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Home » Recipes » Pasta

Vegan Lentil Bolognese

Published: Apr 11, 2021 by Lexi

436 shares
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If you're vegan and/or gluten free, it's easy to feel left out on pasta night. Our hearty vegan lentil bolognese is naturally vegan and gluten free, and is packed with flavor to elevate your pasta to rich, satisfying heights.

overhead view of vegan lentil bolognese sauce over pasta on black plate with fork.
Jump to:
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step-by-step Instructions
  • Expert Tips and FAQs
  • Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Hearty and filling: The lentils serve as a stand in for ground beef, giving our sauce a full and hearty texture.
  • Layers of flavor: We use fresh and dried herbs, red wine, and cook the lentils in veggie broth to create well-rounded and luxurious flavors.
  • Use up that stuff you forgot in the pantry: We're willing to bet you have a pack of lentils that's been sitting on the shelf for a few months, alongside cans of tomato sauce, and a bunch of unopened spices on your spice rack. This recipe is a great way to avoid wasting them!
  • Easy dinner that freezes well: Once you've made the vegan lentil bolognese sauce, you can store in a tupperware and freeze. Just reheat when you're ready, and you have an easy and satisfying dinner that's ready in 15 minutes.
  • Great source of plant-based protein: lentils are a fantastic source of protein for vegans, with about 12g of protein in ½ cup of cooked lentils. They're also a great source of fiber, iron and potassium.
overhead view of vegan lentil bolognese sauce in large pot topped with fresh basil.

Ingredients

Here are the key ingredients you'll need to make this vegan lentil bolognese:

overhead view of ingredients for vegan lentil bolognese in small prep bowls.

Ingredient Notes

  • Lentils: We recommend using green or brown lentils. Other lentils, like french green lentils, would be OK, but green and brown lentils are bigger and softer than other varieties. Their texture is a better match for al dente pasta.
    • We don't suggest using red or yellow lentils, which tend to get super mushy and soft. The goal in this bolognese is to keep the texture of the lentils so it's similar to a ground beef sauce.
  • Crushed tomatoes / tomato paste: It's important not to skimp here, so we'd recommend going with a higher quality brand like Mutti, Cento or Muir Glen. Lower quality sauce will have a tinny, acidic flavor.
  • Red wine: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chianti, and Zinfandel all pair very well with tomato-based recipes. You don't have to use an amazing bottle. Something in the $6-$10 range will work just fine. Also, the alcohol will cook off, so don't worry about any alcohol content in the sauce – it just adds flavor!
  • Italian seasoning blend: instead of using 5+ different dried herbs, we use an Italian seasoning blend, which is found at pretty much any grocery store. It typically contains herbs like parsley, oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme and garlic powder, so you can improvise with those herbs if you don't have a blend on hand.
    • Italian seasoning blend is so versatile and great to keep on hand for recipes like this easy vegetable lentil soup and this vegan meatloaf.

Step-by-step Instructions

(1) Cook lentils according to package directions in either vegetable broth or water + a large pinch of salt. Drain and set aside. (You can also wait to do this while the sauce is cooking, but I like to do it at the beginning so I don't forget!)

(2) Heat the olive oil in a large sauce pot, then sauté the onions for 7-10 minutes, until translucent and softened. Add garlic and continue cooking for 3-5 minutes.

on the left: cooked lentils in pot. on the right: sautéed carrots, celery and onion in a pot.

(3) Add carrots, celery and continue cooking for 7-10 minutes, stirring often. Add tomato paste, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, coconut sugar, pepper, red pepper flakes and bay leaves. Add red wine and let reduce for a few minutes, stirring.

(4) Add tomatoes and simmer for at least one hour, stirring occasionally. 

before and after adding crushed tomatoes to lentil bolognese sauce in a large pot.

(5) When sauce is finished, use an immersion blender to roughly blend sauce - you don't want any large chunks of vegetables remaining, but you also don't want a complete puree. Just a few pulses will do.

