Raise your hand if you’re always three years behind trends like me (wave it around, girl).
I’m still trying to figure out whether it’s cool or not to wear flare jeans. Please advise in the comments.
Veggie noodles have been a “thing” since like 2007, but I’m just now getting on board.
Who wants to spiralize things with me?!
Here’s the thing about spiralized noodles. It requires a tool, as in another thing to have lying around your kitchen and we tend to be anti “stuff.” We like to keep our kitchen minimal, as you might’ve guessed. (Get it, Minimalist Baker? Sensing a trend? You’re quick, I knew you’d get it.)
However, when your pal sends you her new cookbook and your very own spiralizer to try out, you kind of sort of have to use it. And since the rest of the free world seems to have one in their kitchen – including my mom, my sister, and probably all of my aunts – it’s about time I get on board.
The cool thing about spiralizing noodles – besides vegetables morphing into curly q’s – is that there are options:
You can buy a countertop spiralizer,
A handheld spiralizer,
Or use a good old-fashioned vegetable peeler like I’ve done for the past several years.
And when in doubt, just use pasta. You simply can’t lose with pasta.
Origins of Bolognese
Apparently, spaghetti bolognese is not authentically Italian (source). Who knew!? But a similar dish, Ragù alla Bolognese, is from Italy and is served on noodles such as tagliatelle rather than spaghetti.
It’s thought that Ragù alla Bolognese was created in the 1700s by a chef named Alberto Alvisi. Then in the 1800s, it began appearing in cookbooks from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. But the official recipe was not registered until 1982. You can read more about the history of bolognese here.
Zucchini Pasta with Lentil Bolognese
This recipe comes together in 30 minutes, you guys. That’s big! Just think: a flavorful, hearty, protein- and fiber-rich dinner on the table in half an hour.
Anyone can do it! Even you. Yes, you. You know I’m talking to you.
The marinara is hearty and rich, and includes carrots for texture and natural sweetness and lentils for plant-based protein (nearly 17 g protein per serving!). Serve over fresh or lightly sautéed zucchini noodles and you’re good to go.
I hope you all LOVE this meal! It’s:
Light
Fresh
Easy
Flavorful
Hearty
Protein-packed
Vegetable forward
& Crazy delicious
Make this on nights when you need something hearty and healthy on the table when you don’t have a ton of time to spare. Or when you’re hosting folks with sensitive diets and need to please a crowd. Or just because. This dish is so good it’s likely going to become a mainstay in our dinner rotation.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #minimalistbaker on Instagram! We’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!
Zucchini Pasta with Lentil Bolognese
Ingredients
PASTA
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium shallot (minced // or sub 1/3 cup diced onion)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2-3 medium carrots (finely shredded // 1 cup or 110 g as original recipe is written // I use the grater attachment on a food processor)
- 1 pinch sea salt (plus more to taste)
- 26 ounces favorite marinara sauce (or sub tomato sauce* // I prefer Trader Joe’s brand Tomato Basil)
- 1 pinch red pepper flake
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp coconut sugar (for sweetness // plus more to taste // or sub stevia)
- 1/2 cup water
- 3/4 cup dry split red lentils* (rinsed and drained)
- 2 medium zucchini (rinsed and both ends sliced off)
FOR SERVING optional
Instructions
- Heat a large rimmed skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil, shallot, and garlic. Sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until slightly softened and fragrant. Turn down heat if browning.
- Add carrots and a pinch of salt and stir. Cook for 3-4 minutes more, then add marinara sauce and stir to coat.
- Add red pepper flake, basil, oregano, coconut sugar, water, and lentils. Increase heat slightly and bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low/medium-low, cover, and continue cooking until lentils are tender – stirring occasionally – about 17-20 minutes. Add a bit more water if mixture gets too thick.
- Once lentils are cooked, taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt to taste, coconut sugar for sweetness, red pepper flake for heat, or herbs for flavor balance.
- While the sauce is cooking, spiralize your zucchini into noodles using a tool such as this or this. Alternatively you can use a mandolin or vegetable peeler, or simply cook up your favorite pasta.
