Lentil-Tomato Stew With Browned Onions

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1 cup boiling water
• 4 teaspoons olive oil
• 3 carrots, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
• 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup lentils, rinsed and picked over
• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 cup frozen peas