Slow Cooker Mushroom Ragu with Vegan Ricotta

This Slow Cooker Mushroom Ragu with Vegan Ricotta combines simple ingredients to create a rich and flavorful vegan sauce with minimal effort. Serve over pasta for an easy weeknight dinner!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 4 30

Total Time 4 40

Servings

Ingredients

1 large onion diced
4 cloves garlic peeled & diced
1 large carrot diced
8-12 oz mushrooms* diced
28 oz can diced tomatoes
6 oz can tomato paste
2 tsp Italian seasoning
2 cups broth**
1 cup red wine
1 bay leaf
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 spring fresh thyme
2 tbsp corn starch
2 tbsp vegan butter
salt & pepper to taste
16 oz dry pasta GF if needed
8 oz vegan ricotta
vegan parmesan, fresh basil for topping

Instructions

Add onion, garlic, carrot, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, broth and red wine to a slow cooker. Stir to combine. Place bay leaf, rosemary and thyme on top and close the lid. Cook on high for 4 hours (or on low for 8 hours).
Combine corn starch and 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl. Whisk together.
Open slow cooker and remove bay leaf, rosemary and thyme with a fork. Add corn starch slurry, replace lid and cook on high for an additional 30 minutes.
Remove lid and using an immersion blender***, blend sauce until desired consistency is reached. Add vegan butter and stir until it is melted. Taste sauce and add salt & pepper as needed.
When ready to eat, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and add pasta. Cook according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
To each plate add pasta, mushroom ragu, 2 tablespoons of vegan ricotta (or more to taste), vegan parmesan and fresh basil. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

*I used crimini mushrooms, but use your favorite or a combination of different mushrooms.

**I use Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base for my broth.

***Don't have an immersion blender? No problem. Add 1/2-3/4 of the sauce to a standing blender and pulse until desired consistency is reached (being sure not to overcrowd the blender). Return sauce to the slow cooker and follow remaining instructions.