Vegan Lentil Bolognese (Easy!)

User Reviews

4.8

18 reviews
Excellent

Vegan Lentil Bolognese (Easy!)

This soul-warming vegan Bolognese sauce features nourishing red lentils & mushrooms instead of ground beef! Serve it over your favorite pasta for an elegant, satisfying, ultra-comforting meal.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 5-6 cloves garlic
  • 8 oz. mushrooms
  • 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
  • 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup split red lentils (uncooked)
  • 2 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1-2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast (or more)
  • 1 Tbsp. tamari
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp. salt

For serving:

  • 8-12 oz. pasta (gluten-free if desired)
  • Vegan Parmesan Cheese
  • Fresh basil, fresh parsley
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Instructions

  1. Finely dice onion and mushrooms.
  2. In a large pan or Dutch oven, sauté onion for 7-8 minutes. (I use 3 Tbsp. water/broth for no-oil sauté method, adding more as needed.)
  3. Meanwhile, mince garlic.
  4. When onion is translucent, add mushrooms, garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt. Stir and cook 3-4 minutes.
  5. Add red wine vinegar. Stir and cook 1 minute.
  6. Add broth, crushed tomatoes, red lentils (rinsed and drained), tomato paste, nutritional yeast, and tamari.
  7. Bring to a light boil. Then reduce heat, cover, and lightly simmer for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. (This is a great time to cook the pasta.)
  8. Serve sauce over cooked pasta. Top with vegan parmesan and fresh basil or parsley.

Notes

  • Yield: Recipe makes about 6 cups sauce. I find this is a good match for about 8-12 oz. pasta. But it can vary depending on the ratio of sauce you use.
  • Nutrition: The estimated nutritional content is calculated for the Bolognese sauce only (no pasta included).
  • Recipe originally published January 2020. Updated & improved based on reader feedback January 2024. (If you want the original recipe, please just email and ask!)

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 131kcal (7%) Carbohydrates 25g (8%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 0.1g (1%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g Potassium 787mg (22%) Fiber 9g (36%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 591IU (12%) Vitamin C 17mg (19%) Calcium 77mg (8%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6large bowls

Amount Per Serving

Calories 131 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 131kcal 7%
Carbohydrates 25g 8%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g 2%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Potassium 787mg 17%
Fiber 9g 36%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 591IU 12%
Vitamin C 17mg 19%
Calcium 77mg 8%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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4.8

18 reviews
Excellent

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