Our tagliatelle with mushroom ragu and Swiss chard screams Mediterranean food and is filled with meaty mushrooms, savory tomato paste, luscious olive oil, healthy Swiss chard, and buttery pine nuts. A fabulous pasta night dish!

Close up view of a table setting with a bowl of tagliatelle with mushroom ragu, a glass of red wine and a vase with pink flowers

What is Ragu?

Ragu is an Italian meat sauce that is commonly served with pasta. Ragu is usually a thicker sauce since it uses less tomato sauce than its cousin, the Bolognese sauce. We, of course, made a healthier and vegan version of this traditional sauce using mushrooms instead of meat. Mushrooms give this ragu a meaty texture without the extra saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories. We used baby Bella mushrooms, but you can use your favorite mushroom combo. Wild mushrooms, as well as shiitake, would be delicious in the recipe.

What is the Difference Between Ragu and Ragout?

Ragu is an Italian pasta sauce made with tomatoes, vegetables, and usually ground or minced meat. Our version is Vegan and includes mushrooms instead of meat! Ragout is a French stew that might be served over pasta but might also be served over polenta or couscous. It is equally delicious but completely different. A ragout is slow-cooked and may or may not contain tomatoes, depending on the recipe.

What is the Difference Between Tagliatelle and Fettuccine?

I thought it was a simple question to answer until I started doing some research. Some say that tagliatelle and fettuccine are the exact same thing, but they are called differently depending on what part of Italy they are made from. Others say that tagliatelle is a wider-cut version of fettuccine.

Regardless of the name, for our pasta recipe, we used a wide pasta labeled tagliatelle and topped it with this fabulous mushroom ragu with Swiss chard and pine nuts. You can use whatever pasta you have, even a bean-based high protein pasta if you wish.

Side view of a table setting with a bowl of tagliatelle with mushroom ragu, a glass of red wine and a vase with pink flowers

Ingredients for Mushroom Ragu Recipe

Tagliatelle Pasta. If you can't find vegan tagliatelle, you can use fettuccine or any other flat pasta)
Organic Tomato Paste. This adds intense tomato flavor and sweetness.
Garlic.
Basil. Freshly chopped basil is best.
Baby Bella Mushrooms. You can sub this with a different mushroom if these cannot be found.
Rainbow Swiss Chard. This leafy vegetable, similar to kale, adds a beautiful depth of flavor to the sauce.
Toasted Pine Nuts. Finish off your pasta with a nice crunch.

How to Make Mushroom Ragu

The first step to making an amazing ragu is to boil your pasta to "al dente" and save one cup of the pasta water before you drain the pasta. Al dente means "to the tooth" and implies a tiny bit of firmness or toothiness to the pasta. You don't want it soft and smushy.

While the pasta is cooking, you can sauteeing the other ingredients in a skillet. Once all the ingredients are added to the skillet, you add the reserved pasta water liquid. This forms the sauce. Add the pasta to the sauce and toss it really, really well. Mix in the Swiss chard off the heat, and add the pine nuts as you serve the mushroom ragu pasta. Salt and pepper to taste.

Make Ahead Tips for Mushroom Ragu

You can definitely do a few things to make this dish easier on the night you want to serve it. First, you can rinse, dry, and dice up the mushrooms really small. Place these in a plastic bag in your refrigerator. Second, you can rinse, dry, and chop the Swiss chard. Place this in a plastic bag in your refrigerator.

Finally, you can indeed make the entire sauce without the pasta water ahead of time. Refrigerate or freeze it for up to three months in an airtight container. When ready for the meal, cook your pasta and reserve one cup of pasta water. Partially thaw the ragu in your microwave, and then add it to a skillet with the pasta and water to finish heating through. Your mushroom ragù recipe is ready to serve!

FAQ

Can you make ragu sauce without wine?

Yes. Our ragu sauce is wine-free and tastes amazing! Using the cooking water as the liquid source adds just the right amount of starch and flavor to the rich sauce.

Can you freeze ragu?

Yes. To freeze the ragu sauce by itself, let it cool completely and place it in an airtight container. Freeze and keep for up to three months. To freeze ragu sauce mixed with pasta, separate it into individual serving amounts and freeze for up to three months in an airtight container.

How do I store vegan ragu?

Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days, or freeze it as described above.

What mushrooms should I use for mushroom ragu?

Baby Bella Mushrooms are the best choice. You can use a different type of mushroom if needed, such as white mushrooms, shitake mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, porcini mushrooms, or any fresh mushrooms from your supermarket.

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