Button Mushrooms in Tomato Gravy from Chacko's Kitchen

Button Mushrooms in Tomato Gravy
StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Looking for something to make for dinner, something your family will enjoy. Save time in the kitchen, give yourself a break, and enjoy a nice, casual dinner. A hearty Mushroom curry that’s good for your heart.

Mushroom is a fungi, cultivated and used for thousands of years, both as a food and for their medicinal properties. The Chinese & Japanese treasured Mushrooms as health food, Pharaohs prized it as a delicacy and Romans regarded Mushrooms as a gift from God.
Medicinal Properties:
Mushrooms contain about 80 to 90 percent water, and are very low in calories.
Very low in Sodium and Fat
8 to 10 percent of dry weight is fiber – thus ideal to lose weight.
One serving of mushrooms provides about 20 to 40 percent of the daily value of copper, a mineral that has cardio-protective properties.
Mushrooms are a rich source of selenium, which is an antioxidant helps reduce the chances of Prostate Cancer.
Shiitake Mushrooms
Used for centuries by the Chinese and Japanese to treat colds and flu.
Lentinan, a beta-glucan isolated from the fruiting body of Shiitake mushrooms, appears to stimulate the immune system, help fight infection, and demonstrates anti-tumour activity.
Eritadenine is another substance found in Shiitake Mushrooms that lowers plasma Cholesterol levels.
Risk Factors:
Shiitake Mushrooms contain Purines – they are broken down to form Uric Acid. Excessive accumulation of Uric Acid leads to Gout or Kidney Stone formation. Thus advisable to be avoided by those having such problems.
Purines are also found in meats like: Kidney, Mackerel, Herring, Sardines and Mussels, and also Yeast.
How to Choose Mushrooms:
Look for mushrooms that are firm, plump and clean without Black spots.
Mushrooms that are wrinkled or have wet slimy spots should be avoided.
How to Store Mushrooms:
Store them in the refrigerator in a loosely closed paper bag. They will keep fresh for about one week.
Cleaning Mushrooms:
Mushrooms are very porous, so if they are exposed to too much water they will quickly absorb it and become soggy. Therefore, the best way to clean mushrooms without sacrificing their texture and taste is to clean them using minimal, if any, water. To do this, simply wipe them with a slightly damp paper towel or kitchen cloth.

Things You’ll Need
Button Mushrooms – 450 grams
Tomatoes – 300 grams
Onion – 1
Ginger – 2 inch root
Garlic – 10 cloves
Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
Chilli Powder – 1½ tsp
Cumin Powder – ½ tsp
Cardamom Pods – 2
Black Peppercorns – 5
Coriander Leaves – 1 bunch
Water – 150 ml
Olive Oil – 2 tbsp
Salt to Taste
Golden Touch Mis-en Place [15 mins]
Finely chop Tomatoes & Onion, store separately
Cut Button Mushrooms into 4 quarters
Make a paste of Ginger and Garlic
Finely chop fresh Coriander leaves
Golden Touch Preparation – [35 minutes]
Heat Oil in a heavy bottomed non-stick pan
Add Cardamom Pods and Black Peppercorns, sauté for few seconds.
Add Onion and sauté till translucent about 2 mins.
Add Salt, Ginger-Garlic paste, Turmeric, Chilli and Cumin powders, sauté for a minute till the raw flavours leave.
Add the Tomatoes and Water, cook to one boil.
Lower heat and cook till Tomatoes are mashed up to a soft, smooth paste; about 10 mins whilst stirring continuously
Add the Mushrooms, cover and cook for about 20 mins on low heat.
Golden Touch Service
Serve with Rice or Naan, garnished with chopped Coriander leaves.