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Vegan Tofu Bolognese. I imagine this is about as far as you can get from the recipe that gave the original dish its name.

Although we thought we’d pissed off the Italians with our quick risotto, this one is taking things a step further.

We swap the meat for tofu, the two hours for thirty minutes (or less) and the egg based pasta for a vegan variety. The awesome taste and enjoyment stay the same.

The good news is that we’re calling this bolognese. In Bologna they’d never even suspect this tofu bolognese had anything to do with the traditional Ragu alla Bolognese.

Instead of strips of old meat like beef that needing softening or pork that had to be used up, we use tofu for an easy but tasty replacement that can be cut into chunks (like our pictures) or crumbled into tiny pieces to give that modern ‘minced effect’ – which also means it’s a lot quicker.

There are no carrots or wine (although I wouldn’t stop you throwing some in) and the pasta doesn’t contain any animal products – certainly, none are necessary.

But you know what? It all works. It all combines to make a hell of a tasty meal, so bollocks to any chefs who say we can’t make it how we want.

Health Benefits – Vegan Tofu Bolognese

Let’s make the much-maligned tofu the star of the health section and put him right in the spotlight. Here’s the crucial question: Is tofu (aka soy) good or bad for you?

After a good amount of research I can honestly say there is no other food article out there causing as much discussion as this one.

There are lovers and there are haters, and interesting arguments from both sides.

In a nutshell, science says that after 5000+ studies soy can replace meat as a protein and it is fairly certain it may reduce cholesterol and it may reduce blood pressure (thanks bon appetit for this comprehensive article). So far so good.

But why do so many people think that soy is the devil?

There are three main reasons:

1. Infertility in men: there is a rumour circulating that men will have a lower sperm quality when consuming too much tasty tofu.

The scientific evidence is inconclusive though, some studies say it may reduce sperm quality, others say they don’t find any evidence.

Tricky stuff, I’d say, and as long as this matter is not resolved then it’s probably best to only eat soy occasionally.

2. NON fermented soy products: they contain phytic acids, which according to some studies reduces your ability to absorb certain nutrients like iron (1).

Neither tofu nor soy milk is fermented. So, ideally you’d want to eat mostly fermented soy products like natto, miso and tempeh.

3. GMO soy products: most studies conclude that it’s not certain that genetically modified soy is causing health problems (2).

But then that means it IS possible that it’s unhealthy. So, make sure you only buy non-GMO-tofu and the like, just to be on the safe side.

So there you have it. Our conclusion after looking into it is this: chill people. If you eat only GMO free, mostly fermented soy products in reasonable amounts, everything’s fine.

As usual, moderation is key. And as to the recipe: I’m sure that this tasty AF Vegan Tofu Bolognese is healthier than any “original” Bolognese.

But that’s not what the Italians had in mind anyway, was it? 😉