Red lentil bolognese
A meat-free ragu of red lentils and slow-cooked vegetables, served over spaghetti. It keeps well in the fridge or freezer.
Calories are an AI estimate, for information only.
Ingredients · 13
6 servingsTap what you already have; add the rest to your list in the app with one tap.
- Olive oil3 tbsp
- OnionsFinely chopped2
- CarrotsFinely chopped3
- Celery sticksFinely chopped3
- Garlic clovesCrushed3
- Red lentils500 g
- Canned tomatoes (400 g cans)Chopped2 cans
- Tomato purée2 tbsp
- Dried oregano and thyme (each)2 tsp
- Bay leaves3
- Vegetable stock1 L
- Spaghetti500 g
- Parmesan (or vegetarian hard cheese)Grated, to serve
Method · 4 steps
- 1
Warm the oil in a big pot, then tip in the carrots, onions, celery and garlic. Cook them gently for 15-20 minutes until all the vegetables are soft.
- 2
Add the lentils, canned tomatoes, tomato purée, herbs, bay leaves and stock. Let it come up to a simmer and cook for 40-50 minutes, until the lentils have softened and the sauce has thickened, adding a splash of water if it gets dry. Season well.
- 3
To serve right away, keep the sauce on a low heat while the spaghetti cooks according to the packet. Drain, divide among bowls, top with sauce and grate some cheese over.
- 4
To store, cool the sauce completely and refrigerate for as long as 3 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw portions overnight at room temperature and reheat gently.






