Healthy Recipe of the Month: Meat-Free Mushroom Bolognese

by Jacob Tippetts, Founder of Revive Health Center
written on July 2, 2014 | 0 comments

Mushroom-BologneseVegetarians are often healthier than their meat-eating counterparts. However, the reason for that is not just the fact that they leave out the meat, but that they eat healthier in general. That being said, most people would do well with less meat in their diet. Of course, when you’re eating a meat-free meal, you need to add enough other ingredients to ensure that you still feel full and satisfied afterwards. For example, eating a bowlful of white rice probably won’t fill you up for very long. Instead, you should choose whole grains and vegetables.

The recipe below is easy to prepare. You can always make slight alterations if you wish. For example, if you’re not a big fan of celery or carrots, you can leave them out or replace them with tomatoes. In the end, it’s not so much about following the recipe precisely but to make an effort to eat healthier. Keep in mind that if you choose to use whole grain pasta over white pasta, this meal is going to be a lot healthier. If you don’t like the taste of whole wheat pasta, you could try mixing whole wheat and white pasta to begin with. However, as long as you serve a tasty sauce, you probably won’t even notice the difference.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups chopped crimini mushrooms
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 1 large carrot
  • 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 cup crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup water (or vegetable stalk)
  • 2 servings pasta cooked according to package instructions
  • Fresh basil for garnish

Preparation

  1. Dice the mushrooms, onion, celery, and carrot.
  2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the vegetables in 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Season with salt and pepper and cook until tender.
  3. When the onion begins to appear translucent, add the crushed tomatoes and water. Mix and cover with a lid. Let simmer for about 5-8 minutes.
  4. Remove the lid and continue to cook the sauce until it reaches desired consistency. The longer it cooks, the thicker it will become.
  5. Serve over spaghetti or any pasta cooked according to package instructions.
  6. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.

 

 

Categories:  Recipes