Shiitake Broccoli

This is a fast, savory vegetable side for a weeknight, the kind of dish that shows how satisfying eating this way can genuinely be. It comes together in 1 pan in about 25 minutes, and it carries the deep, brothy flavor of a good takeout dish, built entirely from whole foods. A quick dinner that tastes like more than the sum of its parts is its own small pleasure.

The food here is doing quiet work. Shiitake mushrooms are a gentle source of selenium and carry compounds studied for their role in immune support, and broccoli brings fiber and vitamin C, fiber being one of the things that helps feed a healthier gut community. Coconut aminos give you the salty, umami depth of a soy sauce without the soy.

The pleasure is in the browning. Let the broccoli sit in the pan long enough to catch some color, and breathe in the savory steam when the aminos and ginger hit the heat. Plate it alongside whatever protein you are eating, take a breath, and come to the table settled. The state you eat in is part of how the meal serves you.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
• 1 1/2 lb broccoli, chopped
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup coconut aminos
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Every ingredient is already elimination-friendly. The coconut aminos stand in for soy sauce, which is the standard AIP swap, so there is nothing to change. Extra virgin olive oil is a fine cooking fat here, and there are no seeds, sesame, or black pepper to omit.

Method

• Warm the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sliced shiitakes and saute until tender, about 5 minutes, then set them aside.
• Add the chopped broccoli to the same pan and stir-fry until it begins to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Pour in the water and coconut aminos, add the salt and ground ginger, and stir for about 2 minutes until the broccoli is glossy and the liquid has cooked down.
• Return the mushrooms to the pan, toss everything together, and serve hot.

*Adapted from acleanplate.com*