MOOJ Paneer Bolognese

All the comfort of a classic bolognese, with crumbled MOOJ Italian Zest Paneer browned in place of ground meat. It's ready in 30 minutes, uses one jar of marinara, and packs about 36g of protein into every bowl.

Instructions

1. Boil the water. Bring a large pot of water (about 4 quarts) to a boil and add 1 tbsp of salt.

2. Sauté the onion. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly golden.

3. Add garlic and chili. Stir in the garlic and chili flakes and cook 30 to 60 seconds, until fragrant.

4. Brown the paneer. Crumble the paneer into the pan in small pieces, about the size of cooked ground meat. Spread it out and cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring only every minute or so, until it has light golden-brown spots.

5. Cook the pasta. While the paneer browns, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Scoop out 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

6. Simmer the sauce. Pour the marinara into the pan, stir to combine with the paneer, and simmer 3 to 5 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

7. Combine. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, adding pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce is glossy and clings to the noodles.

8. Serve. Divide into bowls and top with chopped parsley and shredded Parmesan.

Tips

• Thawing: Move your MOOJ block from the freezer to the fridge the night before. Pat it dry before crumbling for better browning.

• Get good color: Resist stirring the paneer constantly. A minute of contact with the pan between stirs is what builds the golden, savory bits.

• Swap the noodle: Rigatoni, penne, or a high-protein or chickpea pasta all work. Use the same 12 oz.

• Meal prep: Portion into four containers and refrigerate up to 4 days. Add a splash of water when reheating to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition (per serving)

Nutrition is an estimate and will vary with your choice of marinara and pasta.