Chinese-Style Bolognese (Vegan Pasta Recipe)

This Chinese-Style Bolognese is satisfyingly saucy, rich, and perfectly umami too. This recipe also uses pantry-friendly ingredients with some that you can opt not to use. Hope you enjoy this one! Check ou the video below for more tasty pasta ideas!

📝 Ingredients

• 200 g dry spaghetti (or other pasta of choice)
• 1 cup rehydrated TVP (textured vegetable protein, see notes for substitutes)
• 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 small onion (diced)
• Chopped scallion (plus more for garnishing (optional))
• 1 small red bell pepper (diced (optional))
• Pinch salt (to taste)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup vegetable broth (or water)
• 1 1/2 tbsp hoisin sauce (see notes for sub)
• 3 tbsp sugar (adjust according to desired sweetness (I used coconut sugar))
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 2 tsp sriracha (or other chili sauce, adjust according to desired spice (optional), or other hot sauce)
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp corn starch
• 2 tbsp room temp. water
• Sesame seeds (for topping)
• Scallions (for topping)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Mix all the sauce ingredients in a bowl. Feel free to adjust seasoning depending on desired taste. Set aside.
2. 2ln a separate bowl, mix together the corn starch and water for the slurry. Set aside.
3. 3Heat a pot with water. Cook the pasta until chewy or al dente.
4. 4While pasta is cooking, heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in 2 tbsp sesame oil. Once hot, sauté the onion and scallions (if using). Add in the garlic and bell peppers (if using) then sauté until tender. Add in the TVP/lentils/mushrooms/plant-based ground then sauté for 2-3 minutes.
5. 5Pour in the sauce and leave to simmer over medium heat.
6. 6Once the sauce boils, give the cornstarch slurry a good mix again. Add in the cornstarch slurry into the sauce. Continuously mix until the sauce starts to thicken.
7. 7Add in the cooked spaghetti and cook until it has absorbed some of the sauce. Season with a pinch of salt or more hoisin sauce to taste, if you'd like. Mix then turn off heat.
8. 8Top with some more chopped scallion and sesame seeds, if desired. Enjoy while hot!