Pasta Carbonnade


Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-free

Meal Type
Dinner
Author
Jessica Lord
Serves
4
Preparation Time
5 minutes
Cooking Time
30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups TVP Mince/ Green Lentils/ Quorn or combination
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1 free range egg (omit if vegan)
  • 1/2 tsp allspice, ground
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 packet instant french onion soup mix (or you can make your own, if you're a crazy person... i am.)
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup vegan sour cream
  • 1 - 2 x 375mL bottles of regular beer
  • 1 x 400g can whole champinions, quartered

Instructions

  1. Soak the lentil if using for at least 4 hours or overnight, alternatively run some water through some TVP Mince or use Quorn instead.
  2. Saute the onion in a little water until browned, add lentils or other mince substitute, spices, soup mix and brown sugar. Stir to combine.
  3. Add Beer, Champinions and Oats, Stir well to combine, reduce heat to low and simmer.
  4. Leave sauce to thicken slowly and boil pasta as per packet directions.
  5. If using egg, add beaten egg to mixture (or omit and leave vegan). Stir well to combine and remove from heat.
  6. Stir through vegan sour cream and serve over pasta of choice.

Notes

  • Originally this recipe involved beef mince, assembling meatballs, and serving over buttered pasta. Numerous modifications over the years generated a quick, easy and very tasty vegan alternative with equal culinary satisfaction.

  • The egg is from the original meatball recipe, I left it in because my B12 is... pathetic, and my chickens abandon their eggs, and snakes are better 'discouraged' in residential Australia...

  • Use TVP or a store bought vegan mince like 'Quorn' for a quick fix. Use Green Lentils for premeditated nutritional consideration.

  • Add a teaspoon of plant-based beef stock powder to vegan mince and or tvp for picky carnivores who feel better if you don't tell them its vegan.

  • Green Lentils will not pretend to be meat, and can be a little 'nutty' if under-cooked.

  • Even if you make your own french onion soup mix you can't make this dish gluten free because gluten free beer tastes like bad fruit cider... (2011) - Otherwise, any beer will do, and rice pasta alleviates carbohydrate guilt... somewhat.