Trader Joe's New Vegan Bolognese Ravioli Is Packed With Umami

Bolognese sauce is the culinary equivalent of a big, comforting hug. It's traditionally rich, flavorful, and a time-consuming Italian dish, sometimes taking all day to make, which only further proves that it's created with a lot of patience and love. Many know it as a thick, chunky sauce made with beef, pork, or veal that coats spaghetti, orecchiette, penne, or any other type of pasta. 

But leave it to Trader Joe's to switch things up. The chain has introduced a vegan version of bolognese ravioli that is meat-free and has a unique design. The new Vegan Italian Bolognese Ravioli actually has the sauce on the inside of the Italian dumplings (where the cheese would normally go) rather than the outside, making for delicious bite-sized pasta packages.

To make this meatless version of the sauce, Trader Joe's uses roasted tomatoes, lentils, mushrooms, breadcrumbs, sun-dried tomatoes, herbs, and dried porcini mushrooms, which give the ravioli a deep earthy, umami flavor profile that will make you forget it's missing any meat. It's perfect for busy nights, too, as you don't even have to open a jar of sauce to enjoy the dish; just place the ravioli in boiling water, drizzle with a little olive oil and your seasonings of choice when done, and enjoy.

Of course, there's no reason you couldn't sauce up Trader Joe's Vegan Italian Bolognese Ravioli if you wanted to, even though the ravioli come filled with sauce. If you want to add some extra on top, Trader Joe's also carries jars of Vegan Bolognese Style Pasta Sauce that would make the dish even more savory. Classic marinara, mushroom, arrabbiata, or roasted garlic sauce would also be a delicious topping for these ravioli. 

Whether you enjoy meatless Mondays or stick to a full vegan diet every day of the week, these new ravioli are a great choice for a quick, nutritious meal that tastes like a classic Italian dish but without any animal-based ingredients. It joins the already impressive list of vegan offerings Trader Joe's currently has (also including a Vegan Pasta Bolognese Bowl available in the freezer section). Each 8.8-ounce package of Trader Joe's Vegan Italian Bolognese Ravioli are currently sold for $3.99 each.