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Close up of Lentil Bolognese

Lentil Bolognese

A delicious homemade lentil bolognese recipe.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 360
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
  • 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • Salt and pepper
  • Spaghetti or your pasta of choice
  • Parmesan for serving

Method
 

  1. Saute. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook onion, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  2. Build. Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika. Cook 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, and rinsed lentils.
  3. Simmer. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and the sauce is thick.
  4. Serve. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over cooked pasta with parmesan on top.

Notes

Red lentils work best because they break down and create a meaty texture. Green lentils hold their shape too much. Dice the vegetables very fine so they melt into the sauce. The sauce thickens a lot as it cools. Add broth when reheating.