Fancy Pants Vegan Bolognese

Heat a 12-inch saute pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, and once shimmering, add onions and season with a pinch of salt.

Stir occasionally and cook for 5 minutes. Add a few spoons of water to deglaze the pan. Continue cooking the onions, adding more water every few minutes and stirring frequently to prevent burning, until the onions are softened and nicely browned, 9-10 minutes.

Add the garlic, thyme, and oregano. Stir frequently and cook for 60-90 seconds.

Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes to caramelize, stirring frequently, until darker red in color.

Add the Beyond Beef, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, and pepper to taste. Break up into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook until lightly browned and liquid has evaporated, 6 to 8 minutes.

Pour in the wine and simmer until completely reduced, 1 to 2 minutes.

Pour in the juice from the canned tomatoes; add the tomatoes with your hands, crushing them as you add them to the pot (or crush in a separate bowl). Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened and the flavors have married, about 15 minutes.

Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain.

Drain soaked cashews and add to a high-powered blender or food processor, along with water, lemon juice, salt, and nutritional yeast. Blend until uniformly creamy and smooth, scraping down the sides as you go.

Add ¼ to ½ cup of the cashew cream to the bolognese and gently simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, and adding a bit of water as needed.

Taste for seasonings, adding more salt and pepper to taste. Finish with the balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. Add cooked pasta to the bolognese and toss until well coated in the sauce.

Finish with slivered basil and vegan parmesan.