We’re celebrating World Vegan Day this November with another heart-healthy plant-based recipe that’s affordable and easy to make: vegan bolognaise!
The trick to this recipe is to treat the process similarly to how you’d make a regular mince bolognaise, but add a few more flavour elements. This recipe uses affordable, healthy brown lentils and not a plant mince substitute. The texture of the lentils works well, plus nutritionally, the lentils are a great source of both fibre and protein.
Vegan Lentil Bolognaise Recipe
What You Need:
Olive oil
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1-2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
¼ tsp each ground cumin and ground coriander
1 tsp each dried oregano and dried thyme
1 large carrot, peeled and finely cubed / chopped (or grated)
½ cup finely chopped/ cubed brown mushrooms
2 x 400g tins brown lentils, drained and rinsed
2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes (or 6-8 tomatoes, diced)
2 cups of vegetable stock
1 tbsp good quality balsamic vinegar
Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
To serve:
Cooked pasta of your choice
Fresh chopped basil or Italian parsley
A drizzle of olive oil (optional)
Pinch of nutritional yeast (optional)
Method:
1/ Sauté the onion in olive oil over a medium to low heat. After a few minutes, add your garlic and spices and dried herbs and continue to saute for a further couple of minutes, until fragrant.
2/ Add your chopped carrot, mushroom and lentils to the pot and stir occasionally for about 3-4 minutes.
3/ Add your tomatoes, stock and balsamic vinegar. Allow to simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated. Taste test before seasoning with salt and pepper. If the acidity is too high from the tomatoes, add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda, stir in and simmer for a few more minutes.
4/ Serve bolognaise with pasta of your choice, herbs and an optional drizzle of olive oil and pinch of nutritional yeast. We also recommend serving your pasta with a green salad.
Our #MedshieldMovement site is packed with healthy, tasty recipes. Looking for another lentil or plant-based recipe to try? Make this healthy lentil bobotie.
For a list of easy plant-based food swaps, click here.