Vegetable Spag Bol Food

VEGETABLE SPAG BOL

Steps:

• Tip the lentils into a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down to medium and cook for 12 minutes, or until tender. Drain, return to the pan and season lightly with sea salt, black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Meanwhile, place the porcini into a small bowl, just cover with boiling water and leave to rehydrate.
• Peel the onion and garlic, trim the celery and finely chop together. Pick and finely chop the rosemary leaves.
• Heat a splash of olive oil in a medium pan over a medium-low heat, add the chopped veg, bay and rosemary, then cook gently with a lid on for 10 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally.
• Turn the heat up to medium-high, pour in the red wine (if using), then leave to bubble and cook away.
• Finely chop the porcini and add to the pan, along with the soaking water, leaving any gritty bits behind.
• Tip in the tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon as you go, then add half a tin's worth of water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a medium-low heat and cook for 10 minutes, adding the lentils as soon as they're drained and ready.
• Cook the spaghetti in a pan of boiling salted water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente, which means that it should be soft enough to eat, but still have a bit of bite and firmness to it.
• Pick the thyme leaves into a bowl, add the breadcrumbs and ½ a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, then toss to coat. Toast in a dry frying pan over a medium heat until lightly golden, stirring regularly.
• Remove the bay leaf and mash the sauce gently with a potato masher, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Scoop out and reserve a cupful of the pasta cooking water, then drain the spaghetti and tip back into the pan. Add the sauce and mix together, loosening with splashes of cooking water, if needed.
• Divide between your bowls, sprinkle with the herby breadcrumbs, grate over the cheese and serve.

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.

VEGETARIAN BOLOGNESE

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.

LENTIL RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Cook gently for 15-20 mins until everything is softened. Stir in the lentils, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, herbs and stock. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 40-50 mins until the lentils are tender and saucy - splash in water if you need. Season.
• If eating straight away, keep on a low heat while you cook the spaghetti, following pack instructions. Drain well, divide between pasta bowls or plates, spoon sauce over the top and grate over some cheese. Alternatively, cool the sauce and chill for up to 3 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months. Simply defrost portions overnight at room temperature, then reheat gently to serve.