Vegetarian Bolognese (Protein-Wealthy) | Dietitian Debbie Dishes

Created On: July 1, 2024 | By Debbie | 1 Remark

This vegetarian bolognese is a plant-based twist on the traditional Italian meat sauce. A coronary heart and filling dish full of plant-based protein that’s good for cold, wet days.

vegetarian bolognese pasta in a bowl topped with fresh chopped parsley.

Put up initially printed June 2015; up to date July 2024.

This vegetarian bolognese recipe is the mind baby of a number of consecutive wet days right here in Chicago. I used to be searching for one thing hearty and filling and this dish is simply that. In actual fact, we’ve already made it a couple of occasions!

The leftovers are nice for taking alongside to work the subsequent day as properly. The opposite beauty of this simple vegan bolognese recipe is that you just solely want two pans – one for the bolognese sauce and one for the pasta. Much less mess makes this dish an incredible one so as to add to your weeknight rotation.

You’ll be able to simply adapt this dish to make it vegan by omitting the parmesan cheese or substituting with a vegan parmesan as a substitute. (A sprinkle of dietary yeast works properly too!) Both means, this bolognese sauce recipe is full of filling protein.

Elements for Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce

ingredients for vegetarian bolognese in white bowls on a white background.

Veggies (yellow onion, carrot, celery): this trio of veggies is chopped small to create the soffritto or base of the bolognese sauce.
Garlic, Bay Leaf, & Italian Seasoning: every of those provides an extra layer of taste to the bolognese sauce. A sprinkle of pink pepper flakes is a pleasant means so as to add some spice. You should use garlic powder rather than the contemporary garlic when you want – I’d advocate 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
Vegan Floor Beef: provides meatiness to this plant-based model of the Italian traditional. We normally use frozen b’ef crumbles from Gardein, however you may substitute with Unattainable or Past beef. In case you don’t just like the fake meat choices – you may substitute with cooked brown lentils, rehydrated TVP, or crumbled additional agency tofu.
Marinara Sauce & Tomato Paste: for additional taste, we like to make use of a marinara sauce reasonably than a plain tomato sauce for our bolognese. The tomato paste provides additional umami taste or richness to this scrumptious sauce.
Vegetable Broth: helps skinny the sauce barely.
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce: provides some smokiness and depth to the wealthy sauce since we aren’t cooking with beef. We usually use Wizard’s model. In case you don’t have Worcestershire, you may substitute with soy sauce or balsamic vinegar.
Pasta: you’ll wish to serve the bolognese over a protracted pasta noodle that will help you take in all of the sauce. We normally serve it over tagliatelle however you could possibly even have it with spaghetti noodles or fettuccini. For a decrease carb choice, serve the sauce over high of spaghetti squash.

Find out how to Make Vegetarian Bolognese

chopped onion, carrot, and celery in a large dutch oven on the stove.

Step One: Place a big saucepan or giant dutch oven over medium excessive warmth and add the olive oil. When sizzling, add the onion, carrot, and celery (veggie mince) then saute, stirring with a picket spoon, for an additional 3-5 minutes.

meat and veggies stir fried together in a large dutch oven.

Step Two: Add the garlic and sauté for one more 1-2 minutes then add the vegan floor “beef” and prepare dinner for five minutes. Stir within the tomato paste, vegan Worcestershire sauce and Italian seasoning.

cooked vegetarian bolognese sauce in a large dutch oven.

Step Three: Add the marinara sauce and broth to the pot and stir to mix. Convey the sauce to a simmer then stir within the bay leaf, pinch of salt, and black pepper. Cowl with a lid and go away to simmer for half-hour, stirring often.

vegetarian bolognese in a bowl topped with vegan parmesan and chopped parsley.

Step 4: Whereas the sauce is simmering, boil water and prepare dinner pasta to al dente in response to package deal instructions, reserving about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Test on the sauce and add pasta water to skinny if wanted. Add pasta and toss to mix and coat with the sauce. Serve with a little bit of contemporary parsley and vegan parmesan.

What to Serve with Vegan Bolognese

We love serving this vegetarian spaghetti bolognese with some do-it-yourself vegan parmesan on high. On the facet, an enormous salad is our go-to. This lemon kale caesar is a superb choice but it surely additionally pairs properly with this vegan Italian chopped salad.

close up of the vegetarian bolognese in a bowl.

Storage

Make Forward: To get forward, generally I prefer to pre-chop the carrot, onion, and celery and retailer that within the fridge till I’m able to make this sauce later within the week. The bolognese sauce could be prepped forward of time and both saved within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days or the freezer for as much as 6 months. If storing within the freezer, permit to thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than use.

Fridge: retailer any leftover vegetarian bolognese in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat within the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop.

Freezer: leftover vegetarian bolognese could be frozen in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 6 months. Enable to thaw in a single day within the fridge. Reheat within the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop.

Often Requested Questions

What can I put in bolognese as a substitute of meat?

We prefer to make our vegetarian bolognese with a vegan floor beef as a substitute of meat. It’s also possible to make it with lentils, crumbled tofu, rehydrated TVP, or white beans.

What to serve with bolognese as a substitute of pasta?

Though historically served over pasta, you need to use bolognese sauce in a wide range of dishes. Strive it with: toast, baked potato, polenta,

What makes bolognese completely different than spaghetti sauce?

All of the elements are basically the identical, however conventional bolognese sauce consists of some form of meat (beef, veal, pork). Nonetheless, on this model we changed the meat with a plant-based “beef”.

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