Lentil Bolognese – Food with Feeling

This scrumptious lentil bolognese sauce served over pasta is consolation in a bowl. Wealthy and thick, it’s an fragrant dish that’s bursting with a lot taste, you’re going to wish to take pleasure in it typically. It’s simple to make and is the proper weeknight dinner recipe the entire household will love.

Typically it’s assumed that with out meat, a meal received’t have sufficient protein or be filling sufficient. That’s not the case with this dish! Lentils present a large amount of protein and endurance. Just one/2 cup of cooked lentils offers about 12 grams of protein!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Nutritious. Whereas this vegan bolognese is meat free, it’s nonetheless full of protein from the lentils and is extremely satisfying. It’s additionally loaded with fiber, nutritional vitamins, and minerals — it’s a meal you simply really feel good consuming!
• Easy and simple. There’s nothing difficult about this recipe. You sauté your components after which simmer for about 45 minutes to let the flavors come collectively. 
• So tasty. There’s nothing higher than a heat scrumptious bolognese sauce over some pasta. It’s the proper cozy meal in the course of the colder seasons.

Elements wanted

This vegetarian bolognese recipe has such fantastic taste due to the mix of lentils, sautéed veggies, tomatoes, herbs and pink wine. Right here’s every little thing you’ll want:

• Further virgin olive oil. For cooking down the greens and including richness to the sauce.
• Onion + garlic. Sautéed onion and garlic provides scrumptious fragrant taste to the sauce.
• Celery + carrot. Provides heartiness and taste.
• Flavorings. To season the sauce, we’re utilizing Italian seasoning together with salt & pepper. Contemporary Italian parsley provides a clear, barely peppery style. 
• Tomato paste + crushed tomatoes. For finest outcomes, we suggest going with the next high quality model like Mutti, Cento or Muir Glen. Decrease high quality sauce may have a tinny, acidic taste.
• Purple wine + vegetable broth. The bottom of the sauce. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chianti, and Zinfandel all pair very properly with tomato-based recipes. You don’t have to make use of an costly bottle. One thing within the $6-$10 vary will work simply effective. Additionally, the alcohol will prepare dinner off, so don’t fear about any alcohol content material within the sauce – it simply provides taste!
• Lentils. You need to use brown or inexperienced lentils. They’re economical, plus they’re full of protein, making them filling and sustaining. 
• Chopped walnuts. Provides texture and a lift of wholesome fat.
• Grated parmesan. Non-obligatory, to complete the dish. 

Methods to make this recipe

This pasta sauce recipe could be very easy and simple. You solely want one pot and nearly quarter-hour hands-on time. Right here’s the easy technique:

For the total, printable recipe, reference the recipe card on the backside of the web page.

1. Sauté onion + garlic. In a big deep skillet or pot, warmth the olive oil over medium warmth. As soon as scorching, add within the onion and garlic and sauté for 10 minutes, stirring typically.
2. Prepare dinner the veggies. Add within the celery, carrot, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Combine and prepare dinner for a further 5 minutes. Stir within the tomato paste and proceed to prepare dinner for two extra minutes, stirring consistently.
3. Simmer. Add within the wine (or ½ cup of further broth, if not utilizing wine) and scrape the underside of the skillet to deglaze. Add within the broth, lentils, walnuts, and crushed tomatoes and produce to a simmer. Cowl the pot and simmer for 40-45 minutes, stirring each jiffy, or till the lentils are tender and cooked.
4. Serve. Stir within the parsley and cheese and prepare dinner for 1 further minute. Take away from the warmth and luxuriate in over your favourite pasta!

Skilled suggestions

This pasta dish is fairly easy and simple, however listed below are some suggestions, so you could have the most effective outcomes each time:

• Finely cube the veggies. You don’t need any chunks of raw carrot, onion, or celery, so take your time to make sure the veggies are finely and evenly diced.
• Simmer time. It’s necessary to let this lentil bolognese sauce simmer the total 40 to 45 minutes for the most effective flavors. 
• Pasta choices. This dish is historically served with spaghetti, however the sauce actually goes properly with most shapes of pasta. If you happen to don’t have spaghetti available, attempt one other lengthy pasta akin to fettuccine, linguine or bucatini. You may as well use quite a lot of quick pasta varieties together with penne, rigatoni and fusilli.

Steadily requested questions

Storage suggestions

• Storing leftovers. It’s finest to retailer the lentil bolognese separate from the pasta, in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
• Reheating. Heat up on the range or within the microwave till it’s heated by way of.
• Freezing. We like to make a double batch of sauce and freeze half to make use of later. Retailer it in a freezer container for as much as a month. Thaw in a single day within the fridge for finest outcomes.

As ordinary, PLEASE let me know if you happen to make this recipe and the way you prefer it! You’ll be able to come again right here and go away a remark or tag me on instagram (@foodwithfeeling).