Spaghetti Bolognese | Mushroom Bolognese

This spaghetti Bolognese recipe is easy to make as a deliciously rustic and family-friendly dish. A vegan and vegetarian version of classic spaghetti Bolognese this recipe includes a flavorful tomato sauce loaded with lots of mushrooms and fresh veggies

Ingredients

For Bolognese Sauce

• ▢3 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢½ cup finely chopped onions – 60 grams or 1 medium sized
• ▢½ teaspoon finely chopped garlic or 2 small to medium-sized
• ▢½ cup finely chopped carrots – 75 grams or 1 small to medium carrot
• ▢1 tablespoon finely chopped celery
• ▢3 to 3.5 cups button mushrooms – rinsed or wiped and sliced – 250 grams
• ▢3 to 3.25 cups finely chopped tomatoes – 400 grams or 4 to 5 medium-sized
• ▢¼ cup chopped basil
• ▢½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢2 tablespoons tomato paste – optional
• ▢1 teaspoon red chili flakes or cayenne pepper or red chili powder
• ▢½ cup red wine
• ▢½ cup water or vegetable stock
• ▢¼ teaspoon white pepper or black pepper, add as required
• ▢salt as required

For Cooking Spaghetti

• ▢5 cups water
• ▢1 teaspoon salt or as required
• ▢250 grams spaghetti

For Garnish

• ▢9 to 10 basil leaves

Instructions

Making Mushroom Bolognese Sauce

• Heat olive oil in a pan or skillet.
• Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic.
• Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes on medium-low heat until onions soften.
• Add the chopped or sliced button mushrooms.
• Mix and sauté until all water evaporates from the mushrooms.
• Add the finely chopped tomatoes.
• Mix and sauté tomatoes for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, red chili flakes and white or black pepper.
• Add wine and water or vegetable stock.
• Mix and combine thoroughly.
• Cover and simmer for 30 minutes on low to medium-low heat.
• Check the pot or pan every few minutes, stir, and add a bit more water ¼ cup at a time if the sauce is cooking down too quickly and sticks to the pan.
• When the sauce has thickened and done, set it aside.

Cooking Spaghetti

• You can begin to cook the spaghetti when the sauce is covered and simmering. Boil water with salt in a pan.
• Place the spaghetti gently in the hot boiling water.
• Cook spaghetti on medium to medium-high heat according to package directions, until the spaghetti is al dente. 

Making Mushroom Spaghetti Bolognese

• Strain the spaghetti in a colander reserving ½ cup of the pasta water.
• Add the cooked spaghetti to the prepared bolognese sauce. Mix thoroughly. If the sauce looks thick you can add some of the pasta water to thin it and mix again
• Mix and serve hot or warm.
• If you prefer, place the plain spaghetti into a bowl or onto a plate first, and then top with the bolognese sauce.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve homemade vegan bolognese pasta with fresh basil on top for an extra pop of flavor.
• You can grate on some parmesan cheese (dairy or vegan-friendly).
• Or you can enjoy with a green salad and warm bowl of soup on the side for a complete meal.