- Serve the pasta over noodles of choice (I opted for raw zucchini noodles – so good!) and garnish with desired toppings – I prefer Vegan Parmesan Cheese and red pepper flake.
- Sauce will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days or in the freezer 1 month.
Notes
*Tomato sauce is generally pureed tomatoes with garlic, salt, and Italian spices.
*For extra tender lentils, you can soak them in cool water overnight or quick soak in hot water for 15-20 minutes. Then drain and proceed with the recipe.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
*This recipe is not a traditional preparation of bolognese. It is our inspired, plant-based version served on zucchini noodles.
Tara Jurvakainen says
Delicious, I made this (using the zucchini “noodles”) and I will be sure to again and again. Love finding ways to use lentils. Thank you for all your recipes from a newly minted vegetarian.
Thanks, Tara! xoxo
Marie says
Delicious!!!! I used TJ’s red split lentils, added more crushed red pepper, and topped it with vegan parmesan made with sunflower seeds. I had it with lightly sauteed zoodles while my husband had it with quinoa pasta (he hates zoodles). Amazing…and healthy! Love your recipes.
Sylvia D. says
This sauce was super delicious! I ended up having to cook the lentils for an extra 15 minutes in the sauce before they were soft enough to eat, so I may soak the lentils first for a bit next time. The zucchini noodles were really nice lightly blanched before topping with the sauce. I’ll definitely be making it again. Thanks!
Sarah T. says
Holy smokes – This is amazing! I made it exactly as suggested, except added fresh basil from the garden! I use a jar of arrabiata sauce for a little extra spice. I genuinely feel that this could serve 3, maybe 4 people. I ate about a 1/3 and was totally satisfied! Topped with some more fresh basil and ‘nooch’ For cheesiness!!
Amazing recipe and came together seamlessly and quickly!!! Yum!!!
Yum! Great additions, Sarah!
sarahbrarian says
I used the PPK Italian sausage tempeh crumbles in place of the red lentils and omg, perfection. This will be a staple in my cooking rotation!
Karen says
I can’t tell from the recipe. Are you using canned or dried lentils?
Dried!
Emma says
Loved the recipe! I made it for my family, it served three of us with two full containers of leftover sauce. I mixed zucchini spirals with regular spaghetti which worked really well, still the classic pasta taste but a bit healthier. I’m not sure there would have been enough noodles for three people with just the two zucchinis, but I guess it would depend on their size. VERY tasty and did not feel like it was missing meat at all, even though it was a bolognese. Thanks Dana! :)
Hilary says
Super easy recipe and full of flavor. I will be making this again!
Susan says
I made this again because I loved it the first time. Excellent and easy! (Be sure to use a tried-and-true red sauce.) I cut back on the sugar… just a pinch. I added a few chopped baby bella mushrooms with the carrots. After cooking, I topped it off with a sprinkle of garlic salt. Serve over raw zoodles. YUM!
Thanks for sharing your recipe changes, Susan! We’re glad you enjoyed it!
Vedrana says
Today I added cut up nori, olives and capers, and a touch of soy cream to take the edge off of my tomato sauce, and got a fabulous “tuna” marinara. ?
Vedrana says
Made this for lunch today, and it was fab!
? ?
I didn’t use store bought marinara, so I added a few more seasonings to my plain tomato passata… A pinch of fresh chopped rosemary, granulated onion and garlic, a sprinkling of dried celery leaves, 1/2 teaspoon ground dried mushrooms, and a generous pinch of smoked salt. Oh, and instead of water I used Better Than Bouillon, but very diluted. At the very end, I added 4 more cloves of minced garlic and a handful of chopped fresh basil.
It did take a bit longer to cook, but that’s because I like my lentils mushy. ?
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Christy says
I made this and I recommend cooking the lentils first. It took forever for them to soften otherwise. The flavor was good, but the consistency was too “watery” feeling in the mouth so I added some olive oil. I also was a bad girl and used some Parmesan cheese to make it more flavorful. It’s very nice and filling!
Merilla says
Delicious and filling! I only had green lentils on hand, so it took about 30 minutes to cook fully instead of the 17-20 it would’ve taken with red. I skipped the sugar and added more red pepper flakes because I like the spice, and it tasted great.