(6) Stir in lentils and fresh parsley.

on the left: pureed tomato sauce in a pot. on the right: tomato sauce with cooked lentils before stirring in.

Serve over pasta of choice and enjoy! I like topping mine with more fresh basil and red pepper flakes.

overhead view of vegan lentil bolognese sauce in large pot topped with fresh basil.

Expert Tips and FAQs

  • Cook your lentils in vegetable broth: To add a bit of extra flavor to lentils (which can be relatively bland), we suggest cooking them in vegetable broth instead of water. A large pinch of salt in the cooking liquid will help, too.
  • Let it simmer: The longer this vegan lentil bolognese cooks, the more flavorful it will be. I suggest at least an hour of simmer time, but longer won't hurt. If it simmers for too long, you can always add a splash or broth or more tomatoes to loosen up the sauce.
  • Choice of pasta: For most of the year, I like to keep things traditional with regular pasta. Spaghetti, fettuccine, pappardelle, tagliatelle, rigatoni, penne – they'll all work. In the warmer months, however, I sometimes swap pasta with zucchini noodles for a lighter version. Especially during summer when we have a lot of extra zucchini on hand, it's a great way to use up our bounty.
  • Blending the sauce: Make sure you leave some texture when you blend. You're aiming for chunks, not a smooth pureé. We usually use an immersion blender, but a regular blender will work just as well. Make sure to blend in 10-15 second increments so you don't accidentally over blend the sauce.
Can I freeze this sauce?

Yes, this vegan lentil bolognese sauce freezes very well in a tupperware container for up to 6 months.

How should I reheat this sauce?

The best way would be to take it out of the freezer and leave it in the refrigerator overnight to thaw the night before you will use it. If it's not defrosted thoroughly, you can pop it in the microwave, checking it frequently. Once there are no frozen bits, heat it back up in a sauce pan, toss your pasta in the sauce, and serve.

Will I be able to taste the wine?

Yes and no - the alcohol flavor will burn off, but the residual flavors of fruit, smoke, vinegar, and herbs will remain, adding depth of flavor to the sauce.

close up view of vegan lentil bolognese sauce over pasta on black plate with fork.

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Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter.

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overhead view of vegan lentil bolognese sauce over pasta on black plate with fork.

Vegan Lentil Bolognese


★★★★★

5 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
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Description

This hearty vegan lentil bolognese is packed with flavor for a rich, satisfying pasta sauce. Make a big batch ahead of time and freeze excess for future dinners. 


Ingredients

Scale
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 ½ cup finely diced yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
  • 4-5 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 cup carrot, diced (2-3 medium carrots)
  • 1 cup celery, diced (3-4 stalks)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp Italian seasoning blend
  • 2 ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp coconut sugar or regular sugar
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 42 oz crushed tomatoes (no salt added)
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1  cups dried green or brown lentils (2 cups cooked), cooked according to package directions in water or vegetable broth

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large sauce pot, then sauté onions for 7-10 minutes, or until translucent and softened. Add garlic and continue cooking for 3-5 minutes.
  2. Add carrots, celery and continue cooking for 7-10 minutes, stirring often. Add tomato paste, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, coconut sugar, pepper, red pepper flakes and bay leaves. Add red wine and let reduce for a few minutes, stirring.
  3. Add tomatoes and simmer for at least one hour, stirring occasionally. 
  4. Meanwhile, cook lentils according to package directions in either vegetable broth or water + a large pinch of salt. Drain and set aside. 
  5. When sauce is finished, use an immersion blender to roughly blend sauce - you don't want any large chunks of vegetables remaining, but you also don't want a complete puree. Just a few pulses will do. When finished, stir in lentils and parsley and serve over pasta of choice. Enjoy!

Notes

Lentils: Green or brown lentils work best in this recipe. We don't suggest using red or yellow lentils, which will get mushy.

