Bolognese sauce

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) is a National Security Agency plot to make everyone think that veg*ism is blah. Resist with every cell of your being. Tempeh on the other hand is a traditional soya product harking from Indonesia. Grated, it fulfills the role of minced meat with gusto and verve. If the NSA still has control of your mind then I suppose you will be tempted to use TVP in this recipe. It would work however your life will be a little less fulfilling and you will be less likely to be popular with random strangers. Your decision...

Ingredients..

• 1 packet of tempeh – grated
• 1 medium carrot – grated
• 2 sticks celery, finely chopped
• 1 medium onion – finely chopped
• 4 large fresh tomatoes, chopped (or 1 tin of chopped tomatoes if you have to)
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
• 1 small aubergine, cubed; OR equivalent volume of chopped mushrooms; OR both if you’re a gutsy pig
  
• 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons of miso paste
• 1 tablespoons fresh whole pepper corns (don’t substitute dried ones – must be fresh or if you don't have them don't use them)
• 1 ½ cups of red wine; plus a glass for you – You’re Worth It!
• Fresh picked herbs - chopped; parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, 3 bay leaves
• Optional – a small hot, red chilli, chopped

Method...

• Lightly sauté onions in a truly excessive amount of olive oil until clear
• Add garlic, and chillies and sauté for an additional minute; low heat
• Add tempeh and sauté for an additional minute. Be careful it doesn’t stick
• Dissolve tomato and miso pastes in over medium heat with about half a cup of water. Add red wine and chopped tomatoes
• Once tomatoes have released some of their liquid, add all remaining ingredients
• Simmer on low heat for 45 minutes – covered. If it looks a little dry, add more water - you can alway reduce it.
  

Serve with your favourite pasta