Thanks for another great recipe :)
Yay! Thanks for sharing your recipe changes, Merilla! Glad you enjoyed it!
Margaret Goldsmith says
This is FABULOUS!! Love every recipe of yours that I have made. But WOW this was great! 5 stars!!
Yay! Thanks Margaret!
Stephanie says
This was amazingly delicious!! I used fresh oregano and basil and no salt broth instead of water. It was so good! My family didn’t know it was meat free!
Brooke says
Made this recipe twice and its honestly AMAZING. Both times I used green lentils because I didn’t have any red ones. The first time, the lentils did not cook through all the way in the allotted time so I added about 15 minutes to the cooking time. The lentils were still a bit crunchy though (they weren’t expired according to the date on the bag but they may have been a bit old) but the sauce was still delicious despite this.
The second time, I pre-cooked the green lentils during the day in water on the stove and stored them in the fridge until I was ready to make dinner. When I made the sauce, I threw in the pre-cooked lentils and omitted the water (since the cooked lentils would not absorb it like the uncooked lentils). I still let the sauce simmer for about 10-15 minutes and it came out perfectly. I sautéed the zucchini noodles in some olive oil for about 3 minutes so they were warm but still crunchy. I found that 2.5-3 zucchini is the right amount for me and my husband.
I did not think I’d like this as much as regular pasta but it went above and beyond my expectations! Thank you!!
Jasmin says
This is a regular recipe for me. I make it nearly every week, it’s just so delicious and easy! I began making the zucchini noodles with a peeler, but loved this meal so much that I bought a spiralizer specifically for making this (which has now been put to good use for many other recipes). I use canned lentils for this, which makes it super quick to make. So healthy and yum!
Stef says
This recipe is wonderful. My husband who usually turns his nose up at meatless meals loved it and our toddler devoured it.
Blair says
Does it make a difference if its whole lentils or split lentils?
Thanks!
Sally Palmer says
What do you mean by marinara sauce? Can I kust use tinned tomatoes?
Hi Sally! We suggest using marinara sauce. It is a traditional red sauce made with tomatoes, you can buy it at your local grocery store!
Liz A says
Made this with green lentils instead of red, and made a double-batch of it, and it turned out wonderfully! I think the green lentils gave the bolognese an extra meat-like texture. It did add a lot to the cooking time, though. For sweetness I added just one packet of stevia and it added plenty of sweetness for my taste, and I generally like food on the less-sweet side. I paired the bolognese with spaghetti squash and topped with nutritional yeast and it was wonderful!
Patrice says
Do you think I could use a grated sweet potato instead of carrots in the sauce?
Hi Patrice! Yep I think that would work nicely! Report back on how it goes :)
Deee says
I made this in the Instant Pot. So tasty! :)
5 minutes then 10 minutes natural release.
Hollie says
I made this last spring and then a couple days ago! I loooove this recipe. However, this time I added half a can of coconut milk to it to make it a little creamier and it was on poinnnnt.
ramona says
Help I’m making the Zucchini pasta with Lentil Bolognese and the lentils are not cooking – was I supposed to use cooked lentils?
Thanks and sorry for the probably obvious question form a first timer
Liz A says
It calls for dried lentils and the lentils are supposed to cook in the sauce. You may need to add more water depending on the thickness of the sauce, but you can always add water as you cook them as needed.
Carolyn says
First time cooking with red lentils and making zucchini noodles, which were surprisingly good! I used a mandolin and used a medium and large toothed blade for some variety. I tried one on its own and didn’t love the flavor but with the sauce its a winner! I also ate them raw, feeling super healthy after this one!
cheryl says
can I make this sauce a day in advance and reheat??? would it be as good? would love to do this for my vegan guests for Thanksgiving
Hi Cheryl! Yes you can! Sauce will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days or in the freezer 1 month.
Rose says
LOVED IT, sooo healthy and delicious! My kids (4 and 3 years old and picky) loved the sauce too!! Thank you so much!
Danielle says
The sauce is hearty and delish. I had this over butternut squash noodles (“sqoodles?”) as that is what I had on hand, with the squash sautéed in olive oil for about eight minutes.
