vegitarian spacetti sauce - protein source

getalife9353

I'm going to try making a vegetarian spaghetti sauce. I need a protein source to add to it. I'm thinking some type of bean, but not sure which would be best. Currently would use roma tomatoes, onion, green bell peppers, bella mushrooms. Just need to add a protein source. Any suggestions?

AnnPT77

Mushrooms are a protein source, though an incomplete/smaller one. If I were going to use beans in pasta sauce, I'd probably use black beans or lentils, but that's just a taste preference. Tempeh is another possibility. Yet another would be to use chickpea or lentil pasta, and worry less about the sauce.

I'd add cheese on top, too, but I'm ovo-lacto veg & maybe you aren't.

SarahLascelles1

Lentils work well in bolognaise type sauce

vingogly

Barilla makes a protein enhanced pasta:

https://www.barilla.com/en-us/products/pasta/proteinplus/proteinplus-spaghetti

That takes the pressure off the protein content of the sauce ingredients.

lynn_glenmont

personally, I would go with faux "meatballs" or veggie "crumbles" or veggie Italian-style "sausage." I do lots of dishes with beans in their basic form, but in a pasta sauce, I want something that emulates the familiar texture and flavor. Or just do lots of mushrooms, maybe eggplant, and cheese (I personally like cold cottage cheese added to pasta and tomato-based sauce) -- you say vegetarian, not vegan, but if you don't do dairy, you could add a vegan cheese.

nic_27_grassisgreener

I've added dry "tvp". Lentils would also be good.

ninalemon

I like white beans (great northern beans) with red sauce.

getalife9353

Thanks for the input everyone..... I am not actually vegetarian, I just want to experment a little. I am trying to keep the calories down. I don't eat much beef and I have tried ground turkey in spaghetti sauce before and didn't like it, so thought I would try vegetarian. I guess I will experment with lentils and white or black beans or just increase the mushroom content.

nycoleman5

You could always serve it over protein pastas! Or add vegetarian meatballs (very tasty!).

gems74

Yves has a Veggie Ground Round that works nicely in spaghetti sauce. It has the same texture as ground beef but made of soy. If available where you live.

AnnPT77

Cranky old vegetarian lady opinion: Fake meats are Not Good, mostly.

I'm dimly recalling that @amusedmonkey (a much less cranky person than I ) had an especially good pasta sauce formula, but I've varied the basics thus forgotten the details. Ground-up dried mushrooms for sure, lentils (red, I think), tomatoes, maybe caramelized onions, garlic, herbs? Hearty, satiating, protein-rich, and delicious.

Maybe she will comment.

becgraceevemaggie

I'm not into quorn but they do a lovely fake meat ball that's lovely with anything tomato and pasta. Beans wise I'd go through them all and find your fav.

JoRocka

vingogly wrote: »

Barilla makes a protein enhanced pasta:

https://www.barilla.com/en-us/products/pasta/proteinplus/proteinplus-spaghetti

That takes the pressure off the protein content of the sauce ingredients.

ehhhhh
regular barilla pasta - per serving 200 calories- 7 grams of protein
Protein barilla- per serving 190 calories - 10 grams protein

Let's not get to ahead of ourselves with "protein plus" that's being a little generous.

onward1

nic_27_grassisgreener wrote: »

I've added dry "tvp".

^This.

lemurcat12

If doing a basic bolognese style I'd use tempeh for the texture, probably, although I understand seitan would work well, I just don't cook with it much.

There are tons of traditional recipes involving pasta with white beans, which I also would recommend, as it's a good combination.

I think chickpeas would be nice.

For black beans and lentils I'd probably make a different meal, but that's just me.

Another option is to use something like udon noodles and do a stir fry with tofu.

apullum

I support the lentil option. I've had lentil spaghetti before and really enjoyed it. Don't expect it to taste like meat; approach it as its own new flavor. I also put lentils in my eggplant lasagna and they work beautifully. You can just simmer the lentils in your spaghetti sauce until they're tender.

janejellyroll

Red lentils are amazing in spaghetti sauce. They kind of "melt" into it and just create a delicious proteiny thickness.

Marilyn0924

Chickpeas for the win! Pasta e Ceci, fell in love with this when I was in Rome a couple of years ago.
Recipe http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/pasta-e-ceci-jamie-oliver-366352

marycp1962

I don't worry about the sauce -- Nate's Meatless Meatballs to the rescue

Sp1tfire

lentillsss