Easy Lentil Bolognese
This Easy Lentil Bolognese is a hearty, plant-based twist on the classic Italian comfort food. Made with brown lentils, mushrooms, carrots, celery, and a bold mix of Italian and Creole seasonings, it delivers rich flavor and a meaty texture without the meat. The sauce comes together in under an hour, thickened with a simple flour slurry, and is perfect served over your favorite pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan or fresh herbs. It’s budget-friendly, freezer-friendly, and guaranteed to satisfy both vegans and meat-lovers alike. Pair it with crusty bread, garlic bread, or roasted veggies for the ultimate cozy meal.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 483kcal
Equipment
- medium-sized bowl
- small bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown lentils dry
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ cup yellow onion ¼" dice
- ½ cup celery ¼" dice
- 1 cup carrots ¼" dice
- 10 oz portabella mushroom ⅓" dice
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Creole Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2.5 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 8 oz pasta fettuccine
Instructions
- Take one cup of dry lentils, place them in a medium-sized bowl, and cover them with warm water. Let soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
- While lentils are soaking, cook pasta according to the instructions on the package.
- Heat the medium-high oil in a saucepan, add carrots, onions, celery, and mushrooms, and sauté for 5 minutes.
- Turn the heat down to medium, add garlic and dry ground spices, stirring often. Cook for 1 minute. Make sure you do not burn spices.
- Add 2 cups of vegetables broth to your mixture.
- Take your remaining ½ cup of vegetable broth in a small bowlwith 1 table spoon of flour and whisk to make a slurry.
- Add slurry to the pot and mix well. And simmer for 20-25 minutes till it thickens.
Video
Notes
Expert Tips
- Use brown or green lentils—they hold their texture best. Red lentils will turn mushy.
- Chop the mushrooms small to help mimic that ground-meat-like texture.
- Taste as you go! Seasoning is everything with plant-based dishes.
Nutrition
Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 667mg | Potassium: 1117mg | Fiber: 20g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 6340IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 6mg