Meat Sauce Without the Meat? Even Carnivores Will Take to This Rich, Flavorful Pasta Dinner

A full pound of cremini mushrooms make a hearty pasta sauce.

We promise you'll love this hearty, meatless main. Steve Klise/TNS

We amped up the “meatiness” in this vegetarian pasta sauce by using a full pound of savory cremini mushrooms and a hefty amount of tomato paste.

Rigatoni With Quick Mushroom Bolognese

Serves 4

• 1 pound rigatoni
• 3/4 teaspoon table salt, plus salt for cooking pasta
• 1 pound cremini mushrooms, trimmed and quartered
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped fine
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped fine
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese, plus extra for serving

Bring 4 quarts water to boil in Dutch oven. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot.

Meanwhile, pulse mushrooms in a food processor until finely chopped, about 10 pulses. Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add mushrooms, onion, carrot, and 3/4 teaspoon salt and cook until mushrooms appear dry and begin to stick to the bottom of the skillet, about 14 minutes.