Easy Vegan Bolognese Recipe

If you’re looking for a healthy bolognese recipe that won’t disappoint in flavor or texture, then this easy vegan bolognese sauce is just for you! It’s thick with a rich tomato base and seasoned with vegetable stock and dried herbs.

This vegan bolognese with mince is so good that those not used to eating plant-based won’t even recognise the difference between this sauce and traditional bolognese sauce made with ground beef. You may even be tempted to eat any leftovers by the spoonful!

Learning how to make vegan bolognese is as easy as 1-2-3! It’s a one-pan recipe that can be made from scratch in under 20 minutes.

Serve this vegan bolognese with soya mince over al dente spaghetti, rice, or use it in other delicious vegan recipes such as vegan lasagna or shepherd's pie - the options are endless!

Ingredients

As you might recognise from the below list, the ingredients for this vegan bolognese sauce are just the same as regular bolognese. You just switch out the regular mince for soya mince instead!

• Soya mince - can be subbed for your favourite plant-based mince or meat crumbles.
• Chopped canned tomatoes
• Coconut or olive oil
• White or yellow onion, diced
• Carrot, grated or finely chopped
• Celery, finely chopped
• Garlic cloves, minced
• Vegetable stock
• Tomato purée
• Dried oregano
• Dried marjoram

How to Make Vegan Bolognese

1. Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the onion, carrot, celery and garlic gently for 5 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes, tomato purée, dried herbs and vegetable stock.
3. Cover with a lid and simmer gently for another 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Next, add the soya mince and let it simmer for another 5 minutes (check the packaging to see if your mince needs longer).
5. Season to taste, take off the heat and serve with brown rice or spaghetti.

HOW SHOULD I STORE VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE?

This vegan mince bolognese can be stored in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

You could also freeze your tasty vegan bolognese for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a saucepan or in the microwave, stirring frequently. 

WHAT CAN I SERVE VEGAN MINCE BOLOGNESE WITH?

Spaghetti is the most popular choice for serving with bolognese with but you could also serve your vegan bolognese sauce over brown rice, lentils, or cauliflower rice, or spiralized zucchini for low-carb options. 

This vegan mince bolognese can also be used in various other recipes such as vegan lasagna, vegan cottage pie, chili, bolognese topped pizza, or bolognese stuffed pasta shells. You can also spoon it over whole baked potatoes!

SIMPLE VEGAN BOLOGNESE RECIPE VARIATIONS

• If you don’t enjoy soya mince, use another plant-based mince. Scrambled firm tofu also works but then you may need to reduce the stock a little. Mushrooms added to a food processor can also easily replace soya mince and will provide a hearty and rich taste similar to the flavor profile of beef. 
• Add additional favourite veggies to vegan spaghetti bolognese such as frozen peas, corn, diced bell pepper or diced jalapeno!
• Consider using spicy canned tomatoes for this recipe, especially if you want a slight kick of heat in the veggie bolognese sauce. Cayenne pepper is also a great option for additional heat. 

WHAT IF MY VEGAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE IS TOO THICK?

If your bolognese sauce is too thick for your liking, either from storage or overcooking, simply add some additional liquid when reheating which could be water, stock, or plant-based milk like oat milk.  

TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE THE BEST VEGAN BOLOGNESE RECIPE

• If you’re planning on serving this vegan mince bolognese over spaghetti and need the dish to be gluten-free, simply use a gluten-free spaghetti or other gluten-free pasta variety. 
• To increase the richness of this vegan bolognese, consider adding some red wine or balsamic vinegar to the tomatoes and stock. 
• If you only want a vegetarian bolognese, feel free to sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top when serving with spaghetti, otherwise a sprinkle of nutritional yeast will also provide a cheesy flavor to the dish. 

Other Quick Vegan Dinners to Try

• 15 Minute Chickpea Curry
• Potato Goulash
• Mushroom Stroganoff
• Vegetable Stew
• Chickpea Tagine

As always please, if you make this recipe share it with me either on my Facebook,Twitter or Instagram. I would love to see it! Hashtag #HediHearts