Friday, 8 November 2013

Vegetarian Bolognese


As a child Spaghetti Bolognese used to be one of my favourite meals - either at home or to order on the rare occasion all eight of us went out for dinner. I remember the way the sauce would end up on my face as I happily slurped up the spaghetti. I still find comfort in enjoying a nice bowl of spaghetti bolognese. Sure, I still get sauce on my face (some things never change!) but the only thing that is different is that I now prefer my 'Spag Bol' meat free. Purists will scoff at the concept of a meat free bolognese, but what the heck - I will call it a bolognese nonetheless!

I cook this often as it is child friendly and my little man loves it; plus, it freezes very well so is a good healthy emergency meal. The lentils are the protein here, but to bump up the protein even more serve with fresh pasta. I especially love this bolognese with fresh, silky, homemade spelt pasta if I have the time to make it.

If you are keen to see a post on how to make fresh spelt pasta, please let me know by leaving a comment below! For now though, here is the recipe :)

Vegetarian Bolognese
An original Diary of a Ladybird recipe

Ingredients
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery stick, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tsp cumin powder
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
1 x 400g can brown lentils, drained and rinsed
2 handfuls baby spinach, roughly chopped
1/2 teaspoon vegetable stock powder
Salt and pepper
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar, or a natural sweetener such as xylitol* or powdered stevia*
* available at most health food stores

Method
1. Heat oil in a medium size saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery and bay leaf and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes or until softened.
2. Stir in the garlic and cumin and cook for a minute before adding the tomato paste, tomatoes, vegetable stock powder and half a cup of water. Season with a little black pepper and salt. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.
3. Stir in the lentils and cook for another 5 minutes, and then remove from the heat and stir through baby spinach.
4. Add sweetener to taste (basically to take the edge of the tomato tang) and add more salt if desired. Serve with your choice of pasta and some freshly grated parmesan.

Ciao for now, readers!

Anna x

4 comments:

  1. Looks delicious !! Thank you for sharing !!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Would love to learn how to make spelt pasta - please share!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Suggest good information in this message, click here.
    num-lock
    canjazz.org

    ReplyDelete
  4. How can I recover my TurboTax account?

    Amongst the various tax-calculating software, TurboTax has acquired an exclusive position. But it is a fact too that the users frequently encounter technical pitfalls whenever they try to proceed with account recovery request TurboTax. Now, first of all, you must go to the account recovery page and then simply enter one of the following phone numbers, which is suggested, email address, and user ID. You can follow the instructions, and then you can customize them based on the information that you provide, whether you do recognize the device. You can follow and apply the steps to resolve and troubleshoot the issues without any fuss.

    How can I install TurboTax on Mac?

    TurboTax is one of the amazing tax calculating software that has enhancing features, amazing updates, and different versions. However, it is a fact that the users keep on encountering technical problems, and so they put up questions like how to install TurboTax on Mac without CD Drive. Now, if you are stuck and have been witnessing this issue, then surely you must go to installturbotax.com and select create an account if you don't already have one. If you have it, then simply sign in. Now, instantly enter your license code in the pop-up window and then select the operating system, and then you must select get the download. You can now instantly download your software and then install it.


    How to downgrade to a lesser TurboTax Product?

    As there are different versions of TurboTax, it has outstanding features, amazing services, and alluring updates, yet the users keep on encountering technical problems. Users do put up questions like how to downgrade from TurboTax deluxe or lesser product. To proceed, you must follow and apply the steps. First of all, you must sign in and then select a topic to continue your return on the next screen from the left side menu. Then select tax tools and then clear and start over, and then yes in the pop-up to confirm. Apply the steps to resolve the issues.

    How do you check your refund status on TurboTax?

    To proceed with TurboTax card login or ways to check your refund status on TurboTax, read below the details. To do it, you are supposed to follow and apply the steps. First of all, you must open the file menu; you should check the e-file status and then go to the file tab and then select the check e-file status header. You might receive this message; this could be because your e-filed return was accepted or received by IRS less than 24 hours ago. Now, you must wait for at least 24 hours after acceptance before using WMR. And then your return could be pending. By applying the steps, you can simply find out the ways to do it.

    How can I recover my TurboTax login?

    There is a long list of tax-calculating software, but the one that has grabbed everyone's attention is TurboTax. With astonishing and striking features, it has created a huge buzz. Yet the users frequently encounter technical snags like TurboTax login not working or issues while recovering the TurboTax login. In case you are stuck, too, then going through the steps and instructions would be immensely beneficial. To recover, you must go to your account recovery page and then enter either your phone number or email address. You can follow and apply the steps to resolve the issues.

    ReplyDelete