Dale Felice says
This is my first review here. I owe you a few!
I made this last night to rave reviews and have passed along the recipe to 6 people. Having the girls tomorrow night for game night and dinner and this has been requested! Thank you from a vegan that is always looking for healthy and hearty recipes. Here comes Fall and this will be one of my new “comfort” foods. Husband loves it too!
Thank you!
Rebecca says
Made this today! It was amazing! How can I send you a pic?
Hi! Send us the photo through Instagram direct messages.
Sheba says
Just made this and it’s delicious. I made my own marinara with tomatos from our garden. Next time I make I’m definitely going to try the Vegan parm.
carolyn says
I hate to admit this… but I could never be a vegan without your website in my life. Every single recipe I’ve tried of yours tastes amazing.
Michelle says
I’m incorporating this into my Batch meal
Prep routine. I ommited the sugar because I felt it just didn’t need it. I didn’t have shallot on hand so I just used yellow onion. And I used green lentils instead of red. I hear the green ones keep their shape and consistency a little more and the red ones get mushy. It was just a personal preference for me. I made a big batch for the week and spiralized the zuccini and kept them in separate containers and I’ll just grab as needed throughout the week. Thanks for a great recipe!
Heidi says
I just took the 30 day vegan challenge after watching What The Health. I’m already vegetarian but eliminating cheese and some other dairy is going to Be very hard for me. This was my first dinner of the challenge. Thank you for creating such a delicious meal my entire family enjoyed. I didn’t even miss the parm!
MargieJ says
I’m in day 13 of the Zliving TV “The Big Fat Truth” lifestyle Challenge. It’s a Whole Plant based food plan. This recipe is a Great entree replacement for Pasta. I made everything from scratch and I can tell you gadgets are a time-saver! Thanks for this, maybe I can stay in the challenge longer…
Togah says
I loved this! Unfortunately I didn’t have a number zucchini in the fridge, so I served the bolognese with regular whole wheat pasta (since carbs and gluten aren’t an issue for me). It was sooooo tasty!
My meat eating sister couldn’t get enough.
Britta says
I made this last night and it was quick and easy and so delicious!
judith says
This exceeded my expectations and then some! I was super nervous that I was going to miss the flavors that real cheese, pasta and meat bring to this classic recipe but boy was I wrong. The lentils and sauce had such an amazing flavor and the zucchini tasted like fresh pasta without leaving me feeling stuffed.
I did make a few minor variations that for me made this a winner- arrabbiatta instead of marinara sauce, 1 carrot (i’m not a huge fan), and almost double the spice.
I also added a few chunks of meatless chicken which was icing on the cake (and may try again with beyond meat ground beef) but in hindsight I could have done without it because again, the flavor of the lentils alone was so good.
I am just trying out the vegan thing and am so thankful that I came across your site after a quick google search. Everything I’ve tried so far is easy to make and surprisingly tasty. Thanks for sharing!
Kathryn says
I love this meal! It came together very quickly and the leftovers tasted just as good! Made this for my parents and brother and everyone cleared their plate. GREAT recipe, thank you!!
ExpatinGermany says
I haven’t made this yet because I just ordered a spiralizer (yes, I’m behind the curve too), but I wanted to mention that lately whenever I’m looking for a recipe, I seem to land on your site! My daughter is vegan, and I’m transitioning to the same, so I really appreciate all your excellent ideas. Thank you.
Cayla says
I tried this the first time with pasta noodles, and cooked zucchini in it, and it was AMAZING. My whole family loved it. I’m making it tonight with the zoodles. Thanks for the recipe!
Alina says
Honestly, this was one of the most delicious recipes I have ever made. I loaded the bolognese up on a baked sweet potato and topped it with some cheese, it was gone in seconds. Thank you SO much for this genius idea!
margaret conyers says
Thank you for your inspiring recipes. Have copied the golden milk and spiralised lentil bolognese dish. I would gladly send a pic but I am a klutz when it comes to tech. Putting in a comment is as good as it gets. I appreciate your site very much.
