Brown Mushroom Gravy

Let’s face it – a festive dinner wouldn’t be complete without a delicious, flavorful gravy! Don’t you just love to drown your mashed potatoes, dumplings, rice and whatever the main attraction of the feast is in lots of saucy goodness? Mushrooms give this gravy its wonderful aroma and texture and psyllium seed husks its thickness. No roux necessary to achieve the consistency. Therefore, it’s free of flour and gluten. This mushroom gravy is quick and easy to prepare, only requires a few ingredients, and pairs very well with most of your holiday (and non-holiday) favorites.

Ingredients (for about 8 servings):

• 3 generous tsp psyllium seed husks
• 1 cup (240 ml) cold water

• 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 4 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lb (900 g) mixed mushrooms ( I used crimini and different kinds of Asian mushrooms)
• 2 cups (280 ml) water
• 3/4 – 1 cup (180 – 240 ml) gluten free soy sauce, depending on how salty you like it
• 5 tsp maple syrup
• plenty freshly ground black pepper
• fresh, minced parsley galore

Preparation:

Stir psyllium seed husks into 1 cup (240 ml) of water and set aside. This is how it will look later:

Rinse and clean mushrooms. Remove tough stem ends, if necessary. Slice crimini mushrooms and cut Asian mushrooms (if you use them), into bite-size pieces. Leave small, tender ones whole.

Preheat a large pot or saucepan over medium heat, then add extra virgin olive oil and diced onion.

Sauté over medium heat for about 10 minutes until onion is soft and slightly browned.

Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.

Turn heat up to high and add the mushrooms. Cook for about 10 minutes while stirring occasionally. The liquid from the mushrooms will have evaporated almost completely.

Add 2 cups of water, soy sauce, maple syrup, black pepper, and the psyllium seed water.

Bring the gravy back to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Turn off heat before you add minced parsley. Enjoy!

Notes:

• This gravy is perfect with vegan roasts, mashed potatoes, potato dumplings, red cabbage, stuffed pumpkins or squash, and so much more!
• If you want to avoid soy products, you could use coconut aminos. In this case, reduce the amount of maple syrup or leave it out altogether.