Bolognese is a classic, slow-cooked Italian pasta sauce traditionally finished with heavy cream. This recipe swaps in pine nuts for the cream, making it a Paleo and Vegan powerhouse recipe. When I married my Italian sweetheart, there were several Italian pasta sauces I attempted to ‘health -hack.’ This Bolognese is the product of about 5 years of experimentation, but let me tell you, it was worth it! Every taste tester loves this variation of the classic pasta, including my sweetheart. I recommend pairing it with spiralized sweet potato noodles, although zucchini noodles or another pasta will taste lovely as well.
*Special Equipment: You will need a spiralizer if you choose to make vegetable noodles
Paleo Bolognese
Yield: 4-6 servings
For the sauce:
2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 can of crushed fire roasted tomatoes, I like Muir Glen
1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon oregano
To add to sauce:
(optional) 1 pound cooked ground beef or bison
4-8 zucchini or 3-5 medium or large white sweet potatoes
Pour oil into cast iron pot over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Saute until onions are golden brown and carrots are softened. Add apple cider vinegar to the pot. Stir well. Add tomatoes and cook 10-15 minutes stirring constantly.
Add salt and fennel seeds. Place all contents in blender with pine nuts. Blend on high until smooth. Add olive oil if needed. Stir in oregano.
Add cooked ground beef or bison.
To prepare zucchini or sweet potato noodles:
Wash vegetables. Cut a flat edge on each end of zucchini or sweet potato. Place vegetable in spiralizer and begin to crank. When you are finished spiralizing all vegetables, pour 1-2 tablespoons of oil in the pot. Turn on medium to high heat. Add spiraled vegetables and gently stir until cooked. Zucchini takes about 7 minutes and sweet potato noodles take about 10-12 minutes.
Enjoy!
Comments