Cauliflower Mushroom Bolognese Food

CAULIFLOWER BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Heat the olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, rosemary and pepper flakes, then cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook for a couple minutes under the recommended time.
• Add the tomato paste and cauliflower to the onions, then stir to combine. Continue to cook, stirring, until the cauliflower begins to caramelize and the tomato paste has cooked down, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta, pasta water, pecorino and remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pot with the sauce. Stir and toss until totally combined.
• Add the cream and season to taste. Serve topped with fresh basil and a little more pecorino.

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, pulse the mushrooms until they appear coarsely ground. (This can also be done by hand.) Set aside.
• Place a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add the garlic, carrots, celery and onions with a large pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms and thyme and cook until the mushrooms begin to brown and dry out, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and toast it until it looks rusty, a few minutes. Add the milk, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, until the sauce has thickened and all the liquid is reduced, at least 20 minutes.
• Before serving, stir in some basil and freshly grated Parmesan. To serve, grate more Parmesan over top.

CAULIFLOWER BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Pulse mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a small bowl. Wipe out food processor bowl.
• Working in 3 batches, pulse cauliflower in food processor until pieces are about the size of a grain of rice (some smaller and some larger ones are fine), transferring to a medium bowl as you go.
• Heat ¼ cup oil and 2 Tbsp. butter in a large heavy pot over medium-high. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 4-6 minutes. Add onion and 2 Tbsp. oil to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is very soft and golden brown, 6-8 minutes. Add garlic, chile, and rosemary and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is softened and mixture is very fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until paste is slightly darkened, about 2 minutes. Add cauliflower and cook, still stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is cooked down slightly and begins to stick to bottom of pot, 6-8 minutes. Season with salt, then keep warm over low heat.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until almost al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer pasta to pot with sauce. Add 1 cup Parmesan, remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, and 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Increase heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and sauce is clinging to pasta, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt (it'll probably need another pinch or two). Finely zest lemon over pasta and toss once more.
• Divide pasta among bowls. Top with more Parmesan, then drizzle with oil.

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Place the porcini mushrooms in a small bowl and cover with the boiling water; let stand until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain and save the liquid. Rinse the porcini and chop them.
• Meanwhile, working in batches if needed, combine the cremini mushrooms, button mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to the bowl with the mushrooms.
• Heat enough oil to generously cover the bottom of a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped vegetables, thyme, rosemary, oregano, tomato paste and red pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Add the wine, soy sauce and the porcinis and their soaking water to the pot. Cook until the wine evaporates, then add the diced tomatoes. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is deep red in color, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking water. Keep the pasta warm if the sauce is still cooking.
• Add the pasta and pasta water to the pot with the sauce and toss to combine. Divide among plates or bowls and sprinkle with nutritional yeast if using and basil. Serve and enjoy!