Thick Cheesy Tomato Lentil Pasta Sauce 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 RED LENTIL PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, green peppers, and carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for one more minute.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, vegetable broth, wine (if using), lentils, and honey. Stir to incorporate. Heat until the mixture comes to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer sauce for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
• Stir in parsley. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired. Serve as desired.
• Keeps refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

ONE POT PASTA WITH CHEESY LENTIL SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pan, saute your garlic until fragrant. Add the mixed herbs and lentils and mix together for another minute.
• Add your tomatoes, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar and sugar to form your tomato sauce.
• Add the dried pasta and then fill the tomato can one and a half times with water and add to the pan.
• Bring to a simmer, and let the pasta cook for 10 to 12 minutes (stirring regularly) until it is al dente.
• Keep an eye on the pasta. If the sauce in the pan thickens up before the pasta is cooked, add some extra water. Thicker pastas will require more water than thinner, quicker cooking ones. I've erred on the side of less water in these instructions, because my pasta was a quick cooking variety. But if, once the pasta is cooked, the sauce is too thin: just keep it on the heat for a few more minutes uncovered until some liquid evaporates. Or you can add some more tomato paste to thicken it up.
• Once the pasta is cooked, add the cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Serve!

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.

CHEESY LENTIL PASTA

Steps:

• Add all of the ingredients except for the cheese to a large saucepan. Add a generous amount of water, and boil for around 15 minutes, until the pasta is soft and the lentils are starting to break down. Drain the water.
• Add the grated cheese and some salt and pepper to the pan, and turn the heat down low. Mix well to combine, until the cheese has fully melted. Best served immediately.

SICILIAN LENTIL PASTA SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add onions, mushrooms, zucchini and garlic.
• Cook while stirring over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
• Add lentils[I like the orange ones] and 3 cups water to the vegetables.
• Turn up the heat and bring to a 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.

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.

PASTA AND LENTILS (PASTA E LENTICCHIE)

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add 5 cups of water, the lentils, the thyme and bay leaves (if using). Partially cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until the lentils are al dente, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil over high. Add the pasta and cook, stirring often to keep the pasta from sticking to the pot, until the pasta is al dente, 10 to 20 minutes. (It may take longer than the cook time on the package.) If the pot starts to look dry at any point, add more water, 1/4 cup at a time.
• Turn off the heat, discard the thyme and bay leaves, then stir in the Parmesan. Cover and let sit for 3 minutes so the flavors meld and the sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Eat with more Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

RED LENTIL PASTA WITH CREAMY TOMATO & PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• First, make the sauce. Put the cashews and garlic in a bowl, then pour over 125ml boiling water and set aside for 5 mins. Meanwhile, put a large pan of water over a high heat. When the water is boiling rapidly, tip in the pasta and a little salt, stir once, then continue to boil for 8 mins, or following pack instructions, until the pasta is softened but still retains some bite.
• Meanwhile, add the roasted pepper and sun-dried tomatoes to the bowl with the cashews, garlic and water, then whizz with a hand blender or in a food processor to make a smooth, creamy sauce. Stir through the basil and season with black pepper.
• Drain the pasta, mix with the sauce in a large bowl, then divide between two bowls and add a handful of rocket to each.

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.