Description
A hearty and nutritious red lentil pasta sauce that’s rich in flavors from sautéed aromatics, herbs, and slow-simmered lentils, perfect for a comforting and protein-packed vegetarian meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main 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, to taste
- 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. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to release its fragrance.
- Add Tomato Paste & Herbs: Stir in the tomato paste, dried oregano, and thyme. Cook this mixture for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavors and enhance the sauce’s richness.
- Add Lentils & Tomatoes: Incorporate rinsed red lentils, nutritional yeast, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, and vegetable broth into the pot. Mix everything thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and the sauce has thickened nicely.
- Season & Finish: Season with salt and red pepper flakes according to taste. Stir in the freshly chopped basil and adjust any other seasonings as needed for balanced flavor.
- Serve: Spoon the red lentil sauce generously over cooked pasta. Garnish with additional fresh basil or red pepper flakes if desired, and enjoy a wholesome, flavorful meal.
Notes
- This sauce is excellent for meal prep and stores well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- For a deeper flavor, add the optional red wine after the herbs and allow it to reduce slightly before adding lentils and tomatoes.
- If the sauce gets too thick during simmering, add a bit more vegetable broth or water to reach desired consistency.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- To make it spicier, increase red pepper flakes or add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
