Filipino Style Sweet Spaghetti (Vegan)

This is a veganised version of my all-time favourite Filipino-Style Sweet Spaghetti. This Filipino-Style Sweet Spaghetti is our adaptation of Italian Bolognese or spaghetti with meat sauce. It has sweet meat sauce packed with ground meat and sliced hot dogs, that’s sweetened with brown sugar and ketchup.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 cup dry TVP (texturised vegetable protein) (, see notes for alternatives)
• 2 tbsp neutral oil
• 1 small onion (diced)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1.5 cups sliced vegan sausage ((see notes))
• 2 cups tomato sauce (, see recipe notes)
• 1-2 tbsp tomato paste (, see recipe notes)
• 1/2 cup ketchup (, I used tomato ketchup (see notes))
• 1/2 cup no beef broth or vegetable stock (, see notes)
• 1/4 cup sugar (plus more if needed (see notes))
• Pinch salt (to taste if needed)
• 14 oz dry spaghetti
• Drizzle neutral oil
• 1 cup vegan cheddar shreds

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1If using TVP: rehydrate the TVP by placing it in a large bowl. Pour over room temperature water and leave it to soak until rehydrated, about 5-10 minutes. You can also use hot or warm water, but I found that room temperate water works perfectly fine.
2. 2Once rehydrated, drain the TVP from water and squeeze out any excess liquid.
3. 3Heat a dutch over or pot over medium heat. Add the oil. Once hot, sauté diced onions until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
4. 4Add in the sliced sausages and TVP. Cook for 2-3 minutes over medium high heat.
5. 5Add in the tomato sauce, tomato paste ketchup, no beef broth/vegetable stock, and sugar (if using). Mix well. Leave to simmer over medium heat. Once it boils, add some salt, to taste, if needed. Leave over medium to also to come to a gentle simmer.
6. 6Meanwhile, prepare a large pot of water and allow it to boil for the spaghetti. Generously salt the water. Leave the spaghetti to cook. I keep my spaghetti and sauce separate so I make sure the spaghetti is cooked since I won’t be cooking this down in the sauce unlike in Italian pastas.
7. 7Once cooked, you can run the spaghetti over water or simply strain the excess water. I transfer the spaghetti into a large bowl and drizzle some oil into the cooked spaghetti. Mix well to coat. This is to ensure the spaghetti doesn’t still together as it sits.
8. 8Taste the 'meat' sauce and season with more sugar, for sweetness, if desired. Filipino spaghetti is traditionally very sweet so don't skimp on the sugar! Turn off the heat.
9. 9--- TO SERVE ---
10. 10You can serve the cooked spaghetti in a large bowl and the sauce in the pot to keep it warm. We get a serving of spaghetti and scoop some sauce to pour over it -- we enjoy our spaghetti like this at home.
11. 11Finish off with some grated vegan cheddar cheese. Mix well to coat the spaghetti in the sauce and add more, if needed. Enjoy!