Kelsey says
I just made this, and OMG EVERYONE: This recipe is easy, delicious & filling! No surprise there, as every recipe I’ve ever tried from Dana turns out wonderfully. (At this point I literally Google whatever ingredients I have + “Minimalist Baker” any time I need recipe ideas). This was a balanced dinner for my vegetarian diet. For the sauce I used a can of diced tomatoes and tomato paste, and I substituted my homemade vegetable broth for the water. Thank you, Dana!!!
Kelsey says
Oh, and I added kale to the sauce! Good way to sneak some leafy greens in there :)
Michelle says
I’m making this recipe for a meal prep week. I noticed you said sauce is only good for 3 days? Would the sauce still be good for a week in the refrigerator?
Hi Michelle! You could try it, but I’d recommend throwing it in the freezer for any time longer.
LF says
ditto
Amy Lynn says
This really isn’t trendy… well, I guess for the people who didn’t grow up with massive food allergies :) My Mom was always trying to make pasta alternatives for us in the late 1970s/early 1980s (usually a squash I am suddenly blanking out on – is there something actually called “spaghetti squash”? I was a kid, I just remember inside of the squash looked sort of like spaghetti).
Anyway, I think maybe the use of a “spiralizer” is newer, and should be a great thing for people who want to do homemade “pasta” when they are allergic to wheat. Or g-free these days. :) So I think buying one would probably be a good investment if you are gluten free or just like this. I hate being poor, I need a decent food processor too. I am vegan and end up giving up and eating something from a box. Like Amy’s brand. But would always love to make it myself if at all possible! Thank you for sharing so many great recipes – you might just help me get back in the kitchen :)
Dimara says
Made this and it was a good start for a sauce. I used whole canned tomatoes, tomato paste and then blended once cooked. Felt like it needed more depth so I added 2 TBS beef broth base. That made it great!
Linda says
My first recipe review ever.. although I am an avid fan and have used 20+ recipes of yours that were all big hits at home and at bake sales :) I just made this and it is so good! There’s a chinese version of having bolognese sauce on rice and it was heavenly! So comforting, thank you so much!
Yasemin says
Dana, my experience is that when red lentils are cooked, they turn yellow and dissolve. I make soup with them often. Are these a special kind of red lentils with peel on like the green or brown ones? Thanks.
Julia says
I made this for the first time tonight and it’s really, really good. It’s easy to make and really healthy, it will be a dish I make over and over. Love all your recipies Dana, vegan that’s delicious, can’t beat that, thank you ?
Shannon says
Hi Dana, sorry where is the link to making your own tomato sauce? Don’t have trader jos here in NZ, thank you :)
Jenna says
Do you have to use coconut sugar? Does it make a big difference?
Brooke says
Hey – just wondering if the leftovers can be frozen?
Hi Brooke! I wouldn’t recommend freezing the zucchini pasta, but if you have leftover sauce you can freeze it for up to a month!
TC says
Great dish! I followed recipe to the ‘T’ except I added double the water…a little at a time and omitted the red pepper flakes. Will definitely make again!
Stephanie says
Excellent recipe – delicious, healthy, super easy and quick. It was a huge win with my entire family. The carrots added perfect level of sweetness I didn’t know was possible, no need of sugar here. I’m making a double recipe as we speak to use for making a veggie lasagna. This recipe is a new staple in our home. Love! Thank you!
Jenna Walls says
Tried this bolognese with spaghetti squash and it was AMAZING! Love this site. :D
Amelia says
I’ve been eyeing this recipe for a while, finally decided to make it today! Thank you so much it was amazing (my omnivore brother even loved it). The flavors were perfect. I will say it took me about double the time for the lentils to soften, so I think next time I’ll cook them separately. But that’s fine, it turned out great! :)
beyonce says
Such a nice post, keep providing good resources.
Erica - She Tried What says
Pinning this! What a great idea to add protein to a meatless bolognese using lentils!
Randy says
I just made this recipe with regular pasta and it is awesome! A quick and nutritious addition to pasta day. Plus there are plenty of leftovers for future days.
Jillian says
I made this and it was so delish! Def going to add it to my weeknight rotation!
Mo says
Are the red lentils whole red lentils (or the split ones from Indian dal that cook really easily)?
