Lentil bolognese is a cozy, comforting, and delicious recipe for those of us trying to eat healthier without giving up comfort and taste.

This rich and earthy sauce is delicious with pasta, gnocchi, and lasagna, and it’s the perfect meatless pasta condiment for dinner with the family.

Lentil bolognese is easy to make with simple pantry staples. It’s rich in protein and fiber, making you feel great!

Lentil Bolognese with fresh basil in a pot

What is lentil bolognese?

Lentil Bolognese in a Dutch oven with a wooden spoon

Lentil bolognese is our meat-free version of a classic Italian sauce, ragù alla Bolognese.

With spaghetti aglio olio, penne arrabbiata, and spaghetti pomodoro, bolognese is one of the most loved Italian pasta recipes.

Lentil Bolognese with fresh basil and a silver fork

Lentils are an excellent ground meat replacement because they have a rich earthy taste, a slightly firm texture, and are rich in minerals, iron, and protein.

And like its cousin mushroom ragù, lentil bolognese is the perfect meatless pasta sauce – especially with tagliatelle, pappardelle, rigatoni, spaghetti, penne, fettuccine, lasagna, and gnocchi.

Ingredients for lentil bolognese

Ingredients for lentil bolognese

Quantities are in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Olive oil

You can use extra virgin olive oil or regular olive oil.

Onion, celery, carrot, and garlic

Onion, celery, carrots, and garlic, chopped and sautéed in olive oil, make a delicious flavor base or soffritto in Italian.

Soffritto is essential in making lentil bolognese and other pasta sauces as it builds flavor from the ground up.

Tomato paste

Tomato paste, the thick one that comes in a tube or small can, adds richness and flavor to the sauce.

Herbs

We recommend using rosemary and bay leaves to add that classic Italian bolognese aroma to the sauce.

You can substitute dried oregano or thyme for rosemary and bay leaves.

Mushrooms

You can use white, brown, or portobello mushrooms grated with the large holes of a box grater.

Mushrooms add flavor, juiciness, and texture. They also make the sauce meatier and richer.

Lentils

You can use dried brown lentils or green lentils.

We don’t recommend split red lentils for this recipe as they won’t keep their shape.

We also don’t recommend canned lentils as they would overcook in the sauce. If you want to use canned lentils, omit the vegetable broth and cook the sauce for 20 minutes only.

Tomato puree or passata

We recommend Italian tomato puree or passata in a glass bottle.

Generally, Italian brands (Mutti, Cirio, Cento) are slightly sweeter and denser than other brands because the tomatoes are sun-ripened before being bottled.

Substitute crushed or diced canned tomatoes for tomato puree.

Vegetable stock

We use vegetable broth to cook the lentils.

Balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is your secret ingredient to make a mouthwatering lentil ragù.

If you can find aged balsamico, that’s even better because it’s denser and more flavorful.

Traditional balsamic vinegar is from Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy. You are in for a treat if you can find one from that region.

We used to add soy sauce and white wine to lentil bolognese, but now we think balsamic vinegar is a better choice because it’s low in sodium and adds a more complex flavor.

One tablespoon of balsamic vinegar has less than 4mg of sodium vs 879mg of sodium in 1 tbsp soy sauce.

Also, balsamic vinegar is high in umami and adds rich, sweet, savory, tart, fruity, woody, and mellow notes to your sauce.

Salt and pepper

We use sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Red pepper flakes are optional.

Serves well with

We serve lentil bolognese with tagliatelle, fettuccine or spaghetti. Top with fresh basil leaves and shaved or grated parmigiano.

lentil bolognese with pasta in a white skillet

How to make lentil bolognese

Start with a rich flavor base

Finely chop onion, celery, carrot, and garlic with a knife or pulse them in a food processor.

Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for 3 minutes on medium heat, stirring often.

Now, add tomato paste, mushrooms (grated with the large holes of a box grater), rosemary, bay leaves, salt, black pepper, and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

how to make a flavor base for lentil bolognese

Add the lentils

Rinse the dried lentils and look for foreign objects such as stones, soil, or dirt.

Add rinsed lentils, vegetable stock, and tomato puree to the pot and simmer for 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the lentils are cooked. Stir occasionally.

lentil bolognese in a large pot

Discard the bay leaves and stir in the balsamic vinegar.

