Description
This hearty and flavorful Red Lentil Pasta Sauce is a nutritious and delicious alternative to traditional meat-based pasta sauces. Made with red lentils, tomato sauce, fresh herbs, and a boost of nutritional yeast, it’s perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner. The sauce simmers gently to let the flavors meld, creating a rich, protein-packed topping for your favorite pasta.
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 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 this mixture for 1-2 minutes to enhance the flavors and deepen the sauce’s complexity.
- Add Lentils & Tomatoes: Add the rinsed red lentils, nutritional yeast, canned tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with their juices, and vegetable broth to the pot. Mix everything well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Simmer: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the lentils are tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Season & Finish: Add salt and red pepper flakes to taste, along with the fresh chopped basil. Stir well and adjust seasoning as needed to suit your preference.
- Serve: Spoon the sauce over cooked pasta and garnish with extra basil or red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy your flavorful and nutritious lentil pasta sauce!
Notes
- You can skip the red wine if you prefer a non-alcoholic version; it mainly adds depth to the flavor.
- For a smoother sauce, blend part or all of the sauce before serving.
- This sauce freezes well—store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make the dish gluten-free.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