High-quality tomato products (paste + puréed tomatoes) will go a long way towards making your sauce taste great. We recommend using brands like Mutti, Cento or Muir Glen. 

You can skip the red wine if you have a dietary restriction, but if not, we highly recommend using good, cheap bottle. It will add flavor and complexity.

Pretty much any style of pasta will work. We especially like using zucchini noodles in the summer.

Patience is key. The longer you simmer this sauce, the better it will taste.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 helping of sauce
  • Calories: 454
  • Sugar: 21.6 g
  • Sodium: 2066.5 mg
  • Fat: 15.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 67.2 g
  • Fiber: 14 g
  • Protein: 18.7 g

Keywords: vegan bolognese

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @crowded_kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #crowdedkitchen

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Jeanel

    August 30, 2022 at 10:02 pm

    WOW! I tried this for the first time tonight and it was more amazing than I was expecting. I am trying to eat healthier and feed my little babies healthier options and this was a hit with them as well. Crowded Kitchen, you have a new fan. I can't wait to try some of your other recipes on my journey to healthier eating.

    I did have to make one adjustment because I only bought one 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes and I needed 42 oz (didn't realize this until I started cooking). I had to add Prego sauce (which I almost cried over because this recipe tasted so AMAZING I did not want to violate it with cheap pasta sauce). It didn't hurt the flavor too much but next time I want to make sure I have enough ingredients.

    Overall, this was one of the best dishes I have ever made. My picky eaters loved it as well!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Brent Harrison

      September 01, 2022 at 1:36 pm

      So happy to hear that, Jeanel, and thanks for leaving a review!

      Reply
  2. Tonya

    March 02, 2022 at 9:56 pm

    I’ve been trying to incorporate more vegetables and decided to give up meat for Lent. This was the first vegan recipe I tried and I was blown away! I’m so excited to make more of your recipes. I absolutely did not miss the meat.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Lexi

      March 03, 2022 at 9:45 am

      So thrilled you enjoyed! Thanks so much!

      Reply
  3. Brandy

    January 10, 2022 at 9:05 pm

    This is the best vegan bolognese I’ve had! We make it regularly and have served it to many a meat eater, each of whom has sung its praises.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Nadia

    December 30, 2021 at 11:05 pm

    So delicious! Family loved it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  5. Amelia

    October 06, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    SO GOOD!! Holy smokes this was amazing and I definitely will be making it again and again!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Lexi

      October 07, 2021 at 11:17 am

      So glad you enjoyed, Amelia! Thanks so much for your comment!

      Reply
  6. Stephanie Snell

    July 11, 2021 at 10:36 am

    Absolutely delicious. Will make this a staple.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Aimee

    April 14, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    Made this for my family this week and it was a huge hit! My 12 year old, after the first few bites asked if we could include this recipe in our regular dinner rotation! Thank you for sharing! Love your recipes!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Angela Neilson

    April 13, 2021 at 3:28 pm

    This dish is amazing! It was easy to make and absolutely mouth watering delicious. I highly recommend you try it! This will be a staple in our home. Thanks so much for the amazing recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  9. corinna

    October 30, 2020 at 11:54 pm

    I am sorry to see that in Vegan recipes it is a " no-no " to mention any meat substitutes..like in the Bolognese I bet some veggie burger or sausage grounded would be very nice ...I assume it is because you'd have to give the name of a brand ..and this would advertising..?

    Reply
    • Lexi

      November 02, 2020 at 9:44 am

      Hi Corinna, thanks for your comment. We didn't mention any substitutes because we haven't tried this recipe with anything but lentils!

      Reply
  10. Sophia

    September 16, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    Is the total calories with or without pasta

    Reply
    • Lexi

      September 16, 2020 at 5:55 pm

      Hi! Without pasta, but realistically that's a really large serving, so total calories would more likely be around 300-350 for one normal size serving of the sauce.

      Reply

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