Lentil & Chef's Mushroom Base

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh mushrooms
• 2 cups dry lentils
• 1 Carrot
• 1 stick celery
• 1/2 onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook lentils in water for 10-15 minutes. Add water, a little olive oil, the carrot, celery, bay leaf, onion, garlic but do NOT salt. When they are cooked, drain them, add some olive oil and now salt them. Set aside.
2. Sauté the mushroom in extra-virgin olive oil, and when they are getting softer, add the lentils.
3. Continue cooking for 10 minutes, low heat, stirring. Add olive oil, salt and pepper.
4. Now you can add it to a pasta, top a bruschetta, add it to rice, have it a side to meat, vegetable or fish, or simply enjoy as is. It's truly delicious.