Taking a break from meat? A hearty lentil bolognese could be just what you need.
Lentils are grouped with beans and peas as part of the legume family. They are high in protein and fibre and low in fat, making them a healthy substitute for meat. Lentils are also packed with folate, iron, phosphorus and potassium!
Hearty lentil bolognese is easy to make and full of flavour. This recipe takes about 15 minutes of preparation, 4 hours of cooking time (in a slow cooker!) and makes 6 servings. You can serve it with spaghetti or another pasta of your choice.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 ½ cups diced sweet onion
- 2 grated carrots (approx. 1 cup)
- 3 diced celery stalks (approx. 1 cup)
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- ½ – 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 3 cups vegetable stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- ½ tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Pull out your slow cooker — it’s time to get cooking!
- Add all the above ingredients into your slow cooker and mix together until combined.
- Cook on low for approx. 4 hours or until lentils have softened and sauce is thick.
- Add water to thin out the sauce if needed and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
When the hearty lentil bolognese is done cooking, boil spaghetti or another pasta of your choice and serve together. You can keep extra bolognese in the fridge for later or even freeze it.
Bon appetit!
