Mushroom Bolognese Recipe

By
Hannah Selinger
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Hannah Selinger
Hannah Selinger is a food, wine, travel, and lifestyle writer as well as a Certified Sommelier based in East Hampton, New York.
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Updated on 05/22/22
Mushroom bolognese recipe

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 1 pan
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
541 Calories
27g Fat
53g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 541
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 8g 41%
Cholesterol 29mg 10%
Sodium 398mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 53g 19%
Dietary Fiber 6g 20%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 5mg 23%
Calcium 237mg 18%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 878mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This dish—while a capable substitute for classic Bolognese—is not just for vegetarians. In fact, it’s an excellent stand-in for anyone interested in eating a little less meat without sacrificing flavor. Roasting brings out the true brown flavors of these fungi. Will you miss the meat? Not even a little.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound cremini mushrooms, sliced

  • 1/2 pound wild mushroom mix

  • 1/2 pound white button mushrooms, sliced

  • 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 medium to large carrot, roughly chopped

  • 1 medium white onion, roughly chopped

  • 1 clove garlic, sliced

  • 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 teaspoon minced rosemary

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1 cup dry red wine

  • 1 cup whole milk

  • 1 whole nutmeg

  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 1/2 pounds rigatoni, cooked al dente

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat oven to 450 F.

    Ingredients for mushroom bolognese
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Toss mushrooms with 3 tablespoons of the extra-virgin olive oil until thoroughly coated. Spread out evenly in one layer on a baking tray (if mushrooms are too bulky, use two trays or do this in batches). Cook for 20 minutes, shaking the pan throughout cooking so that all sides are adequately browned. Season with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Set aside.

    Toss mushrooms on baking tray
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. As the mushrooms are roasting, pulse together the carrot, onion, garlic, and celery in a food processor until finely chopped. Remove and set aside.

  4. Once the mushrooms have cooled slightly, add them to the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Set aside.

    Mushrooms in food processor
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Using a large, heavy-bottomed pan or Dutch oven, heat the remaining olive oil. Add the celery-carrot-onion mixture to the pot. Season with salt and pepper and cook over medium heat until very soft and translucent, about 15 minutes.

    Use heavy dutch oven
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Add the cooked, chopped mushrooms to the pan. Stir to combine.

    Add chopped mushrooms to pan
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Add the tomato paste, rosemary, and oregano. Stir vigorously for 1 to 2 minutes, until the tomato paste has shed its bright red color and has lost its uncooked taste.

    Add tomato paste
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Add the red wine. Stir to deglaze the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the wine has reduced in volume by one quarter. Reduce heat to low.

    Add red wine
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Slowly add the milk. While stirring, making sure to get the bottom of the pan as you add in the milk. Grate in about a quarter of the whole nutmeg. Simmer the sauce over low heat stirring regularly, until the milk is fully absorbed.

    Add milk
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. When the milk is absorbed, but the sauce is still slightly loose, turn off the heat. Stir in the grated cheese and butter.

    Turn off heat
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  11. Transfer some of the sauce to a separate bowl that is large enough for the pasta and coat the pasta with the sauce until it is completely covered. Serve hot, with extra sauce on top, and with extra grated Parmesan, if desired.

    Serve mushroom bolognese
    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Tip

  • Avoid the urge to salt your mushrooms before roasting. Mushrooms retain a lot of moisture, which salt will cause them to drop, resulting in limp, steamed, and not-at-all-brown mushrooms.

Recipe Variation

  • Shiitake mushrooms make a good substitute for the wild mushroom mix.