Mushroom Lentil Ragu
This is one of those Meat free Monday Ideas I saw in a picture and ran with!
Its very easy and a great hearty dish for those cooler nights.
INGREDIENTS
1 small brown onion
2 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp dried mixed herbs, or fresh if you have them
1 can crushed tomatoes 400grm - keep the can and rinse it with water to add to the mix.
500 grm sliced mushrooms - whichever kind you desire, buttons, baby Bella, portobello!
1/3 cup red lentils
Pasta of your choice, penne, rigatoni, or spaghetti would be my favorites!
If you want you can mix through a handful or 2 of spinach at the very end or some chopped parsley.
METHOD
Finely dice your brown onion and crush the garlic.
Heat a medium sized saucepan with a splash of olive oil in the bottom.
Sautee off the onions and garlic with the mixed herbs, add half of the mushrooms, at this point you might need to add more oil to keep them from sticking on the bottom and moving around, keep stirring so they don’t burn.
Once the mushrooms have started to shrink a little add in the can of crushed tomatoes, give it a stir and leave to simmer for 5 mins.
After simmering add in the lentils and stir again adding another handful of the mushrooms at this time, if you need to rinse the can out and add a little water to the pot also so its not so thick, your looking for a tomato sauce like consistency so it sticks to the pasta!
Cook out the lentils for 8 mins then add any left over mushrooms, a little extra water if you feel its too thick.
Taste the lentils and make Sure they are soft and cooked through, they won’t take long and will turn really mushy when over cooked! Great protein and fiber from these beauties though!!
Season with salt and pepper, at this point if you wanted you can also add some spinach for an extra, it will wilt down once mixed through, or a bit of chopped parsley. If your not into the greens thats ok!
Now cook your pasta as per the packet instructions for the style of pasta you have.
Once the pasta is cooked and drained either mix it through your ragu, or place the pasta in the serving bowls and your ragu on top!
Enjoy your delicious meal.
As always please reach out with any questions, comments you have.
With love,
Cupcake. xx
