Vegan "Beef" Macaroni

Instructions

1. Prepare the marinated TVP soy granules in tomato sauce according to the recipe instructions. This will be our base for the "beef" sauce.
2. First things first, let's prep our veggies. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and grate the carrot. This trio is going to form the flavor base of our sauce.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once it's shimmering, add the diced onion and let it sauté for about 3-4 minutes until it starts to turn translucent.
4. Toss in the minced garlic and grated carrot. Let these cook with the onion for another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Your kitchen should be smelling pretty great right about now!
5. Now, add the tomato paste to the skillet and stir it around for a minute or so. This helps to caramelize the tomato paste and deepen its flavor.
6. It's time for the star of the show – add your prepared marinated TVP soy granules in tomato sauce to the skillet. Give everything a good stir to combine.
7. Sprinkle in the vegetable seasoning, and add the bay leaf, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, and sweet paprika. Stir well to distribute all those lovely herbs and spices evenly.
8. Let this mixture simmer gently for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it starts to look too dry, you can add a splash of water or vegetable broth.
9. While your sauce is simmering away, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Aim for al dente – we want a little bite to it!
10. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it well but reserve about a cup of the pasta cooking water. We might need this to help our sauce cling to the pasta.
11. Add the drained pasta to your skillet with the "beef" sauce. Gently toss everything together, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to help the sauce coat the pasta evenly.
12. Give it a taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
13. Serve your Vegan "Beef" Macaroni hot, perhaps with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast on top for a cheesy flavor, or some fresh herbs if you're feeling fancy.
14. Enjoy your comforting, plant-based meal! Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Just reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if it seems dry.