Lentil Tomato Sauce Recipes

LENTIL AND TOMATO STEW

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven, combine lentils, water, onion, half the garlic, and bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Add salt to taste, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 25 minutes, until lentils are cooked through but still have some texture. They should not be mushy. Taste and adjust salt. Using tongs, remove onion and bouquet garni.
• Meanwhile, make tomato sauce in a separate pan. Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic. When it smells fragrant but before it browns, after about 30 seconds of sizzling, add tomatoes and stir together. Add sugar, salt, and basil sprigs and turn heat to medium-high so tomatoes come to a brisk simmer. Turn heat down to medium and cook, stirring often, until tomatoes have cooked down to thick, fragrant sauce, about 20 minutes. Remove basil sprigs.
• If using unpeeled tomatoes and a food mill, put sauce through fine blade of the mill. Add tomato sauce to lentils, stir together, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes. The mixture should be fairly thick, a stew rather than a soup. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. Stir in slivered basil.
• Serve in wide bowls, over optional garlic bruschette. Sprinkle Parmesan over each serving if desired.

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.

SICILIAN LENTIL PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and garlic. Cook and stir until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add lentils and 3 cups water to vegetables. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 45 to 60 minutes.
• Stir in tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. If necessary, add more water to keep the sauce from sticking. Be careful not to dilute; the sauce should be quite thick.

LENTIL RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Cook gently for 15-20 mins until everything is softened. Stir in the lentils, chopped tomatoes, tomato purée, herbs and stock. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 40-50 mins until the lentils are tender and saucy - splash in water if you need. Season.
• If eating straight away, keep on a low heat while you cook the spaghetti, following pack instructions. Drain well, divide between pasta bowls or plates, spoon sauce over the top and grate over some cheese. Alternatively, cool the sauce and chill for up to 3 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months. Simply defrost portions overnight at room temperature, then reheat gently to serve.

LENTIL-TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add lentils and thyme; cook, stirring, until lentils are coated, about 2 minutes.
• Break up tomatoes using your hands or a spoon and then add along with puree. Add 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover tightly, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender and starting to break down, about 45 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. If eating right away, stir in yogurt.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions; drain. Toss with sauce and top with grated Parmesan if desired.

SPICY RED PASTA WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Add lentils and water to a small saucepan and bring to a low boil over medium heat, then reduce heat slightly to achieve a mild simmer (not boil).
• Cook lentils to preferred doneness - 15 minutes for a slight bite, 20-22 minutes for more tender lentils. For this dish, I prefer 'al dente' so they don't become mushy.
• When lentils are finished cooking, drain off any excess cooking liquid, season with a pinch of salt, and set aside.
• While lentils are cooking, heat a large, rimmed metal or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add olive oil, garlic, carrots and tomato (optional). Sauté for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• To prevent splattering, remove skillet from heat and add tomato sauce, tomato paste, pinch sea salt, chili flake, oregano, basil, sweetener, and vegan parmesan cheese (optional), and stir to combine.
• Place back over heat and bring to a low simmer over medium-low heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to low and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• If serving with pasta, cook according to package instructions at this time. Then drain and set aside.
• Sample pasta sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Add more sweetener to balance and enhance the flavors: chili flake for heat, salt for saltiness, or more herbs for depth of flavor. If too thick, thin with a little water.
• Add the cooked, drained lentils to the sauce and stir to combine. To serve, either spoon sauce over noodles, or add pasta to the sauce and toss to coat.
• Serve with any additional toppings, such as red pepper flakes, vegan parmesan cheese, and fresh basil.
• Best when fresh. Store leftovers separately in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Reheat sauce in the microwave or saucepan. Add a little water to thin if too thick. I've found gluten free pasta doesn't keep well, so cook fresh for each batch.

TOMATO SAUCE WITH LENTILS

Steps:

• Add the oil to a medium frying pan, saute the onions and garlic until soft and starting to turn golden. Add the tomatoes, lentils and half a cup of water. Turn down the heat, cover and leave to simmer for 25 minutes or until the lentils are soft.
• Check every 5 minutes or so, adding more water so the mixture remains runny.
• Transfer to a blender - I use my Vitamix, add the sun dried tomatoes and some of the oil from the jar, and blitz to a silky smooth paste, add a drizzle of water if needed to thin - you want a spreadable, but not runny consistency.
• Season to taste with the balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper.

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.

QUICK CURRIED LENTILS IN TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium. Add onion and ginger; season with salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to brown, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Add spices; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds.
• Add tomato sauce, lentils, and 1 cup water. Simmer until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in lime juice and cilantro; season with salt.
• Serve lentil mixture with rice; garnish with more cilantro, if desired.

LENTILS WITH TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a pot, bring the water to a boil, and stir in the lentils. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes; drain.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and saute the green bell pepper and onion until tender. Mix in the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the lentils, reduce heat, and simmer 25 to 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender.