Umami is referred to as the fifth taste – after sweet, salty, bitter, and sour – and is a sense of savoriness.  When cutting back on the consumption of meat, a common recommendation is to make sure that your meals still have umami so you continue to feel satisfied.  A great way to achieve this is by using mushrooms.  This mushroom pasta sauce has a creamy mouthfeel, a buttery taste, and yes, umami.  If you’re not following a vegan diet feel free to substitute real butter for identical (if not tastier) results.

Yield: 16 ounces; Prep Time: 1 minute; Cook Time: 25 minutes

• 3 pints sliced white mushrooms
• 2 Tbsp Earth Balance butter substitute
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 Tbsp evoo
• 1 cup reduced sodium vegetable broth

1. Melt Earth Balance in a large pan over high heat.
2. Add mushrooms and 1/4 tsp salt to pan and cook for 10 minutes, stirring regularly.
3. Drain any excess water from the mushrooms and add 1 Tbsp of evoo and the remaining 1/4 tsp of salt to the pan.  Cook an additional 10 minutes butter the mushrooms are beginning to brown*.
4. Remove from heat and allow mushrooms to cool 2 – 3 minutes.
5. Pour mushrooms into the bowl of your food processor.  Process 3 – 4 minutes, until smooth, streaming in vegetable broth and remaining 3 Tbsp of evoo.

Keep sauce in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days.