Do you think green lentils would work too?
Erica says
This recipe tasted great without the added sugar. The only problem I had was getting the red lentils soft enough–the amount of liquid and the time didn’t do it. Maybe I’ll cook them in some broth beforehand next time…
María says
Really lovely recipe! I used fresh tomatoes, peeled and chopped, like they usually do in Italy (they don’t know what tomate sauce is). If they’re juicy enough the lentils will perfectly cook, absorbing this flavoured liquid. I dispensed with the sugar, using as sweetener just the carrots… and it was an amazing result!
Moreover, I used to scald my zucchini noodles, but this time I chose the raw form and I will keep the option for future meals: I definitely prefer them like this.
Thank you for from Spain (a place where people really enjoy food…)
Michelle says
I just made this recipe last night and tested out my new OXO Spiralizer for the first time- this was SO DELICIOUS!! Thank you for creating recipes that are easy to follow, and reliably delicious. The sauce was so good!!!!
Tara says
Hi! I love your recipes so much- thank you!
I made this for my kids, but the thought of them dealing with zucchini noodles with red sauce made me question how much carpet cleaner I had in the house. :) SO I just diced the zucchini and made a little bolognese “chili” – it was perfect! The kids loved it!
Thanks for sharing your modifications, Tara!
Mel says
Just made this and it was absolutely delicious, thanks Dana!
Cory L. says
I tried this and thought it was excellent. I skipped the sugar and the cheese. I also use the 365 (Whole Foods brand) organic marinara sauce.
Jessica says
Simple and really good! Perfect for week night meal. Made it with zucchini and was impressed with the final result! All my family liked it!
Tali says
I loved this so much! I served it with regular pasta, but it was my baby boys first bolognese, and he couldn’t have enough.
I will be making this again and again and again.
Yum!
Minda says
Made this tonight–added a can of mushrooms. I served it over spiralized zucchini and sweet potato noodles that I briefly sautéed in garlic EVOO. It was DELICIOUS!!!! I loved the meaty texture of the lentils and the mushrooms together. The seasonings were just right after I added Newmans Own Marinara sauce. I did add about half cup water to adjust the thickness of the sauce. The sweet potato noodles complemented the tang of the sauce. This will be a regular on dinner rotation. Thanks for the recipes.
Irina says
Hi Minda, how did you make the sweet potato noodles? Thanks, Irina
Minda says
Irina, I spiralizer the sweet potatoes to make the noodles.
Carol says
This was delicious! My meat-loving husband and son were highly skeptical but they loved it too. Adding this to the regular rotation for sure!
Denise says
Made this last night and it was delish!! Even my “where’s the sausage” husband loved it. Another amazing recipe.
Always love hearing stories like that. Thanks, Denise!
Adriana says
Just made this, delicious! My husband just gave me a spiralizer last week so I had a graet excuse to try this ? It is so good, I used less tomato sauce, around 500gr, didn’t have red lentils so I used plain ones and parmesan was dairy. Really good, easy, hearty. Thanks for such lovely recipe.
Lisa says
Hey Dana,
I’m a subscriber but I didn’t get your detox guide. How do I get it ?
Thanks
Sincerely,
Lisa Bowser
Sorry about that Lisa! Did you check your spam filter and other folders to ensure the guide didn’t end up elsewhere?
Lisa says
No, I never even thought about having the booklet until recently. I subscribed about a year ago.
I sent you a copy of the guide to the e-mail address listed here, let us know if you haven’t received it or if there is another email I can send it to!
Terra says
Thanks for the great recipe! I used fresh tomatoes (because I am currently being buried by them) with a little tomato paste and water. It turned out wonderful!
Sibongile Gwamanda says
Hey there, I absolutely LOOOOVE your page, recipes and would just like to add that if you use a no-salt added organic marinara (Sprouts store brand/Muir Glen) the sodium content would come down considerably and make it more heart healthy. The sodium content on the Trader Joes is 18% while the two I mentioned are at 3%-5%. Have a happy and healthy week!
Good to know, thanks for sharing!
