For the uninitiated, Bolognese sauce is a traditional meat sauce with a rich history. It’s one of the most popular sauces in Italy.
It is typically a creamy white sauce, with a subtle hint of orange, that is made with beef, pork, and veal. The final product is tomato based, and has a strong bolognese or ragù taste.
If you’re looking for a simple way to upgrade your everyday spaghetti and meatballs, Bolognese sauce is a good place to start.
More importantly, it’s a great way to add more vegetables into your diet. It’s also a great way to get more vegetables into your kids as they’ll likely beg for more vegetables once they taste how good they taste.
So, without further ado, here are our top picks for the best carrot substitutes for bolognese sauce.
Zucchini
This is a no-brainer as a substitute for the pasta in Bolognese. It’s a great replacement as it’s easy to prepare, can be eaten alone or paired with other dishes, and provides a healthy dose of nutrients.
One of the best things about zucchini is how versatile it is. It can be used in soups, stews, stir-fries, or even as a replacement for ricotta cheese in lasagna. It can be eaten raw, roasted, or added to a risotto. It can be used as a pizza crust or added to a frittata. The possibilities are endless!
Sweet Potato
Just like zucchini, sweet potato is another vegetable that can be used in a variety of ways. It can be eaten raw as a salad, roasted, added to a souffle, or even used to make sweet potato fries.
It can also be used as a substitute for pasta in stews, soups, and casseroles. It provides a creamy texture that works well with bolognese. It can be eaten plain, or added to a dip or salad.
Sweet potato is also a good source of vitamin A, which helps to promote healthy skin, immune function, and healthy vision.
Butternut Squash or Zucchini
This is another vegetable that can be eaten raw, or added to soups and stews. But, it can also be used as a pasta replacement. It has a similar taste and texture to pasta, and can be eaten alone or paired with other ingredients.
It can also be added to lasagnas, pizza, or even pasta bakes.
Frozen Veggies
If you don’t have time to prepare vegetables, or you’re short on time, frozen vegetables are a good option.
They can be added to soups, stews, casseroles, or used as a pizza topping.
You can even add vegetables to omelets and other dishes. Just be sure to thaw the vegetables before adding them to the recipe.
Frozen vegetables are good for you because they don’t require any cooking. They’re also good for your budget as they don’t require any gas or electricity to prepare.
Parsnip
Parsnip is a root vegetable that has a similar taste and texture to carrots. It can be eaten raw, roasted, or cooked. It can also be used as a pizza topping, in place of a vegetable, or added to soups and casseroles.
Turnip
Turnip is similar to a parsnip in appearance, and can be eaten raw, or added to soups, stews, and casseroles.
It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals, and is especially high in vitamin C.
Mushroom
Mushroom is a meat substitute that can be eaten alone, added to soups, stews, casseroles, or even salads.
Beans
Beans can be eaten alone, added to soups, stews, casseroles, or even salads. They provide a good amount of protein, fiber, and other nutrients.
Butternut Squash or Zucchini
Butternut squash or zucchini can be eaten raw, or added to soups, stews, casseroles, or even salads. It has a similar taste and texture to pasta, and can be eaten alone or paired with other ingredients.
It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals, and is especially high in vitamin C.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many options when it comes to choosing the right vegetable for your bolognese sauce. Some are better than others depending on your personal tastes, but all are edible and nutritious.
The best part is that most of these vegetables can be found at your local grocery store. You may even have some of them growing in your backyard!
If you’re feeling creative, you can even try growing your own vegetables at home. It’s a great way to get kids involved in the process of food prep, and turn them onto healthy eating.