Bolognese sauce is an Italian style sauce with meat that’s simmered in a tasty tomato sauce for a long time. This is a light, healthy, quick and easy take on it using lentils as the “meat” and it takes less than 30 minutes to make. Many of the ingredients are the same, starting with onions, carrot, celery, and mushrooms before adding tomatoes (or marinara sauce (link)) and the lentils. It’s seasoned with garlic, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning (link), a splash of balsamic vinegar and a handful of parmesan cheese. All said and done it takes about as long to make as it takes to bring a pot of water to boil and to cook the pasta, so you can make a whole meal in 30 minutes!
30 Minute Lentil Bolognese
A quick and easy bolognese sauce with lentils and mushrooms as the “meat”!
ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced or chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste (optional)
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes (or 2 cups marinara sauce (link))
- 2 (15 ounce) cans lentils, drained and rinsed
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (link) (or oregano)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
directions
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat, add the onions, carrots, celery, and mushrooms and cook until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add the garlic and garlic, mix, and cook until fragrant about a minute.
- Add the tomatoes, lentils, Italian seasoning, and balsamic vinegar,, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add parmesan, mix and let it melt into the sauce before seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
Option: Instead of canned lentils, use 2 cups of dried lentils! Add 4 cups of water (or chicken broth (link)), and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 20-30 minutes.
Option: Add 1 cup bell pepper, diced, along with the onions.
Option: Add 3 tablespoons tomato paste, along with the garlic.
Option: Add 1 teaspoon (smoked) paprika, along with the garlic.
Option: Add 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped, along with the diced tomatoes.
Option: Add 1 tablespoon fish sauce, at the end.
Option: Add 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk or ricotta, etc., along with the parmesan.
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