Lentil Bolognese

Lentil Bolognese

6 servings
Lentil Bolognese is perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike—hearty, healthy, and perfect over spaghetti.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion

    chopped

  • 1 large carrot

    peeled and chopped

  • 2 stalks celery

    chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic

    minced

  • 1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp. freshly chopped oregano
  • 2 c. water
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes

    28-oz.

  • 1 c. green lentils

    rinsed and drained

  • 1/4 c. packed basil leaves

    torn

  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • Cooked spaghetti or linguine

    for serving

  • Freshly grated Parmesan

    for serving, optional

Directions

  1. 1

    In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, carrots, and celery and cook until soft, 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, and oregano and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more. 

  2. 2

    Add crushed tomatoes and lentils to pot. Pour water into can of crushed tomatoes and swirl around to catch any remaining sauce and pour into pot. Add basil and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. 

  3. 3

    Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, about 1 hour. Add more water as necessary. 

  4. 4

    Stir in lemon juice and season with more salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm over pasta. 

Lentil Bolognese

Lentil Bolognese

100 min6 servings

Similar Recipes

Best Bolognese

Best Bolognese

It doesn’t take a lot of ingredients (or a lot of money) to make a classic Bolognese recipe. What it does take, though, is patience for the sauce to achieve the ideal authentic texture. You’re going to go low and slow—it’ll take around 3 hours, but most of that cook time is hands-off.

35 minutes
Healthy Turkey Bolognese Sauce

Healthy Turkey Bolognese Sauce

Healthy Bolognese Sauce is a delicious, hearty dinner. Paleo, Whole30 friendly and loaded with flavor - this hidden veggie bolognese is one you'll love!

70 minutes330 kcal
PASTA WITH LENTILS

PASTA WITH LENTILS

This Italian pasta with lentils is one of the best nourishing meals you can cook using a few cupboard essentials such as dried lentils and pasta. It's an easy yet delicious 1-pot recipe, healthy, vegan and amazingly GOOD.Note: chose US customary or metric/tap on servings to scale quantities!

40 minutes3 servings513 kcal
Easy Lentil Vegetable Soup

Easy Lentil Vegetable Soup

Try this healthy and easy lentil vegetable soup recipe! It's made with dried lentils, simple vegetables, herbs and spices and is such a tasty lentil recipe ready in no time.

30 minutes
Spaghetti Squash Bolognese

Spaghetti Squash Bolognese

This Spaghetti Squash Bolognese recipe is every low-carbie Barbie's dream dinner, and the perfect way to sneak in more veggies while still eating something cozy and delicious.

55 minutes2 servings530 kcal
Creamy Bolognese

Creamy Bolognese

If someone asked me what I wanted to eat for my last meal it would be this Creamy Bolognese over fettuccine! I have perfected this recipe over the years of cooking every type of Italian sauce you could imagine. This one with the perfect ratio of ground beef to pork, sauteed alongside mirepoix, garlic, and spices, and simmered in a tomato based sauce is truly the perfect Italian family meal! Now, there's two ways you can make this sauce, you can stop before adding the heavy cream or you can follow the recipe exactly as written and add the heavy cream to add a touch of milky creamy goodness to this savory sauce. I have made both ways and enjoyed them both, but that little creamy, slightly sweetened touch of luxury takes your bolognese sauce to a whole other level! So, I have a feeling once you make this it will likely replace your go to sunday sauce! Are you ready? Let's make it!

105 minutes10 servings835 kcal
Vegan Spaghetti Marinara with Lentil Balls

Vegan Spaghetti Marinara with Lentil Balls

This vegan version of a traditional meatball recipe is made with lentils and mushroom. Try it with any marinara sauce for a healthy yet satisfying dish tonight!

0 8 cups pasta and sauce + 20 lentil balls
Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup

Three things make this vegetarian lentil soup so good: caramelized onions, toasted tomato paste (it's easy!), and lots of carrots and celery. Make a big pot to have some now and save some for later—this soup is freezer friendly!

75 minutes8 servings240 kcal

Ratings & Reviews

Be the First to Rate

Your rating helps others discover amazing recipes. Share your experience and let others know what you think!

About this Recipe

Craving a deeply satisfying, comforting pasta dish that caters to everyone at the table? This Lentil Bolognese is a hearty, healthy, and versatile option perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores alike.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe shines by building a robust foundation of savory flavors. Aromatic vegetables like yellow onion, carrot, and celery are sautéed with garlic, fresh thyme, and oregano, creating a deeply fragrant base. Simmering crushed tomatoes with green lentils then develops a rich, thick sauce that provides a satisfying chew, ensuring you won't miss the meat.

What to Expect

You can expect a wonderfully hearty and healthy dish with complex, savory notes from the herbs and a subtle warmth from the crushed red pepper flakes. The lentils become tender and absorb all the delicious flavors of the tomato sauce, resulting in a comforting texture that clings beautifully to spaghetti or linguine. While it requires a bit of time on the stove to allow the flavors to meld, the process is straightforward, yielding a deeply satisfying meal.

Customization & Variations

For a completely vegan meal, simply skip the optional freshly grated Parmesan cheese when serving. If you prefer more heat, feel free to increase the pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. This versatile sauce is delicious over any pasta shape you prefer, not just spaghetti or linguine.

Serve this comforting Lentil Bolognese over warm pasta for a satisfying weeknight dinner or a special meal with friends. A sprinkle of fresh basil and an optional dusting of Parmesan completes the dish beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions