Vegan Bolognese Recipe

User Reviews

5

15 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    7 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    17 mins

  • Servings

    6 (yield: 6 cups)

  • Calories

    491 kcal

  • Course

    Condiments

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Vegan Bolognese Recipe

This Vegan Bolognese combines ground seitan or vegan meat alternatives with a rich tomato base, wine, and classic herbs for a hearty plant-based sauce. The mixture of sautéed onions, carrots, garlic, and red wine simmers into a thick, savory sauce ideal for pairing with cooked spaghetti. It provides a balanced savory flavor with slight sweetness from added sugar and balsamic vinegar, creating depth without animal products.

Description

The Vegan Bolognese Recipe features a base of diced onion and minced carrot sautéed until softened, then combined with garlic and ground seitan or vegan ground beef substitutes like Beyond Meat or Impossible to develop a browned texture. The sauce is deglazed with red wine or vegetable stock, followed by the addition of canned whole peeled tomatoes and tomato paste, enriched with herbs such as oregano and bay leaf, and seasoned with salt, pepper, sugar, and optional red pepper flakes. It simmers uncovered until thickened to a dark, flavorful consistency.

The sauce’s texture is thick and chunky from the ground vegan meat and vegetables, with a well-rounded flavor combining the acidity of tomatoes and wine balanced by subtle sweetness and the warmth of herbs. This makes it a filling and substantial choice to serve over pasta, garnished optionally with parsley or vegan parmesan for extra flavor.

To serve, the sauce is spooned generously over cooked spaghetti, making a satisfying meal. Adjust seasoning as needed, and topping with parsley or vegan cheese can enhance visual appeal and taste. The use of vegan ingredients ensures it fits plant-based diets without sacrificing the comforting texture typical of traditional bolognese.

Since the sweetness and acidity balance is important, adjusting sugar or vinegar based on canned tomato quality helps maintain flavor harmony. Choosing a vegan-friendly wine is recommended to maintain the dish's plant-based integrity.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 ¼ cup onion diced
  • ½ cup carrot minced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ½ cup ground seitan 12 oz, or vegan ground beef (Beyond Meat, Impossible, etc
  • 1 ¾ cup red wine (375 ml.) or vegetable stock
  • 28 oz. whole peeled tomatoes (canned)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

To serve:

  • 1 lb. spaghetti cooked
  • parsley optional, chopped
  • vegan parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Sauté diced onion and minced carrot for 4-5 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  2. Add minced garlic and ground seitan (or vegan ground beef), cooking for about 5 minutes until the mince is lightly browned. If using Beyond Beef, or Impossible meat, make sure to thoroughly break it up to avoid large chunks forming together.
  3. Deglaze the pan with red wine or vegetable stock, scraping up any bits from the bottom. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
  4. Add canned whole peeled tomatoes with their juice, breaking the tomatoes apart by hand or with a fork before adding them in.
  5. Stir tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, sugar, a bay leaf, oregano, red pepper flakes (if you are using them)salt, and ground black pepper into the pan with the sauteeing vegan meat and crushed tomatoes.
  6. Let the sauce simmer over low heat, uncovered, for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken and darken slightly. Remove the bay leaf and stir in extra virgin olive oil just before serving.
  7. Serve the bolognese over cooked spaghetti, garnished with chopped parsley and vegan parmesan if desired.

Notes

  • Slowly sauté onions and carrots to caramelize their natural sugars, enhancing the sauce's depth and balancing tomato acidity.
  • Ensure the red wine chosen is vegan-friendly, free from animal-derived fining agents; consult reliable sources for verification.
  • Adjust sweetness or acidity with additional sugar or vinegar if the canned tomatoes are too bland to achieve a balanced flavor.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 491kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 76g (25%) Protein 20g (40%) Fat 7g (11%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 4g (20%) Sodium 777mg (32%) Potassium 793mg (17%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 12g (24%) Vitamin A 2156IU (43%) Vitamin C 17mg (19%) Calcium 86mg (9%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6(yield: 6 cups)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 491 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 491kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 76g 25%
Protein 20g 40%
Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Sodium 777mg 32%
Potassium 793mg 17%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 12g 24%
Vitamin A 2156IU 43%
Vitamin C 17mg 19%
Calcium 86mg 9%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5

15 reviews
Excellent

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