Vegetarian Ground Meat with Tomato Sauce

Elevate your pasta night with this hearty and flavorful Vegetarian Ground Meat with Tomato Sauce! Bursting with the wholesome goodness of vibrant vegetables and savory plant-based ground meat, this recipe offers a delicious and satisfying alternative to traditional meat-based sauces. Aromatic onions, garlic, carrots, and celery form the base, while canned crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian herbs like oregano and basil create a rich and perfectly seasoned sauce. Simmered to perfection in just 30 minutes, this versatile dish pairs beautifully with pasta, zucchini noodles, or as a filling for stuffed vegetables. Garnished with fresh parsley and optional Parmesan cheese, it’s an ideal choice for quick weeknight dinners or meal prepping. Packed with flavor and nutrients, this plant-based tomato sauce will become your new go-to for comfort food cravings!

Nutriscore Rating: 82/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 pieces garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 400 grams vegetarian ground meat (soy or plant-based)
• 800 grams canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 0 grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the finely chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped carrot, and chopped celery to the skillet.

Step 3

Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 4

Add the vegetarian ground meat to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook until it is heated through, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in the canned crushed tomatoes and tomato paste, ensuring everything is well combined.

Step 6

Add the dried oregano, dried basil, salt, ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to the mixture. Stir well.

Step 7

Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the skillet and let it simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 8

Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Step 9

Remove from heat and stir in the fresh parsley.

Step 10

Serve the tomato sauce over your choice of pasta, or use it as a filling for other dishes. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1592.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1150.7

Total Fat 49.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 7.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 4mg	0%
Sodium 4822.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 111.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 32.2g	0%
Total Sugars 51.5g
Protein 88.0g	0%

Vitamin D 2IU	0%
Calcium 592.0mg	0%
Iron 20.6mg	0%
Potassium 4840.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 35.8%

Protein: 28.3%

Carbs: 35.9%