Finally, blend some of the sauce (1 to 2 cups) with an immersion blender or standing blender until you reach your desired texture.

Taste and adjust for salt and balsamico.

Tip: Blending 1 to 2 cups of sauce is optional, but we recommend it to make the lentil bolognese thicker, creamier, and more similar in texture to the original Bolognese.

Lentil Bolognese in a Dutch oven with a wooden spoon

Serving suggestions

The best way to serve lentil Bolognese is with tagliatelle or fettuccine; however, you can easily replace those with most other pasta types, such as rigatoni or spaghetti.

lentil bolognese with pasta in a white skillet

Add a cup of lentil bolognese to your favorite pasta and sprinkle with basil and grated parmesan.

Or, if you want to do it like the Italians, undercook the pasta by 2 minutes, drain it, and add it to a pan with 1/2 cup of reserved pasta cooking water and the lentil bolognese.

Toss gently until the sauce coats the pasta, and serve with fresh basil and parmigiano on top.

Lentil Bolognese with fresh basil, parmesan cheese and a fork

You can also use lentil bolognese to make a vegetarian lasagna or as a sauce for homemade gnocchi and sweet potato gnocchi.

Serve pasta bolognese with a simple side salad or veggies.

Our favorite side dishes for lentil bolognese are roasted zucchini, air fryer zucchini, roasted eggplant, air fryer eggplant, simple side salad, Italian salad, shaved brussels sprouts salad, roasted broccoli, roasted cauliflower and green bean salad.

Storage

Make ahead: Lentil bolognese is the perfect recipe for meal prep because it keeps well for several days, and its flavor improves as the sauce sits in the fridge.

Refrigerator: Keep the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week, ready to be spooned onto your everyday meals.

Freezer: Let the sauce cool down completely, transfer it to a freezer-friendly container, and freeze for three months.

Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator over a few hours or in the microwave with the thawing function. Avoid freezing it multiple times.

Why is it called Bolognese?

Bologna city skyline
The picture shows a rooftop view of the city of Bologna in Italy.

Bolognese means Bologna-Style. Bologna is a beautiful and vibrant city in Italy with some of the country’s oldest and richest culinary traditions.

Walking through the small alleyways of the old town, you can smell the food from hundreds of local shops selling fresh homemade pasta to all kinds of local cured meats.

Think mortadella (bologna in English), lasagna, tortellini, many types of cured meats, tigelle, parmigiano reggiano, and many other dishes.

They all come from Bologna and the surrounding region of Emilia Romagna.

lentil bolognese with pasta in a white skillet

Similar recipes

PASTA: Mushroom ragu, tempeh bolognese, tofu bolognese, penne arrabbiata, pasta pomodoro, roasted red pepper pasta, lentil pasta, mushroom pasta, fregola pasta, creamy tomato pasta, paccheri pasta.

For more pasta recipes, check out our compilation of 40+ easy pasta recipes.

LENTILS: Lentil patties, lentil hummus, lentil salad, lentil sweet potato salad, cauliflower lentil salad, how to cook dried lentils, lentil soup, curry lentil soup, lentil loaf, lentil chili, Moroccan lentil soup.

For more lentil ideas, check out our compilation of 20+ lentil recipes.

Lentil Bolognese in a skillet with fresh basil

Lentil Bolognese

5 from 59 votes
Lentil bolognese is a cozy, comforting, and delicious recipe for those of us trying to eat healthier without giving up comfort and taste.
This rich and earthy sauce is delicious with pasta, gnocchi, and lasagna, and it’s the perfect meatless pasta condiment for dinner with the family.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings | Meal Prep Friendly
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 1 rib celery finely chopped
  • 1 large carrot finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste the thick one that comes in a tube or small can
  • ½ teaspoon rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves optional
  • 8 ounces mushrooms grated with large holes of a box grater
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 24 ounces (one glass bottle) tomato puree or passata
  • 1 cup dried lentils green or brown
  • 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
  • teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or soy sauce

