Pumpkin Lentil “Bolognese”

Pumpkin Lentil “Bolognese”

This plant-forward dinner is perfect for the night before a holiday that tends to be meat-heavy. Although it’s a vegan meal, pumpkin lentil “Bolognese” is hearty, satisfying, and so flavorful, you won’t miss the meat. Plus, in every bite, you’ll get a hint of pumpkiny goodness!

Ingredients

1can(15 oz)
Pumpkin Purée
1cup
Green Lentilsor Black Lentils
4cups
Vegetable Stock, divided1 32-oz box
1Tbsp
Salt, dividedplus 1/4 tsp
1pckg
Spaghetti
1Tbsp
Olive Oil
2cloves
Garlic, minced
1/2
MediumOnion
1can(28 oz)
Crushed Tomatoes
2sprigs
Fresh Thyme, de-stemmed
1/2cup
Fresh Basil Leaf
1/2tsp
SponsoredSimply Organic Cinnamon, Ground
1Tbsp
Italian Seasoning
1/4tsp
Ground Black Pepper
Nutrition Per Serving
Calories
730
Fat
5.7 g
Protein
30.7 g
Carbs
147.5 g

Cooking Instructions

step 1

Add the Green Lentils (1 cup) and 3 cups of Vegetable Stock (3 cups) to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender, but not mushy. Drain any excess water.

step 2

While the lentils cook, cook the spaghetti. Bring a large pot (~ 5 quarts) of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon Salt (1 Tbsp) to the boiling water. Boil the Spaghetti (1 pckg) for about 12 minutes, until al dente (or according to package instructions for al dente). Drain in a colander and set aside.

step 3

To prepare pumpkin lentil bolognese sauce, in a large sauté pan sauté the Garlic (2 cloves) and Onion (1/2) in Olive Oil (1 Tbsp) over medium heat until soft, about 4 minutes.

step 4

Add the Crushed Tomatoes (1 can), Pumpkin Purée (1 can), Fresh Basil Leaf (1/2 cup), Fresh Thyme (2 sprigs), Simply Organic Cinnamon, Ground (1/2 tsp), Italian Seasoning (1 Tbsp), ¼ teaspoon salt, and Ground Black Pepper (1/4 tsp). Add ½-1 cup Vegetable Stock (1 cup) to thin out sauce, as needed. Mix together until simmering, then add the cooked lentils.

step 5

Serve the pumpkin lentil bolognese over spaghetti. Enjoy!