, brushed clean
4-5 springs of thyme, leaves picked
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 bunch asparagus, woody bits trimmed and rest chopped

a cup of mixed salad greens, to serve
handful of fresh chopped coriander leaves, to serve
1 small raw beetroot, peeled and grated

Method

Pre-heat oven to 180C. Place all ingredients for sweet potato in a large bowl and mix well. Spread on a foil lined baking tray and bake in the oven for approximately 25-30 minutes until roasted but still firm. Remove and set aside. Discard the bay leaves.

To make the couscous, bring water, salt, vinegar and oil to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Pour in the couscous. Cover and rest for 5-8 minutes until water is absorbed. Gently fluff up the couscous with a fork.

To make the dressing, place all ingredients in a small jar fitted with a tight lid. Shake to mix well. Set aside.

To make the mushrooms, heat oil in a large frying pan on medium. Add garlic and mustard. Sauté for a few seconds. Add the mushrooms, thyme, turmeric and salt. Sauté for 15-18 minutes until mushrooms are cooked and starting to turn golden. Add the asparagus. Cook for another minute and remove from heat.

To assemble the salad place two cups of cooked couscous, roasted sweet potato, mushrooms, dressing, salad greens, beetroot and coriander in a large bowl. Toss to mix well. Serve.

Notes

You can make this gluten free by substituting the couscous with quinoa or basmati rice.

Omitting honey and replacing with rice malt syrup as suggested above will make this suitable for vegans.