Description
This hearty Red Lentil Pasta Sauce is a nutritious and flavorful twist on classic pasta sauce, featuring protein-rich red lentils simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and nutritional yeast for a rich, savory depth. Perfect for a comforting weeknight meal, it’s vegan, packed with plant-based protein, and easy to prepare in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp red wine (optional)
- 1 cup dry red lentils, rinsed
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1½ cups vegetable broth
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Then, stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add Tomato Paste & Herbs: Stir in the tomato paste, dried oregano, and dried thyme. Cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen and enhance the flavors.
- Add Lentils & Tomatoes: Add the rinsed red lentils, nutritional yeast, canned tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with juices, and vegetable broth to the pot. Mix everything well to combine.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and the sauce thickens.
- Season & Finish: Add salt, red pepper flakes, and chopped fresh basil to taste. Stir well and adjust seasoning as needed for a balanced flavor.
- Serve: Spoon the sauce generously over your favorite cooked pasta. Garnish with extra fresh basil or red pepper flakes if desired, and enjoy warm.
Notes
- If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can blend part of it before serving.
- The red wine is optional but adds a nice depth of flavor; substitute with extra vegetable broth if omitted.
- This sauce freezes well for up to 3 months.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this meal gluten-free.
- Add vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers for extra texture and nutrition.
