Preparing a hearty and flavorful vegetarian bolognese sauce that is low in fat doesn't have to be a challenge. With the right ingredients and a bit of culinary creativity, you can whip up a delicious and guilt-free meatless version of this classic Italian dish. Whether you're a seasoned vegetarian or simply looking for a healthier alternative to traditional bolognese, this guide will walk you through the steps of creating a low-fat vegetarian bolognese sauce that is packed with flavor and nutrition. From choosing the best vegetables and legumes to selecting healthy cooking methods, we'll cover all the essential tips and tricks to ensure your low-fat vegetarian bolognese sauce turns out perfect.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE
Unlike a traditional Bolognese sauce, this riff on the classic has no meat and isn't simmered for hours, but the results are still rich, buttery and sweet. Mild cauliflower and soffrito - the carrot, celery and onion mix that is the traditional base of the the sauce - become the bulk. Tomato paste and soy sauce are toasted to build umami. Then, everything is braised with whole milk, which softens the vegetables and adds silkiness. Swap the cauliflower for broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, eggplant, or even green lentils, chickpeas or crumbled tempeh. To make it vegan, swap 2 tablespoons oil for butter in Step 1, use nondairy milk, and swap 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast for Parmesan.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories dinner, weekday, pastas, vegetables, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter with the olive oil over medium-high. When foaming, add the onion, carrots and cauliflower, season with 1 teaspoon salt and a few pepper grinds. Cook, stirring just once or twice, until browned and juicy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomato paste, soy sauce and garlic and cook, stirring and smashing the vegetables, until the tomato paste is a shade darker and sticks to the bottom of the pot, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the milk and bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low, and stir to combine, scraping up browned bits from the pot. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the milk has thickened slightly and the vegetables are very soft, 15 to 20 minutes. (At first the pan will look dry, then the vegetable liquid will thin the sauce and it will thicken slightly).
- Halfway through cooking the sauce, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain. If the sauce is ready before the pasta, remove sauce from heat and keep covered.
- Remove the bay leaf from the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the pasta, 1/2 cup pasta water, the Parmesan and the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Stir vigorously until the pasta is well coated, adding more pasta water as needed until the sauce is glossy. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve with more grated Parmesan on top.
VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE
When it comes to meat sauces, Bolognese is the heavyweight champion of the pasta world, clocking in at over 800 calories with almost 1,800mg sodium. The traditional dish has a rich cast of characters-up to three kinds of meat, cream, cheese, pasta-and packs half a day's worth of sat fat into just one serving. Here, tempeh and two types of mushrooms mimic the texture of ground meat while adding plenty of savory depth. By upping the veggies and nixing the cream, we leave plenty of room for the good stuff-Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Simmering the cheese rind with the sauce infuses the sauce with full-bodied flavor and salty tang. Our version delivers classic satisfaction for less than half the calories and 1,300mg less sodium than the standard.
Provided by Cooking Light
Time 2h
Yield Serves 12 (serving size: about 2/3 cup pasta and 2/3 cup Bolognese)
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Toast fennel seeds, red pepper, and bay leaves in a skillet over medium for 2 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant. Cool 10 minutes. Transfer to a spice mill (or mortar and pestle); finely grind. Set aside.
- Place porcini mushrooms and 1 1/2 cups warm water in a bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup soaking liquid. Finely chop mushrooms; set aside.
- Pulse shiitake mushrooms, onion, carrots, and celery in a food processor until finely chopped, 10 to 12 times.
- Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium. Add tempeh; cook 5 minutes or until golden. Add shiitake mixture, salt, and pepper; cook 10 minutes or until softened. Add garlic, ground spices, and chopped porcinis; cook 5 minutes or until mixed well.
- Pulse tomatoes in a food processor until finely chopped, 8 to 10 times.
- Stir chopped tomatoes, milk, wine, cheese rind, oregano, basil, sugar, and reserved 1/2 cup porcini soaking liquid into tempeh mixture in Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Remove cheese rind; stir in grated cheese.
