This hearty, savory Lentil Bolognese is a good vegetarian meal that doesn’t sacrifice consolation. It’s additionally excessive in protein and fiber!
Lentil Bolognese
I get requested to share extra vegetarian recipes typically, and I’m all the time joyful to as a result of I really like consuming plant-based meals. Lentils are a unbelievable supply of protein and fiber, and in contrast to dried beans, they prepare dinner shortly with out pre-soaking. This vegetarian Lentil Bolognese makes a superb meatless dinner. Mushrooms and a complete can of tomato paste create a deeply savory basis of taste made richer with the wine, however you may simply omit it in the event you’d like. For a extra conventional Bolognese recipe, I’ve stovetop, sluggish cooker, and Instantaneous Pot variations.
Crimson Lentil Bolognese Elements
- Greens: Cube one yellow onion, two medium carrots, and eight ounces of child bella mushrooms.
- Salt to season the greens
- Tomato Paste: Use a complete can of tomato paste for a extra advanced taste.
- Garlic: Mince three garlic cloves.
- Wine: Crimson wine provides richness and depth to the Bolognese sauce. Ensure to make use of a dry, good-quality one.
- Tomatoes: I swear by Tuttorosso’s canned tomatoes. Crushed or diced tomatoes will work right here.
- Liquid: Use vegetable broth or water to prepare dinner the lentils.
- Lentils: Brown, inexperienced, or cut up crimson lentils are all good choices for this Bolognese recipe. Every sort has roughly the identical cooking time, however cut up crimson lentils have a finer texture as soon as cooked, whereas brown or inexperienced shall be extra distinctive within the sauce.
- Herbs: Season the Bolognese with dried oregano or Italian seasoning and garnish with contemporary basil.
- Parmesan: Garnish with freshly grated parmesan or dietary yeast for a vegan lentil Bolognese.
- Pasta: To extend the protein, serve this dish over high-protein pasta.
How one can Make Lentil Bolognese
- Greens: Sauté the onion, carrots, mushrooms, and salt in a big pot over medium warmth. Cook dinner till the onions are translucent and the mushrooms begin to prepare dinner down.
- Tomato Paste: Stir within the tomato paste and garlic and prepare dinner for 5 minutes till the paste is a deeper crimson and begins to scent toasted.
- Bolognese Sauce: Pour the crimson wine into the pot to deglaze and prepare dinner for an additional minute. Add the tomatoes, broth, lentils, and Italian seasoning. Improve the warmth to excessive, stirring sometimes, till the liquid is just under a boil.
- Simmer: Cowl the pot, scale back the warmth to medium-low, and simmer for 25 to 40 minutes till the lentils are tender. Maintain the liquid at an energetic simmer, which suggests there must be slightly effervescent however not a full boil.
- Pasta: Boil a big pot of salted water and prepare dinner the pasta to al dente in keeping with the package deal instructions. As soon as achieved, drain the pasta and stir into the sauce.
- How one can Serve: Divide the lentil Bolognese into bowls and high with grated parmesan or dietary yeast and contemporary basil.
Variations
- Mushrooms: Swap child bellas with white button mushrooms.
- Not a mushroom fan? You’ll be able to skip the mushrooms in the event you dislike them, however they do give the sauce a meatier texture and umami taste. If you happen to cube them very small, the mushrooms aren’t as noticeable.
- Wine: Substitute crimson wine with white wine or omit it in the event you favor to not prepare dinner with it. If you happen to don’t need to open a complete bottle of wine, purchase the mini bottles or cans on the grocery store.
- Broth: If you happen to’re not vegetarian, you may all the time use hen broth or inventory if that’s what you’ve got.
What to Serve with Lentil Bolognese
- Pasta: This straightforward Lentil Bolognese sauce is superb over pasta, like linguini, rigatoni, or rotini. I used Barilla’s Protein+ pasta for further protein and fiber. If in case you have a gluten sensitivity, select your favourite gluten-free noodles.
- For a lower-carb possibility, serve it over zucchini noodles.
- If you wish to add a facet dish, do that pasta with garlic knots, an Italian facet salad, or roasted inexperienced beans.
- Meat: If you happen to’re not vegetarian and need extra protein, pair it with salmon or hen.
Storage
Leftovers will last as long as 5 days within the fridge or three months within the freezer.
- You’ll be able to freeze the Bolognese and pasta collectively or make simply sufficient pasta for the primary evening. Then freeze the sauce individually and prepare dinner contemporary pasta earlier than consuming.
- To thaw, let the container sit in a single day within the fridge and reheat it on the range or within the microwave till heat. You could want so as to add a splash of water or broth if it’s too thick.
Lentil Bolognese FAQ
Bolognese is an Italian pasta sauce made from floor meat, tomatoes, greens, and milk or cream, which originated in Bologna, Italy. Lentil Bolognese swaps floor meat with lentils for a vegetarian meal that’s additionally extra economical since lentils price lower than meat.
Lentils and mushrooms are widespread substitutions for meat in Bolognese. Some recipes use walnuts, tofu, or a vegan floor meat different.
Extra Lentil Recipes You’ll Love
Yield: 8 servings
Serving Dimension: 1 1/2 cups
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced (1 cup)
- 8 ounce package deal child bella mushrooms, diced
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup crimson wine, non-obligatory
- 15- ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes, I swear by Tuttoroso
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup brown, inexperienced, or cut up crimson lentils
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning or dried oregano
- 1 pound excessive protein pasta, reminiscent of Barilla or gluten-free pasta
- contemporary basil, non-obligatory for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese, substitute dietary yeast for vegan
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In a big pot, heat the oil over medium warmth.
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Add the onion, carrots, mushrooms, and salt. Stir to coat with oil and sauté for about 8 to 10 minutes, till the onion is translucent and the mushrooms begin to prepare dinner down.
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Add the tomato paste and garlic to the pot. Stir totally and prepare dinner for about 5 minutes, stirring, or till the tomato paste is a deeper crimson and beginning to scent extra toasty.
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If utilizing, use the crimson wine to deglaze the pot. Cook dinner for an additional minute or two till the liquid cooks out.
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Pour within the tomatoes, broth, lentils, and Italian seasoning. Improve the warmth to medium-high, stirring sometimes, till the liquid is just under a boil.
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Cut back the warmth to medium-low, protecting the liquid at an energetic simmer, cowl and prepare dinner for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring occassionally or till the lentils are tender.
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Convey a pot of salted water to a boil, when the sauce is nearly prepared prepare dinner the pasta in keeping with package deal instructions, for al dente. Drain and stir within the cooked pasta into the sauce, divide into bowls and high every bowl with grated Parmesan or dietary yeast and contemporary basil.
Final Step:
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Serving: 1 1/2 cups, Energy: 358 kcal, Carbohydrates: 69 g, Protein: 19.5 g, Fats: 3 g, Sodium: 748 mg, Fiber: 10 g, Sugar: 11 g
