Vegan
Bolognese

INGREDIENTS:
For 4 servings:
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1 tsp. red pepper flakes
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500g mushrooms
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2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
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1 yellow onion cut into segments
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2 large carrot roughly chopped
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2 large celery stalks roughly chopped
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115g tomato paste
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6 garlic cloves minced
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1 Tbsp. finely chopped rosemary
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1/2 cup (120ml) red or white wine
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1 tsp sea salt
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1/2 tsp. black pepper
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1/2 cup (75g) chopped walnuts
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1 cup milk (240ml) of choice (whole milk if not making vegan; plant milk or choice for vegan)
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1 Tbsp soy sauce
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500g pasta
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Fresh basil for garnish and parmesan (vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast if vegan)
DIRECTIONS:
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In a food processor add mushrooms; pulse until finely chopped. Transfer mixture to a bowl.
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Next add onion, carrot and celery to the food processor; pulse until finely chopped.
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Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high. Once hot, add mushrooms and red chilli flakes; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown. Add onions, carrots and celery; cook until softened, about 6 more minutes.
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Push vegetables to one side of the pan and add tomato paste, garlic, and rosemary to open side; cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in wine to deglaze and cook for 2 minutes, until most of the alcohol evaporates.
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Stir in salt, pepper, walnuts, milk, and soy sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, partially covered, while you prepare pasta (If the mixture is too thick add more liquid such as milk or vegetable stock).
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Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until almost al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions.
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Using tongs, transfer pasta to pot with sauce. Add 1 cup pasta cooking liquid and cook, stirring often, until pasta is al dente and sauce is clinging to pasta, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; taste and adjust seasoning as needed (it may need more salt). Divide into each of 4 bowls and garnish with basil, if desired.