Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese

I’ve made a lot of different vegan bolognese recipes over the years, but this is the one I keep coming back to. It’s a bit of a hybrid, inspired by all the versions I’ve tried—bringing together the best parts of each one. The crunch of the walnuts adds texture, while the curry powder and soy sauce give it a deep, rich flavour that makes it really stand out. Creamy, hearty, and comforting—it hits all the right spots.

• Ingredients

  
  

• 1 cup textured vegetable protein (TVP)

• 1 decent handful of walnuts, roughly chopped

• 1 ½ cups boiling water

• 2 tbsp tahini

• 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

• 2 tbsp tomato sauce (ketchup)

• 150g hummus

• 1 bottle passata (about 700ml)

• 3 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for frying)

• 1 onion, finely diced

• 2–3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tbsp parsley (fresh or dried)

• 1 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp curry powder

• 1/2 tbsp beef-style stock powder (vegan)

• 1 tbsp gravy powder (vegan)

• 1 tbsp Soy sauce

• Salt, to taste

Instructions

• Prepare the TVP mixture:In a bowl, combine boiling water with the parsley, cumin, paprika, curry powder, stock powder, soy sauce, and gravy powder. Stir well to dissolve. Add the textured vegetable protein and walnuts to this spiced water mixture. Let it sit and absorb for about 5–10 minutes.

  
  

• Cook the aromatics: In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and garlic, and sauté until softened and fragrant.

  
  

• Add the TVP mixture: Once the onions are soft, add the soaked TVP and walnut mixture to the pan. Let it simmer for a few minutes, then drizzle in a bit more olive oil and allow the mixture to fry slightly until it begins to brown and develop flavour.

  
  

• Add sauces and hummus: Stir in the tahini, sweet chilli sauce, tomato sauce, and hummus. Mix well until everything is incorporated and creamy.

  
  

• Add the passata: Pour in the bottle of passata and stir through. Let the sauce simmer for about 15–20 minutes, or until it thickens to your desired consistency. Add salt to taste.

  
  

• Serve: Serve bolognese on cooked spaghetti or your favourite pasta, and enjoy!