Randie says
Hello – the recipe sounds great! Just to be clear, it is titled “zucchini pasta with lentil bolognese (sauce).” However the recipe states “Pasta” and then lists all the ingredients for the sauce with the zucchini last. Shouldn’t it have read “bolognese sauce” with all ingredients except the zucchini?
Spirited Morgan @ Spirited and Then Some says
So glad to know someone is always behind on trends. My dad was texting before I was. For. Real. In other news, this recipe looks amazing! I bought a spiralizer about a month ago and haven’t used it yet. Now I must try! :)
Ruby says
I love your site! Have been using it and sharing your recipes with friends :) Making your lentil Bolognese tonight – as I have been vegetarian for over a year now, I need more lentil and chick pea ideas! Thank you – Also have been making your over night oats and chia puddings for my breakfasts the past week- so easy and delicious! :)
Carol says
I just made this delicious dish and boy was I happy. To be clear, I did not have lentils and forgot to saute the garlic, but it turned out fantastic. Instead of lentils which I love, I used red kidney beans. I chopped half of them and threw the rest whole in with the carrots and onions. Yes, I used onions instead of shallots. At the end, I added organic garlic powder to the sauce. Fantastic! At first, I thought the zucchini would be hard to chew since it was raw. Not the case. It was so enjoyable. I can’t wait to make this recipe again. Thank you!
Natasha says
I’ve been a bit dubious about trying zucchini noodles – this definitely makes me want to try this out! Looks delicious x
Karin says
Looks like a great recipe. Just wondering how it gets to have 26 g of sugar????
I believe that was from the tomato sauce I calculated it with. Of course, use a no sugar added sauce (or make your own) to reduce this!
Lindsey Cotter says
I love my spiralizer! Your bolognese looks so delicious!
Kim says
I have used the peeler made specifically to do veggie noodles they always turn out great but this method is tedious & takes a fair amount of time.
I have a hand held spiral, but it doesn’t work well unless the size of the zuchini is exact.
I’ve looked at the counter ones & review are so mixed & it seems like a pain to clean & store- like your thoughts/experience with yours.
Everytime I make the noodles, we salt & leave in a strainer them rinse & squeeze out as much moisture as possible- the texture is very pasta like, and the sauce doesn’t get runny- which can be an issue if this step is skipped- in my experience
Marie says
Kim, Great idea about prepping the zucchini noodles by salting and letting the zucchini drain a bit. I’ll try that for sure.
On the countertop spiralizer, I do like mine. But since I bought it I find that I still mostly just use my handheld one. Not sure why, except that I get home from work late a lot so I’m rushing. They both work well.
Kim says
Thanks for the follow up :)
Agreed, great tips, Kim!
Marge Chapman says
Looks wonderful. I’ve not done much cooking with lentils. I never know if they are to be added already cooked, or if they are to be added dry. Recipe says “rinsed and drained” but is that before or after cooking? I’m sure that’s obvious to everyone but me! ?
Sorry for the confusion! The lentils are uncooked when added to the sauce in this recipe. Hope that helps!
Jessica says
Any suggestions for why my lentils just won’t cook? Am I supposed to soak then before hand?
Hi Jessica! How old are your lentils? rIf they’re more than a year or two old, they will often stay crunchy in the middle no matter how long you cook them! Hope this helps and better luck next time!
Jessica says
Ahh that is probably it, I didn’t know those things had an expiration date lol thanks.
Georgie says
Could also be the tomatoes – it’s something about the acidity. My lentils never seem to cook in tomato sauce. Try just adding the water first then add the sauce after five/ten minutes, once the lentils have started to go soft.
Jessica says
Thanks! I will def try that out next time.
Aleksandra says
Looking at this makes me seriously hungry :)
Grace says
Flare jeans are so in! I’ve been wearing them since always because I love them and they’re so flattering. (I detest skinny jeans and feel like the only person left who doesn’t wear them.) However last fall it was very obvious that flares were back on trend as well. :)
Oh, and the recipe looks delicious!
Karin says
Hi Grace,
You’re not alone – I detest skinny jeans as well! = )
Karin
Dawen says
Skinny, tight pants of any kind just feel so uncomfortable – not to mention it seems like any skinny jeans I try on, if they fit my legs the waist is way too big, and if it has a chance to fit my waist properly I never get to know because I can’t get them up my calves!
