Description
This Mushroom Ragu is the ultimate vegetarian comfort food—a rich, slow-simmered sauce packed with deep umami flavor and hearty texture. Perfect for a quick dinner idea or an easy recipe to impress, it’s the kind of cozy dish that satisfies like a classic Italian ragu—without any meat. Great for healthy snacks or dinner ideas, this easy dinner pairs beautifully with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.
Ingredients
500g mixed mushrooms (cremini, shiitake, oyster, portobello)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 cup vegetable broth
2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1 bay leaf
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Parmesan cheese, grated (optional, for serving)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add onion, carrot, and celery, and sauté until softened and starting to brown. Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
2. Stir in chopped mushrooms and cook until moisture evaporates and mushrooms begin to brown.
3. Add tomato paste and stir for a minute to deepen the flavor. Pour in red wine and deglaze the pan.
4. Once the wine reduces slightly, add vegetable broth, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
5. Let the ragu simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes until thick and rich. Adjust seasoning to taste.
6. Remove the bay leaf and herb stems. Serve over pasta or polenta. Top with parmesan if desired.
Notes
Use a mix of mushrooms for the best depth of flavor.
To make it vegan, skip the parmesan or use a dairy-free version.
This ragu freezes well—double the batch and save some for later!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
Keywords: mushroom ragu, vegetarian dinner, meatless pasta, easy recipe, comfort food