This recipe is straight out of our brand new cookbook Thermo Plant-Based: Recipes for Everyone, but we've posted it free on the website to show you just how easy and delicious the recipes in this cookbook are.
Bolognaise is a classic recipe that couldn’t be overlooked to ditch the meat, although no one will be able to tell the difference! The textured vegetable protein mimics mincemeat while everything else blends for the perfect bolognaise flavour. Stock up the pantry with the non-perishable ingredients as this is going to be a weekly staple. But first, how about trying this bolognaise in my Meaty Pub Lasagne (p. 87)?
Here's a quick video showing you just how easy this recipe is...
Serves 5
+vegan
+vegetarian
+gluten free
+nut free
+egg free
+dairy free
+freezer friendly
Ingredients
140g textured vegetable protein*
400g boiling water
1 brown onion, peeled and halved
4 garlic cloves, peeled
20g extra-virgin olive oil
700g passata
400g can diced tomatoes
140g red wine
30g balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp Italian spice mix
2 beef-style stock cubes
1 tsp fine salt Handful fresh basil (optional)
Method
- Place vegetable protein and boiling water in a heatproof bowl, set aside for minimum 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place onion and garlic in TC bowl, chop for 5 seconds, speed 5. Scrape down sides.
- Add olive oil, sauté for 5 minutes, 100°C, speed 1.
- Add set-aside vegetable protein (including any remaining soaking water), passata, tomatoes, red wine, vinegar, Italian spice mix, stock cubes and salt. Cook for 25 minutes, 100°C, reverse speed 2.
- Add basil (if using) and stir through with spatula.
Serve hot with freshly cooked spaghetti, use as a base for a shepherd’s pie or make Meaty Pub Lasagne (p. 87). Can be refrigerated or frozen and reheated when needed – the flavours will get better with age.
Note: 500g dried spaghetti is the ideal quantity of pasta for this amount of bolognaise sauce.
*Textured vegetable protein is a product made from soy and is a great meat substitute that’s gluten and nut free. Conveniently it’s a dried product that’s shelf stable, meaning we can easily store it in the pantry ready to have on hand. It can be found in most supermarkets and health food shops.
