Pappardelle with Vegetable "Bolognese"
Peer reviewed by UK recipe editorsAuthored by UK recipe editorsOriginally published 17 Jan 2026
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This hearty pappardelle with vegetable bolognese is a sophisticated vegetarian take on a classic Italian comfort food. By finely chopping carrots, celery, and peppers and combining them with umami-rich dried porcini mushrooms, you create a sauce with incredible depth and a satisfying, chunky texture. The red wine and rosemary add a wonderful aromatic quality that makes this dish feel special enough for a weekend dinner while remaining simple enough for a midweek treat.
As a nutritious vegetarian main course, this recipe relies on pantry staples and fresh produce to deliver a meal that is high in flavour and lower in fat than traditional meat-based sauces. The wide ribbons of pappardelle are the perfect vehicle for catching the savoury sauce, though you can easily swap them for tagliatelle or fettuccine if preferred. Serve with a generous dusting of Parmigiano-Reggiano and a crisp green salad for a complete Mediterranean-style feast.
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Ingredients for Pappardelle with Vegetable "Bolognese"
30g (28 g) dried porcini mushrooms (240ml )
240ml boiling-hot water
2 medium carrots, quartered lengthwise, then cut into 1-inch pieces
2 celery ribs, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 medium shallots, quartered lengthwise
1 medium red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
45ml olive oil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
3/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoons black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
120ml dry red wine
350g dried pappardelle
30g finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (120ml ) plus additional for serving
How to make Pappardelle with Vegetable "Bolognese"
Soak mushrooms in boiling-hot water 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, pulse carrots, celery, shallots, and pepper together in a food processor until chopped.
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add chopped vegetables, rosemary, salt, and pepper and sauté, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden brown and tender, about 12 minutes.
Lift mushrooms out of soaking liquid, squeeze excess liquid back into bowl (reserve liquid), and rinse mushrooms well to remove any grit. Finely chop mushrooms, then add to vegetables in skillet along with tomato paste. Cook over moderate heat, stirring, 1 minute. Add wine and boil until wine is reduced by about half, about 2 minutes.
While sauce is cooking, cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 240ml pasta-cooking water in a heatproof measuring cup, then drain pasta in a colander.
Add reserved mushroom-soaking liquid to sauce and bring to a simmer. Add pasta and 120ml reserved cooking water to sauce, tossing to coat (thin sauce with additional cooking water if necessary). Stir in cheese and serve immediately.
Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
17 Jan 2026 | Originally published
Authored by:
UK recipe editors
Peer reviewed by
UK recipe editors

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