This hearty, savory Lentil Bolognese is a superb vegetarian meal that doesn’t sacrifice consolation. It’s additionally excessive in protein and fiber!
![Lentil Bolognese](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lentil-Bolognese-7.jpg)
Lentil Bolognese
I get requested to share extra vegetarian recipes usually, and I’m at all times completely satisfied 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 wonderful meatless dinner. Mushrooms and a complete can of tomato paste create a deeply savory basis of taste made richer with the wine, however you’ll be able to simply omit it in the event you’d like. For a extra conventional Bolognese recipe, I’ve stovetop, sluggish cooker, and Immediate Pot variations.
![Lentil Bolognese ingredients](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lentil-Bolognese-1.jpg)
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 whole 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. Be sure that 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 break up pink lentils are all good choices for this Bolognese recipe. Every kind has roughly the identical cooking time, however break up pink lentils have a finer texture as soon as cooked, whereas brown or inexperienced can be extra distinctive within the sauce.
- Herbs: Season the Bolognese with dried oregano or Italian seasoning and garnish with recent 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 you 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 pink and begins to odor toasted.
- Bolognese Sauce: Pour the pink wine into the pot to deglaze and prepare dinner for one more minute. Add the tomatoes, broth, lentils, and Italian seasoning. Enhance the warmth to excessive, stirring sometimes, till the liquid is slightly below 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 lively simmer, which suggests there needs to be a little bit 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 bundle instructions. As soon as achieved, drain the pasta and stir into the sauce.
- How you can Serve: Divide the lentil Bolognese into bowls and prime with grated parmesan or dietary yeast and recent basil.
![mushrooms carrots and onion](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lentil-Bolognese-2-550x825.jpg)
![Vegan Lentil Bolognese Sauce](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lentil-Bolognese-3-550x825.jpg)
![Lentil Bolognese over pasta](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lentil-Bolognese-4-550x825.jpg)
Variations
- Mushrooms: Swap child bellas with white button mushrooms.
- Not a mushroom fan? You may skip the mushrooms in the event you dislike them, however they do give the sauce a meatier texture and umami taste. Should you cube them very small, the mushrooms aren’t as noticeable.
- Wine: Substitute pink wine with white wine or omit it in the event you want to not prepare dinner with it. Should you don’t wish to open a whole bottle of wine, purchase the mini bottles or cans on the grocery store.
- Broth: Should you’re not vegetarian, you’ll be able to at all times use rooster broth or inventory if that’s what you may have.
What to Serve with Lentil Bolognese
- Pasta: This simple Lentil Bolognese sauce is great over pasta, like linguini, rigatoni, or rotini. I used Barilla’s Protein+ pasta for further protein and fiber. When you’ve got 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 this pasta with garlic knots, an Italian facet salad, or roasted inexperienced beans.
- Meat: Should you’re not vegetarian and need extra protein, pair it with salmon or rooster.
Storage
Leftovers will last as long as 5 days within the fridge or three months within the freezer.
- You may freeze the Bolognese and pasta collectively or make simply sufficient pasta for the primary evening. Then freeze the sauce individually and prepare dinner recent 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. It’s possible you’ll 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 product of 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 various.
![Lentil Bolognese](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lentil-Bolognese-6.jpg)
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 bundle child bella mushrooms, diced
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup pink wine, non-compulsory
- 15- ounce can crushed or diced tomatoes, I swear by Tuttoroso
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup brown, inexperienced, or break up pink lentils
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning or dried oregano
- 1 pound excessive protein pasta, equivalent to Barilla or gluten-free pasta
- recent basil, non-compulsory 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 completely and prepare dinner for about 5 minutes, stirring, or till the tomato paste is a deeper pink and beginning to odor extra toasty.
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If utilizing, use the pink wine to deglaze the pot. Cook dinner for one more minute or two till the liquid cooks out.
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Pour within the tomatoes, broth, lentils, and Italian seasoning. Enhance the warmth to medium-high, stirring sometimes, till the liquid is slightly below a boil.
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Scale back the warmth to medium-low, protecting the liquid at an lively simmer, cowl and prepare dinner for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring occassionally or till the lentils are tender.
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Carry a pot of salted water to a boil, when the sauce is sort of prepared prepare dinner the pasta in keeping with bundle instructions, for al dente. Drain and stir within the cooked pasta into the sauce, divide into bowls and prime every bowl with grated Parmesan or dietary yeast and recent 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