Vegetarian Ragout

 Vegetarian Ragout

The recipe for vegetarian meat sauce that we propose here is a very simple alternative to the classic meat sauce. Carrots, shallots, celery and tomatoes for a tasty vegetable sauce, very easy to make and suitable for the most traditional pasta dish as well as for other more elaborate recipes.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 shallots
• 3 carrots
• 3 celery stalks
• 90 g of tomato paste
• a few bay leaves
• rosemary
• cloves
• juniper berries
• salt
• pepper
• extra virgin olive oil

Shallots, carrots, diced celery and tomato paste are the ingredients of our simple vegetarian ragout, a tasty and perfect alternative recipe to the classic meat sauce. It is proposed in line with the healthiest and most correct dietary indications that recommend alternating (as often as possible) vegetable products with those of animal origin.

This vegetable ragout is excellent in this way, to season the most classic of pasta dishes, but lends itself to become the precious ingredient of many other preparations such as vegetarian or vegan lasagna. Prepare it and let it rest for some hours before using it, it will be even more tasty.

Ragout of lentils and Ragout of soybean and sunflower seeds are also two very good and tasty proposals if you want to prepare a vegetarian sauce for your first courses.

Preparing this vegetarian ragout is simple. First, cut the vegetables into cubes and obtain about 90 g of tomato paste. Then devote yourself to sautéing: pour a few tablespoons of oil in a saucepan and add the vegetables. Stir and cook over low heat for about 15-20 minutes. Add some water if you notice that it is too dry. 

At this point, add the concentrate, stir and pour in water until the vegetables are completely covered: they should cook for at least 2 hours. As the water is absorbed, add more water. Not too much, because it should not have the consistency of a broth. After an hour and a half, add the aromas: juniper, cloves, bay leaves and rosemary and season with salt. Let it cook for another 30 minutes. 

At this point the vegetarian ragout is ready and can be used as a condiment for an excellent pasta.