This Lentil Bolognese Sauce is hearty with Red lentils and Mushrooms, flavors with herbs, sauce and great with Spaghetti or other pasta. 22 Gm of Protein. 30 Mins. Vegan Soyfree Nutfree Recipe. Can be gluten-free with glutenfree pasta.
Oh Hey, we are on a lentil roll this month. With the 25 Lentil Recipe round up, the Red lentil brownies (like black bean brownies but with lentils!), and now this easy bolognese style sauce!
I use red lentils in it as they add texture but are not overly earthy like whole lentils. You can use whole brown or green lentils, chickpeas as well or skinned whole red lentils. Add a bit more herbs/flavor to preference depending on the lentils used.
I serve this sauce over Spaghetti which helps make the meal about 22 Gm of Protein per serve! It goes well over zucchini pasta as well, or some mashed root veggies or mashed potato + veggie cakes (great option for gluten-free).
Easy, Hearty comfort Food!
More Pasta Recipes from the blog
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- Cauliflower Parmesan Pasta Bake – sliced cauliflower, baked then dressed in vegan mozz, baked over pasta
- Chickpea Chorizo, Quinoa shells in tomato sauce. GF – That chorizo!
- Sundried tomato and basil with spaghetti squash pasta.GF
- Fajita Chickpea Pasta. Gf option – Use any beans, so Good!
- Rose Sauce with Farfale and Raasted Veggies – Luscious Sauce
This Lentil Bolognese Sauce is hearty with Red lentils and Mushrooms, flavors with herbs, sauce and great with Spaghetti or other pasta. 22 Gm of Protein. Vegan Soyfree Nutfree Recipe. Can be gluten-free with glutenfree pasta
- 8 to 9 oz spaghetti or other pasta
- 1/2 cup red lentils (split skinned quick cooking kind (masoor dal))
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 4 oz mushroom , chopped small
- 1/2 small onion , chopped small
- 4 cloves of garlic , finely chopped
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 3/4 tsp dried oregano or use 1/2 tbsp fresh
- 1 tsp dried basil or use 2 tbsp fresh
- 1/4 tsp thyme or rubbed sage
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp nutritional yeast optional
- 16 to 18 oz low sodium marinara or pizza sauce or use 28 oz diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste , optional
- 1/2 tsp salt depends on the salt content of the sauce. Use less and add more later to taste
- a good dash of black pepper and red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup red wine or use veggie broth
- fresh basil or thyme for garnish
Cook the Spaghetti according to instructions on the package or prepare other pasta.
Wash the lentils, drain and add to pot with 2 cups of water. Cook over medium heat for 11 to 14 mins or until just about cooked. The water will start boiling half way through. Stir once in between to cook evenly. Drain if there is too much water (a few tbsp is ok) Set aside. Or use 1.5 cups cooked lentils, chickpeas or split peas of choice.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, add onion, mushroom, garlic and a good pinch of salt. Cook for 5 minutes or until golden. Stir occasionally.
Add the carrots, herbs, spices and mix in. Cook for 2 mins. (Variation: You can also add 1/4 cup or more finely chopped walnuts for additional texture)
Add the marinara/pizza sauce, salt, pepper, wine/broth and mix in. Bring to a boil. (If using diced tomatoes, double the herbs, add 1 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 10 to 15 minutes. Mash the large pieces of the tomatoes and continue).
Fold in the cooked lentils and mix well. (add 1 tbsp tomato paste if the mixture is not tomatoey enough). Cook for 1-2 minutes. Adjust consistency by adding more water if needed. Taste and adjust salt and flavor. Then cover, take off heat and let sit for another few minutes for the flavors to develop.
Garnish with fresh basil and optional vegan parm. Serve over cooked spaghetti, pasta or mashed potato/root veggies or roasted veggies.
Recipe Video
Nutrition is 1 of 3 serves, includes spaghetti
So simple yet so delicious! Would this recipe work with green lentils?
Is the purpose of the carrots for texture? I have a son who is severely allergic to them, so would you omit or is there a substitute?
sweetness and texture. You can omit them or add some zuchini for texture and add sweetness later to taste if needed
Hi Teri, I always use parsnips instead of carrots in recipes since I have trouble with them, too.
Yummy spaghetti with lentils! Thanks for sharing!
This looks delicious! I love lentils. I would leave out the oil and salt, and add in some spinach or kale for extra goodness.
Yummy, I’m going to give it a go.
We made this and it was delicious. We used a carton of passata instead of tomatoes and also added half a packet iof baby spinach leaves at the end.
awesome!
I made this for dinner the other night and it was really great. Thanks Richa!
xxx
Awesome Thanks Mia!
I am very new to your blog. Actually , I saw a picture of the Lentil Bolognese and thought, “Oh, yum!” And followed the link and copied the recipe . I made it the same day. Firstly neither my husband nor I are vegan or vegetarian. I don’t eat red meat and limit dairy as much as possible. My husband just wants to eat healthy. We are mid to late 60’s. Anyhoo, I made your recipe and had all the ingredients, and we both absolutely loved it. It will definitely be added to our rotation. We got 5 servings out of it. Had it for lunch the next day and still have a large serving refrigerated. So glad to have found this recipe. Thank you so much, Stephanie
Thats amazing. So glad you found the blog!
There can’t be any vitamin C in cooked food as heat destroy all vitamin c. Nutritional fact is therefore wrong.
Cooking (particularly boiling) reduces vitiman C as it is a water soluble vitamin. But it only reduces by 25-35 percent. Microwave cooking only reduces by 10 percent. So my point is that some vitiman C will remain just not all of it!
This was so freaking good!!!! I accidentally overcooked my lentils and it still was the best! I did not miss cheese or meat in the slightest. Richa you make being Vegan so delicious!!!! Thank you
awesome!!
This was delicious thank you! Best vegan site ever!
awesome!
Love your website. I’m fairly new to the vegan lifestyle. In this recipe, wine is listed as one of the ingredients. Though wine is not vegan due to the fining process, what vegan wine can you recommend?
check barnivore.com for vegan wines. Many brands have vegan options.Some local wines can be vegan too. Barnivore lists the verified vegan optios
hello, I was wondering whether you could give me the exact measurements for dried herbs to grounded herbs? thank you.
Use same amounts. For larger quantities like a tablespoon or sthing, you might want to use 2 tsp ground for 1 tbsp dried, but otherwise same amounts will work
This recipe was amazing! We had it for dinner tonight and it is the BEST bolognese recipe EVER!! Thanks for a great recipe!
awesome!
This is honestly so delicious! My husband and I really dislike mushrooms but you can’t tell there’s any in the dish at all! LOVE, love, love it!
yay!
Best vegan bolognese I’ve tried! Both the flavour and texture were amazing.
yay!
Richa, could you possibly add an estimate of Instant Pot timings on this one?
10 mins for just the sauce, but you will most likely get a burn signal as it is a thick mixture. Cook it in another pan on a trivet with 1 cup of water underneath. Natural release.
I’m going to try it this way this week!