- Cook spaghetti per package directions. Toss with butter to coat; serve with Bolognese; garnish with fresh basil, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 353, Carbohydrate 53 g, Fat 10 g, Fiber 7 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 475 mg, Sugar 6 g
VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE (LOW-FAT)
Veggie additions are added to an already prepared marinara sauce for a healthy thick rich delicious vegetarian bolognese sauce, the portobello mushroom takes the place of ground beef, all amounts may be doubled --- this sauce tastes even better the next day --- using a good-quality marinara sauce will only improve the flavor :)
Provided by Kittencalrecipezazz
Categories Sauces
Time 55m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat about 3 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add in onion, diced carrots, celery, both bell peppers, chopped portobello mushroom, dried oregano and crushed red pepper flakes; cook stirring for 4-5 minutes.
- Add in garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add in wine and prepared marinara sauce, bring to a simmer stirring.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 35-40 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Season sauce with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 52, Fat 0.2, Sodium 17.2, Carbohydrate 6.9, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 2.6, Protein 1.1
ALMOST FAT - FREE SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE
I adapted this recipe and added heaps of vegetables because it's one of the only ways I eat them! This spaghetti sauce has no added fat unless you serve it with cheese. You can pre-cook the vegetables in the microwave to make the cooking a bit faster.
Provided by Newiegirl
Categories Spaghetti
Time 25m
Yield 4 plates, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Spray a large non-stick frypan lightly with cooking oil spray and cook onion and garlic till soft. Add minced beef and cook until browned.
- Add can of tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetables and herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer until vegetables are soft - about 15 minutes
- Serve over hot pasta and garnish with grated cheese of your choice.
DELICIOUS VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE
I am so excited to share this recipe with you. I've tried making vegetarian Bolognese many times but never really succeeded. This time it turned out really great and it's now one of my family's favorite meals. Lentils are not usually my daughter's favorite food but this Bolognese has been a huge success. Another plus about this recipe: it will be good the first day but even better the second day. So make a big batch and enjoy this Bolognese over a couple of days. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve with a salad.
Provided by AngelasHeaven.com
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Sauce Recipes Pasta Sauce Recipes Tomato
Time 44m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add mushrooms, leek, salt, red pepper flakes, and pepper; cook and stir until mushrooms are soft, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Stir crushed tomatoes, creme fraiche, carrots, red lentils, vegetable broth, and sambal oelek into the saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 368.8 calories, Carbohydrate 38.1 g, Cholesterol 61.1 mg, Fat 21.7 g, Fiber 9.2 g, Protein 12.9 g, SaturatedFat 11.4 g, Sodium 1497.5 mg, Sugar 5.5 g
VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE
Make the most of Quorn mince for this easy veggie bolognese that's low in fat and calories. Cook a large batch ahead and freeze for easy family dinners
Provided by Lulu Grimes
Categories Dinner, Main course, Supper
Time 1h10m
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a saucepan and gently fry the onion, carrots and celery until the onion is starting to soften. Stir in the garlic and the Quorn (there's no need to defrost it) and fry for a couple of mins. Add the bay leaf, passata, vegetable stock cube and 200ml water, then bring everything to the boil.
- Turn down the heat and simmer for 30 mins or until all the pieces of veg are tender and disappearing into the tomato sauce. Add the milk, then cover with a lid and cook for 10 mins. Season to taste. If the sauce is a bit thin, keep bubbling until it thickens. Stir through the basil. Serve with the spaghetti and grate the cheese over the top, if you like. Can be frozen into portions and reheated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 453 calories, Fat 10 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 62 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 13 grams sugar, Fiber 11 grams fiber, Protein 24 grams protein, Sodium 1.1 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- Use a variety of vegetables to create a flavorful and nutritious sauce. Some good options include carrots, celery, onions, garlic, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different herbs and spices. Italian seasoning, oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary are all good choices.
- If you're using canned tomatoes, be sure to drain them well before adding them to the sauce. This will help to reduce the amount of liquid in the sauce and make it more concentrated.
- Simmer the sauce for at least 30 minutes, or longer if you have time. This will help to develop the flavors and make a richer, more complex sauce.
- Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta, or use it as a filling for lasagna, ravioli, or manicotti.
Conclusion:
Vegetarian bolognese sauce is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables, and it's also a good source of protein and fiber. So next time you're looking for a hearty and satisfying meal, give vegetarian bolognese sauce a try. You won't be disappointed!
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