Plant Based Vegan Bolognese Sauce
- A hearty, protein-packed vegan bolognese sauce made with red lentils and vegetables.
- This plant-based sauce delivers all the rich, savory depth of traditional bolognese without any animal products.
- Perfect over pasta, in lasagna, or as a base for other Italian-inspired dishes.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 35
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (optional)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
- 8 ounces mushrooms, finely chopped (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- If using mushrooms, add them now and cook until they release their moisture and begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in red lentils, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, basil, and smoked paprika.
- If using, add nutritional yeast, soy sauce, and/or balsamic vinegar for extra depth of flavor.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 25-30 minutes.
- Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The lentils should become tender but not mushy.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little vegetable broth or water until desired consistency is reached.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve over your favorite pasta and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
Notes
- This sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- The flavors develop and improve overnight, making this perfect for meal prep.
- For a gluten-free version, be sure to use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on ingredients used, portion sizes, and preparation methods.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 3
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5
- Carbohydrates: 27
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 9
Keywords: plant based vegan bolognese sauce, vegan bolognese, plant based pasta sauce, meatless Italian sauce, vegan tomato sauce