Talk about encouraging underweightness and eating disorders.
Anyway, I was originally going to just comment with “it’s ALWAYS cool to wear flare jeans” because they’re my absolute favorite style (I wish I was around for the seventies) but I had to let you know that hey – NOT ALONE in hating skinny jeans. Or jeggings. Or most of the exercise pants…
Nicholas Ng says
This looks simple and nutritious! I would normally add a handful of tasted pine nuts for an added dimension. Will try it with lentils. :)
Nice!
Samantha says
I totally rocked dark denim, flared jeans and a black crop top to a friend’s bachelorette party 2 months ago! Flare = very on trend / just do you girl….no one can fault you for that! :D
Woohoo! Thanks for reaffirming my suspicions :D
Leah @ Grain Changer says
I just got on the spiralizer train, too. Better late than never? ;) LOVE the use of lentils in a bolognese sauce. Genius!
Kelli @hungry hobby says
I love the use of lentils! I have such a hard time getting in enough beans I love kind of hiding them in things!
Britt says
Girl, I’m always behind on the trends too. Such a late-bloomer.
And yes, flares are totally back! Hope you saved yours because I didn’t save any of mine.
This dish looks awesome. Love the lentil bolognese. Yum!
I didn’t save mine! But I tried some on recently and “almost” went for them! ha!
Tracy says
This looks amazing! I’ve been loving your recipes this last year since I’ve become pescetarian. Just one question to tack onto the others- can you use interchange the lentils to other colors easily?
Yes, I think so! Red will be softer and take less time to cook.
PeteSuffolk says
As I have an aversion to using processed factory made ingredients, I am guessing a home made tomato sauce would work just as well as the branded sauce you mention?
I make my own tomato sauce for pasta. I believe that it works best if it is NOT started off by frying anything. So I use a tin of tomatoes, a clove or two of garlic via a garlic press, a large spoonful of sundried tomato paste, a veggie stock cube – all heated up in a saucepan, then a teaspoon of sugar to counteract the ‘tinniness’ of the tomatoes, and snip, or chop, a couple of spring onions into it (Are they scallions in your language?) salt and a load of black pepper to taste. Job’s a good ‘un, as we say here in Blighty! Contrary to most tomato sauce recipes, I say do not cook for too long or it loses its fruitiness. Just combine the ingredients and get them friendly together, then switch off and serve – preferrably on farfalle.
Rosie says
Tins of tomatoes, tomato paste, and veggie stock cubes are all processed…in a factory. Unless you’re making those from scratch too…?
Tina says
Freshly squeezed Orange juice is also processed… “Processed” doesn’t automatically mean “bad”
ReaderRita says
If you ever want to cut out the sugar in your sauce, try carrots in your sauce. They’ll make it sweet without needing to add the sugar!
ReaderRita says
The carrot comment was for PeteSuffolk, BTW…
Camille Reich says
I did not put the coconut sugar. Was plenty sweet from the carrots alone! Excellent recipe!
Caitlin says
I was pretty resistant of this trend, mainly because I really enjoy carbs. Also, another cool thing about spiralizing are the little zucchini penis’ you get when you’re done.
Ha. Never thought of it that way. I do think spiralizing is kind of “trendy” but I love that it’s a great way for people to get more vegetables into their diet!
Cristina says
Hi! This looks awesome, as always! Dumb question I always had about spiralize pasta: do you need to cook it? Does it make a big difference in taste and/or texture?
You don’t! Not a dumb question. I prefer my zucchini noodles raw (and carrot noodles boiled for 2-3 minutes). But you could easily sautée in a little olive oil and garlic for 2-3 minutes to add more flavor and soften a bit. Hope you give it a try!
Cory L. says
I prefer to blanch my zucchini noodles. Put them in boiling water for 30-40 seconds, then drain. This still leaves them a little crunchy, but still seem like they belong.
London || Gluten Free with L.B. says
This bolognese looks so yummy and healthy!! Finding new ways to use lentils is so exciting :) I can’t wait to try this one out. Pinning for that busy weeknight!!