Mushroom Bolognese Food

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.

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!

VEGGIE BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Peel the carrot and cut into small dice. Halve and peel the onion, then finely chop. Thickly slice the mushrooms.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onion and carrots and cook over the heat, stirring frequently, for about 10 mins until the onion is soft. Add the mushrooms and stir-fry for a few mins more.
• Tip the tomatoes into the pan with half a can of water, the herbs, ketchup and stock, then stir well to make a sauce.
• Stir the Quorn into the sauce, season with salt and pepper, then cover and simmer for 12 mins until the vegetables are cooked and the mixture is saucy rather than wet.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the spaghetti and boil according to pack instructions - usually about 9-10 mins - until just tender.
• Drain the spaghetti and pile into 4 bowls. Spoon the sauce on top, then generously grate over the cheese. Serve with crusty or garlic bread and a salad.

VEGAN MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add carrot, celery, and garlic; cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Pour in red wine; cook until wine has almost evaporated, about 3 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and season with salt, black pepper, sage, and bay leaves. Cook over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, about 20 minutes. Remove bay leaves and stir in basil.

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE WITH WHOLE WHEAT PENNE

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and saute the onion, carrots, celery and garlic, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms and red wine and cook until the wine has almost evaporated, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the tomato paste, stirring occasionally until the mixture is lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. add the chicken broth to loosen pan renderings. Add the half and half and salt and allow the sauce to simmer until it is thick and creamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While the sauce is cooking, prepare pasta according to package directions, omitting the fat and salt.
• To serve, top 1 cup cooked pasta with 3/4 cup Bolognese and sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Pour hot water over porcini mushrooms in small bowl. Let stand 10 min. Pour into fine-mesh strainer placed over medium bowl; drain, reserving liquid for later use.
• Spoon porcini mushrooms into food processor container. Add cremini mushrooms; pulse just until chopped to 1/4-inch pieces. Spoon into medium bowl. Repeat with carrots.
• Heat dressing in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chopped vegetables; stir. Cook 6 to 7 min. or until mushrooms are tender, stirring frequently. Add pasta sauce and reserved mushroom liquid; mix well. Bring to boil; simmer on medium-low heat 10 min., stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Add Neufchatel to pasta sauce mixture; cook and stir 1 min. or until melted.
• Drain pasta. Serve topped with pasta sauce mixture and Parmesan.

MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Soak the dried porcini mushrooms in 1 cup of very warm water and let sit for 20 minutes. Strain through a cheesecloth or a coffee filter and keep the liquid. Do not use a metal mesh strainer for this step - it is not fine enough. Chop the mushrooms.
• Saute the onion, carrot and celery in a large pot in the olive oil with a big pinch of kosher or sea salt and a few grindings of pepper. Let the vegetables cook for about 8 minutes, on low heat. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Increase heat and add the wine. Cook for 5 minutes, making sure the wine is simmering. Add the mushrooms.
• Add the rest of the ingredients, including the reserved porcini mushroom liquid. Simmer, uncovered, for about an hour to an hour and a half, until the sauce has reduced down and a lot of the liquid has cooked off - cook until you like the thickness of the sauce. Taste for salt and adjust seasoning.
• This recipe will be more than enough to coat a pound of pasta. If you don't use all the sauce, it's great the next day or you can freeze it.