Lentil Bolognese – Skinnytaste

This hearty, savory Lentil Bolognese is a good vegetarian meal that doesn’t sacrifice consolation. It’s additionally high in protein and fiber!

Lentil Bolognese

I get asked to share extra vegetarian recipes typically, and I’m at all times completely happy to as a result of I like eating plant-based mostly meals. Lentils are a improbable supply of protein and fiber, and in contrast to dried beans, they prepare dinner rapidly 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 possibly can simply omit it should you’d like. For a extra conventional Bolognese recipe, I’ve stovetop, gradual cooker, and Instant Pot variations.

Red Lentil Bolognese Ingredients

• Vegetables: Dice one yellow onion, two medium carrots, and eight ounces of baby 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: Red wine provides richness and depth to the Bolognese sauce. Make positive to make use of a dry, good-high 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 purple lentils are all good choices for this Bolognese recipe. Each kind has roughly the identical cooking time, however cut up purple lentils have a finer texture as soon as cooked, whereas brown or inexperienced will probably 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 enhance the protein, serve this dish over high-protein pasta.

How to Make Lentil Bolognese

1. Vegetables: Sauté the onion, carrots, mushrooms, and salt in a big pot over medium warmth. Cook till the onions are translucent and the mushrooms start to prepare dinner down.
2. Tomato Paste: Stir within the tomato paste and garlic and prepare dinner for 5 minutes till the paste is a deeper purple and begins to scent toasted.
3. Bolognese Sauce: Pour the purple wine into the pot to deglaze and prepare dinner for an additional minute. Add the tomatoes, broth, lentils, and Italian seasoning. Increase the warmth to high, stirring sometimes, till the liquid is slightly below a boil.
4. Simmer: Cover the pot, scale back the warmth to medium-low, and simmer for 25 to 40 minutes till the lentils are tender. Keep the liquid at an lively simmer, which implies there must be just a little effervescent however not a full boil.
5. Pasta: Boil a big pot of salted water and prepare dinner the pasta to al dente in line with the bundle instructions. Once performed, drain the pasta and stir into the sauce.
6. How to Serve: Divide the lentil Bolognese into bowls and prime with grated parmesan or dietary yeast and recent basil.

Variations

• Mushrooms: Swap baby bellas with white button mushrooms.
• Not a mushroom fan? You can skip the mushrooms should you dislike them, however they do give the sauce a meatier texture and umami taste. If you cube them very small, the mushrooms aren’t as noticeable.
• Wine: Substitute purple wine with white wine or omit it should you desire to not prepare dinner with it. If you don’t need to open a whole bottle of wine, purchase the mini bottles or cans on the grocery store.
• Broth: If you’re not vegetarian, you possibly can at all times 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 great over pasta, like linguini, rigatoni, or rotini. I used Barilla’s Protein+ pasta for further protein and fiber. If you’ve got a gluten sensitivity, select your favourite gluten-free noodles.
• For a decrease-carb choice, serve it over zucchini noodles.
• If you need to add a facet dish, do that pasta with garlic knots, an Italian side salad, or roasted inexperienced beans.
• Meat: If you’re not vegetarian and wish 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 can 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 eating.
• 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 might have so as to add a splash of water or broth if it’s too thick.

Lentil Bolognese FAQ

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