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    Home » All Recipes » Dinner

    Vegan Bolognese Sauce

    May 21, 2019 By Melissa Huggins / 155 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    two photos of vegan bolognese for pinning purposes.

    Rich, bold and savory, this Vegan Bolognese is reminiscent of the Italian classic we all love. The filling combines mushrooms, ground walnuts, grated carrots, and onions for a meaty mince that is hearty and satisfying!

    White plate topped with pasta and vegan bolognese sauce. Vegan parmesan on the side.

    I love to veganize meat-based classics, especially when they taste just as good as the original. A few months ago, I created this Vegan Shepherd's Pie that I adapted from Gordon Ramsay's recipe. It was downright delicious!

    Well, his Bolognese Recipe has a very similar base and method, so I decided to veganize that too. I've made Vegan Bolognese before but it was never as good as this one. You guys are going to love it!

    I replaced the ground meat with finely chopped mushrooms and ground walnuts and used the rest of his recipe as a guide. His version calls for grated onions and carrots which broke down and added to the texture of the vegan mince.

    HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

    (full ingredient amounts in recipe card below)

    • Preferred Cooking Oil
    • Mushrooms
    • Onion
    • Carrots
    • Garlic
    • Tomato Paste
    • Tamari
    • Red Wine
    • Crushed Tomatoes
    • Vegetable Broth
    • Walnuts
    • Nutritional Yeast
    • Italian Seasoning, Bay Leaf, Salt & Pepper

    HOW TO MAKE VEGAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE

    4 process photos of sautéing mushrooms, carrots, onions and garlic in a large pan.

    • Heat a Large Pan (with high sides) over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the oil and wait until it's shimmering. Add mushrooms and sauté until they have released their moisture, reduced in size and are slightly browned. The pan should be mostly dry (see photo #2 above).
    • Now, reduce heat to medium and add onions, carrots, and garlic. Sauté for a few minutes until cooked down (see photo #4 above).

    Four process photos of adding the tomato paste, red wine, tomatoes, and walnuts and cooking until thickened.

    • Make a small open space in the pan to add the tomato paste and make sure it's touching the surface. Cook for 30 seconds before combining. Add tamari and Italian seasoning and cook until the herbs are fragrant about 30-60 seconds.
    • Turn up the heat to medium-high and pour in the red wine. Cook for 2-3 minutes until it's almost completely reduced. Turn the heat back to medium.
    • Add the tomatoes, broth, walnuts, nutritional yeast, and bay leaf. Combine and bring to a simmer then reduce to a low simmer.
    • Cook until sauce thickens and flavor deepens for about 10-15 minutes (longer for deeper flavor). Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and let the sauce sit a few minutes to thicken.

    Now you can top it on freshly-cooked pasta then sprinkle it with fresh basil and Vegan Parmesan Cheese. It pairs nicely with a medium-bodied red wine, too!

    You can also use this Bolognese Sauce for Vegan Lasagna. It's heavenly!

    Close up view of vegan bolognese on top of spaghetti on a white plate with fork on the side.

    TIPS FOR THE PERFECT VEGAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE:

    The carrots need to be finely grated to soften and add to the texture of the ground "meat" texture, so don't use matchstick carrots.

    Nutritional yeast helps to deepen the flavor and thicken the sauce. If you don't have it, you can omit it. Cook longer if the sauce needs to thicken more.

    If you want extra richness, you can add a few tablespoons of full-fat canned coconut milk or a pat of vegan butter the last 5 minutes of cooking.

    This sauce should be thick and saucy (not dry). Cooking it down should thicken it beautifully. However, if you want a thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry the last 5 minutes of cooking. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and then add to the sauce.

    Feel free to add more seasoning to taste. I like to add ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper for a little heat.

    LOVE PASTA? HERE ARE MORE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

    • Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
    • Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
    • Vegan Mac n' Cheese

    I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

    If you make this recipe, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.

    Recipe

    white plate topped with pasta and vegan bolognese sauce.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    5 from 111 votes

    Vegan Bolognese Sauce

    Rich, bold and savory, this Vegan Bolognese is reminiscent of the Italian classic we all love. The filling combines mushrooms, ground walnuts, grated carrots, and onions for a meaty mince that is hearty and satisfying!
    Prep Time20 minutes mins
    Cook Time25 minutes mins
    Total Time45 minutes mins
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American, Italian, Vegan
    Servings: 5 people
    Calories: 332kcal
    Author: Melissa Huggins

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 tablespoons grapeseed oil or preferred oil
    • 16 ounces cremini mushrooms , finely chopped (sub baby bella mushrooms)
    • 1 medium onion , grated
    • 2 medium carrots finely grated (*see note)
    • 4 cloves garlic , minced or crushed
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoons gluten-free tamari , low sodium (sub soy sauce)
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • ½ cup red wine
    • 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
    • 1 cup vegetable broth , low sodium
    • 1 cup walnuts , ground into a course meal or chopped finely (measured whole)
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast * Optional (see note)
    • 1 bay leaf
    • Salt and fresh-cracked pepper , to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Heat a Large Pan (with high sides) over medium-high heat. Add oil and wait until it's hot and shimmering. Now add mushrooms and sauté until they have released their moisture, reduced in size and are slightly browned. The pan should be mostly dry (about 7-8 minutes).
    • Reduce heat to medium and add onions, carrots, and garlic. Sauté until cooked down about 3-4 minutes.
    • Make a small open space in the pan to add the tomato paste (make sure it's touching the surface of the pan). Cook for 30 seconds and then stir into the veggies.
    • Add tamari and Italian seasoning. Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
    • Turn up the heat to medium-high and pour in the red wine. Cook until almost completely reduced, about 2-3 minutes. Turn heat back to medium.
    • Add the tomatoes, broth, walnuts, nutritional yeast bay leaf. Bring to a simmer then reduce to a low simmer. Cook until sauce thickens and flavor deepens, about 10-15 minutes (longer for deeper flavor). Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove bay leaf and remove from heat. Let the sauce sit a few minutes to thicken. Top over freshly-cooked pasta if desired.

