Hearty Lentil Spaghetti Recipes

HEARTY SPAGHETTI WITH LENTILS & MARINARA

Steps:

• To cook the lentils, first pick through the lentils for debris (I once bit into a tiny rock) and then rinse them in a fine-mesh colander. In a small saucepan, combine the lentils, bay leaf, garlic, salt and broth.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer until the lentils are cooked through and tender, which will take somewhere between 20 to 35 minutes, depending on the age and variety of the lentils. Drain the lentils, discard the bay leaf and garlic, and set the pot aside, uncovered.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, according to the package directions. Drain, then return the pasta to the pot and set it aside.
• Stir the marinara into the lentils and warm them together over medium heat. Divide pasta into bowls, top with warm marinara and lentils, and garnish with Parmesan and/or chopped fresh basil, if you'd like. Serve warm. Leftovers will keep well, covered and refrigerated, for up to 4 days.

HEARTY LENTIL SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• In a large saucepan coated with cooking spray, saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the lentils, broth, pepper and cayenne. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until lentils are tender. , Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, vinegar, basil and oregano. Return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 40-45 minutes., Cook spaghetti according to package directions; drain. Serve with lentil sauce. Sprinkle with cheese.

HEARTY BEAN & LENTIL VEGAN BOLOGNESE

Steps:

• Set a large pot over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for one more minute.
• Squeeze the tomatoes to crush and add them to the pot along with the juices from the can. Add the water and honey and stir to combine. Add the lentils. Increase heat to bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are almost cooked through, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the beans and the sprig of basil and continue to cook until thick and rich, about 5-10 more minutes. Remove basil. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired.
• Serve over your favorite pasta (we're partial to whole wheat spaghetti with this sauce), spooned over spaghetti squash, or in a baked sweet potato.
• Sauce keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for 2-3 days. It also freezes very well.

HEARTY LENTIL SOUP I

Steps:

• Place lentils, onion, carrots and cabbage leaves in a pressure cooker and cover with 1 1/2 inches of water and 4 tablespoons oil. Cook about 10 to 15 minutes and then cool until pressure reduces, then open.
• In a food processor or blender, puree soup until smooth. Add cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, all spice, cloves and nutmeg. Transfer to a stock pot and return to heat. When soup is just beginning to boil, stir in onion soup mix. Simmer until thickened and then just before serving season to taste with lemon juice and salt.

VEGETARIAN LENTIL SPAGHETTI SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil over a medium heat in a large pot.
• Add onion, carrots, and garlic to the pot and stir about 5 minutes.
• Add lentils and Italian seasoning.
• Cook and stir until lentils are covered about 2 minutes.
• Break plum tomatoes with hand and add to previous mixture with puree.
• Add 4 cups of water and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to simmer.
• Stir occasionally for about 45 minutes until lentils break down and become tender.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Remove from heat.
• If eating right away, add yogurt. If you freeze, do not add yogurt yet.
• Prepare pasta in large pot of boiling water with a little salt according to instructions.
• Stir pasta in sauce.
• Top with grated Parmesan if you prefer.

SPAGHETTI WITH LENTILS, TOMATO AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Rinse lentils. Put them in a saucepan and cover with water by 1 inch. Toss in Parmesan rind, if using. Add a good pinch of salt and place over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain lentils and reserve cooking water.
• As lentils cook, put 3 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is wavy, add diced onion and fennel, and season with salt and pepper. Add fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, until softened and slightly caramelized, about 10 minutes.
• Add garlic, passata and 2 or 3 tablespoons finely chopped fennel fronds. Stir to combine and add drained lentils. Turn heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes or so, until somewhat thickened. Taste and correct seasoning, then cook for 5 minutes more, so the flavors meld. Add lentil cooking water as necessary to keep everything saucy.
• As sauce cooks, set a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente. Divide among individual bowls and ladle sauce over each serving. Top with shavings of ricotta salata and more chopped fennel fronds. Drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil, if desired.