Instructions 

  • FLAVOR BASE: Finely chop 1 medium onion, 1 rib celery, 1 large carrot, and 3 cloves garlic with a knife or pulse them in a food processor.
    Heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a large pot. Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for 3 minutes on medium heat, stirring often.
    Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 8 ounces mushrooms (grated with the large holes of a box grater), ½ teaspoon rosemary, 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    how to make a flavor base for lentil bolognese
  • SIMMER: Rinse 1 cup dried lentils and look for foreign objects such as stones, soil, or dirt.
    Add rinsed lentils, 4 cups vegetable stock, and 24 ounces (one glass bottle) tomato puree to the pot and simmer for 30 minutes or until the sauce thickens and the lentils are cooked. Stir occasionally.
    lentil bolognese in a large pot
  • FINAL TOUCH: Discard the bay leaves and stir in 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar.
    Finally, blend some of the sauce (1 to 2 cups) with an immersion blender or standing blender until you reach your desired texture.
    Taste and adjust for salt and balsamico.
    Lentil Bolognese in a Dutch oven with a wooden spoon
  • SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Cook your favorite pasta (we recommend tagliatelle, fettuccine, or spaghetti) in plenty of salted boiling water as per package instruction minus 2 minutes.
    Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and add it to a skillet with some lentil bolognese.
    Add ½ cup reserved pasta water, toss on medium heat for a minute, then serve topped with basil leaves and parmesan cheese.
    Lentil Bolognese with fresh basil, parmesan cheese and a fork

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate for one serving of lentil bolognese out of six servings, without pasta.
SUBSTITUTIONS
– Rosemary & bay leaves: substitute dried oregano and thyme.
– Mushrooms: you won’t taste them, they are for texture. Substitute grated eggplant.
– Tomato puree/passata: substitute crushed tomatoes.
– Balsamic vinegar: substitute soy sauce or tamari.
– Gluten-free: Our recipe is free of gluten. Serve with gluten-free pasta for gluten-free.
– Vegan: Omit the parmesan when serving and use egg-free pasta.
TIPS
Guidelines recommend 2.1 to 3.5 ounces or 60 to 100 grams of pasta per person, depending on your calorie needs.
To Cook pasta you’ll need a large pot of salted water as follows:
– 8 ounces of pasta (230 grams): cook pasta in 2 quarts of boiling water (8 cups or 2 Liters) with 1 tablespoon of salt (15 grams). Serves 2 – 3 people.
– 12 ounces of pasta (340 grams): cook pasta in 3 quarts of boiling water (12 cups or 3 Liters) with 1 ½ tablespoons of salt (21 grams). Serves 4 people.
– 1 pound of pasta (450 grams): cook pasta in 1 gallon of boiling water (16 cups or 4 Liters) with 2 tablespoons of salt (30 grams). Serves 5-6 people.
STORAGE
This recipe is excellent for meal prep as it keeps for 5 to 7 days in an airtight container in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 237kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 490mg, Potassium: 1089mg, Dietary Fiber: 14g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 2710IU, Vitamin B6: 0.4mg, Vitamin C: 18mg, Vitamin E: 3mg, Vitamin K: 13µg, Calcium: 63mg, Folate: 187µg, Iron: 5mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 79mg, Zinc: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or mention @nicoandlouise on Instagram. We are also on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok.


Nico and Louise in front of the Consolazione church in Todi

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with vegetarian and vegan recipes.

5 from 59 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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54 Comments

    1. 5 stars
      Its so cool,tasty, and I made it for my clients and everyone was like waooo. l operate a very small catering business with 15 to 20 clients daily from Monday to Friday, thank you Nico and Louis

  1. 5 stars
    Iโ€™m honestly shocked at how much this tastes like traditional bolognese. I couldnโ€™t find lentils at the store so I switched them for chickpeas, and it turned out so good. Will definitely make this recipe again.

  2. 5 stars
    This is the second time making it. So delicious and healty ! Totally vagan!
    Thank you so much! I follow you in instagram. All your recipes are so easy to follow and totally delicious. Thank you so much for your time!
    Mahshid

      1. Hi there! The nutrition information is an estimate for one serving of lentil bolognese out of six servings, without pasta ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Hi Katja, I’m so delighted that you enjoyed the bolognese ๐ŸŽ‰

      The calories indicated is for one serving out of six. So the ingredients of this recipe amount to 6 portions in total ๐Ÿ™‚

      I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any additional questions โ˜€๏ธ

  3. 5 stars
    I tried this recipe last night, and my husband (meat eater) and I LOVED it! We didn’t have mushrooms on hand, but even so, it was so tasty! It was pretty easy to make as well. Thanks!