    Notes

    CARROTS: The carrots need to be finely grated to soften and add to the texture of the ground "meat" texture, so don't use matchstick carrots.
    NUTRITIONAL YEAST: It helps to deepen the flavor and thicken the sauce. If you don't have it, you can omit it. Cook longer if needed to thicken. 
    WINE: Not all wine is vegan, but there are many varieties out there. Here is a helpful Guide to help you find the right one for you. 
    * This sauce has a rich and bold flavor, but if you want extra richness, you can add a few tablespoons of full-fat canned coconut milk or a pat of butter the last 5 minutes of cooking. 
    * The consistency of this sauce should be thick, but also saucy (not dry). Cooking it down should thicken it beautifully. However, if you want a thicker sauce, you can add a cornstarch slurry the last 5 minutes of cooking. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and then add to the sauce. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 304mg | Potassium: 1296mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 4505IU | Vitamin C: 19.8mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 4.2mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @veganhuggs and mention #veganhuggs!

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    About Melissa

    I’m Melissa Huggins – the creator of Vegan Huggs. I started this blog to share delicious vegan recipes that everyone will love. Yep, that includes carnivores, too! Read more...

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    Comments

      5 from 111 votes (50 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jenny

      June 19, 2025 at 5:07 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this for the first time tonight and it was fantastic. I opted for red wine without the broth, and it was delicious. I also skipped the bay leaf. As a 20 year chef, I'm still not convinced they actually add anything other than an annoyance when you bite into one.

      I'm going to play around with it a bit to tailor it to my specific tastes, but bravo!

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        July 01, 2025 at 1:42 pm

        Hi Jenny, I'm so happy you loved the sauce. So glad it worked with just the wine and no bay leaf. It is quite annoying if you bite into one. lol! Thanks for sharing feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    2. June

      November 06, 2024 at 11:47 am

      5 stars
      Hi Today I was searching for a vegan Bolognese recipe and in the search engine found your recipe. I did it just now and really like the recipe. I substituted red wine vinegar for the Red wine as I don't drink it. I also added some cooked green lentils as well as the walnuts. It is really delicious and will be a keeper. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        January 07, 2025 at 9:04 am

        Hi June, thank you for sharing your modifications and feedback. I'm so happy this recipe has become a favorite!

        Reply
    3. Lydia

      June 21, 2024 at 3:05 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent!!!! Absolutely delicious! Thick, rich, and flavorful - soooo amazing..I'm glad I made a double batch so i can freeze lots of it.. It's at the top of my list of favorite Whole Food Plant Based meals. Thank you! It's definitely a keeper.

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        August 02, 2024 at 11:50 am

        Hi Lydia, your comment made my day! I'm so happy you loved the sauce. Thank you for trying it and leaving wonderful feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Mariette Page-Green

      April 11, 2024 at 4:42 am

      5 stars
      Delicious!! I have made this at least 3 times

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        April 29, 2024 at 3:24 pm

        I'm so glad you loved it, Mariette! Thank you for sharing feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    5. June

      April 04, 2024 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      A real go to recipe for my husband and me. He loves pasta and as we are vegan,it can get a little difficult to find pasta sauces that taste as good as the meat version . However this sauce hits all the right buttons. Thank you

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        June 01, 2024 at 4:40 pm

        Hi June, this is the best compliment! I'm happy you both love the sauce. Thank you for trying the recipe and sharing feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Sonja

      March 11, 2024 at 12:50 pm

      5 stars
      This was a great hit with the family. Even though we've been eating vegetarian and vegan for a while, the family didn't realise that this Bolognaise wasn't meat of even "fake" mince. Thanks for sharing. I'll be trying some of the other recipes.

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        June 01, 2024 at 3:03 pm

        Hi Sonja, such a wonderful compliment! I'm glad everyone loved it. Thank you for trying the recipe and sharing feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Robin Fischman

      January 12, 2024 at 5:12 pm

      5 stars
      Holy cow, this was super yummy. I didn’t have red wine so I used a couple of dashes of red wine vinegar. My husband and I called this a restaurant quality dish. Thank you, I’m looking forward to making this again.

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        June 01, 2024 at 4:14 pm

        Hi Robin, What a nice compliment! I'm so glad you both loved the recipe! Thank you for trying it and sharing feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    8. AJ

      January 10, 2024 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you, this was really delicious. Being a long time vegan, I had a craving for a bolognese today and stumbled upon this recipe. The texture is way softer and less chewy than real meat or meat substitutes, but the flavour was spot on! Will be making again and recommend to others. Only shame was that I didn't make more spaghetti, then I'd have a third plate! 😉 <3

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        February 22, 2024 at 11:05 am

        So glad you loved it, AJ! Thanks for trying the it and sharing your wonderful feedback. 🙂

        Reply
    9. Teri

      January 08, 2024 at 11:41 am

      5 stars
      This was delicious. Even my husband loved it and he is normally quite meat obsessed. I made a few substitutions for things I didn't have - subbed a tin of lentils for the walnuts, subbed two tbsp cream cheese for nutritional yeast (obvs no longer vegan) and used red wine vinegar instead of red wine. This is a great recipe. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        February 15, 2024 at 1:39 pm

        Hi Teri, I'm so happy it was a hit with your family! Thank you for trying it and sharing your modifications! 🙂

        Reply
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