This Meatless Green Lentil Sauce using Puy lentils is a great alternative to meat-based sauces. Nutritious, gluten-free, and budget-friendly. A delicious and easy lentil pasta sauce with no tomatoes. Perfect for meatless meals any day of the week.
Rich and hearty, this creamy meatless green lentil sauce is packed full of earthy flavours. A great alternative to meat sauce. Great for budget-friendly lentil dinners.
French green lentils, onions, peppers, and goat cheese combine to make a flavourful pasta sauce. For this healthy lentil recipe, I used spaghetti squash for a low-carb total veggie spaghetti dinner. You may also like to try this spicy beluga lentil pasta sauce too.
Lentils are so easy to prepare. Chock full of nutrition, fibre, and a great protein alternative to meat that works for gluten-free and vegan diets too. Healthy lentil recipes are perfect for helping you in the weight loss department.
We enjoy meat dishes, but also know that we should limit our meat intake. Lentils are the perfect meat substitute. They can be used in a variety of recipes. Soups, sauces, even in baking. Readily available and easy on the budget, healthy, nutritious lentils are a win all the way around.
Some of our favourite lentil dishes are:
- Marinated Lentils – great for adding to soups and salads.
- Poached Eggs and Lentils – a hearty protein-packed meal for brunch, lunch, and dinner too.
- Vegetarian Burrito – a great alternative to the classic meat-filled burrito.
- Meatless Tourtiere – the traditional French Canadian classic takes on a healthy twist.
- Mushroom Pate – perfect for a plant-based pate that is great on crackers or spread on sandwiches.
- Mini Cream Cheese Balls – are the hit on the holiday appetizer menu.
- Lentil Loaf – a great meatless meatloaf for dinner any night of the week.
Easy Green Lentil Sauce Ingredients
Old-school French lentils combine basic ingredients that produce wonderful, nutritious meals. This green lentil recipe is no different.
- Puy lentils
- onion
- peppers
- vegetable broth
- goat cheese
- fresh herbs (for garnish)
Meatless Green Lentil Sauce For Pasta
Similar to cooking rice, this easy-to-prepare recipe for Puy lentil pasta sauce is perfect for busy weeknights. Everything is done in one pot (except the pasta), or in this case the spaghetti squash. Full instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Dice the peppers and onions.
- Saute the onions for 5-7 minutes in a skillet.
- Add the peppers and cook for about 3 minutes.
- Add the broth, seasonings, and lentils, and simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Add the goat cheese, mix to combine, and heat for a minute or two.
- Remove and spoon over pasta, rice, or vegetables like spaghetti squash.
Suggestions / Recipe Tips
Lentils – You can use green, brown, or black lentils. Red lentils will not work well for this recipe.
Broth – Vegetable, chicken, or beef, all will work great.
Cheese – I love the flavour and consistency of goat cheese. Feel free to add whatever kind of cheese suits your taste buds.
Peppers – Use any colour you like, and if you like it spicy add some hot peppers.
Fresh Herbs – Are always a great garnish. Basil, thyme, and oregano are perfect here.
Serving – This meatless sauce is perfect for pasta, rice, and low-carb veggies like spaghetti squash and zucchini noodles. It also makes a great lentil side dish.
Storage – Keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer storage, place it in the freezer. This is a great recipe for batch cooking.
What Are Puy Lentils Anyway?
Have you ever wondered how to pronounce “Puy” lentils? These cute little French lentils keep their shape after cooking, and David Lebovitz refers to them as “cheap caviar”.
They have a peppery taste, can be eaten hot or cold, a great addition to soups, sauces, and salads. These little gems are grown in France and are also known as Le Puy lentils, lentilles du Puy.
If your bag of green lentils does not state Puy, they are not from France, but likely North America or Italy.
Looking for a few more pasta recipes? Give these a try:
Vegetarian Green Lentil Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
For the Puy Lentil Sauce:
- 1 cup Puy lentils (rinsed)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 ounces onion (diced)
- 7 ounces red pepper (diced)
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 5 ounces goat cheese (I used herb flavoured)
- salt & pepper (to taste)
- fresh thyme (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the onions and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Add the peppers and cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Add the seasonings, broth, and lentils.
- Bring to boil, reduce to medium and cook until done (about 30 minutes). Mix several times during the cooking process.
- When done, add the goat cheese. Mix to combine the cheese in the sauce.
- Remove from heat.
- Spoon over your choice of pasta.
- Garnish with fresh herbs.
Tra
Cheap caviar I am SO in. Every time I see a recipe like this I’m reminded that I do NOT cook with lentils enough!! And I don’t think I’ve ever had puy lentils!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH..I loved his comment regarding caviar….which I do not like anyway.
Denay DeGuzman
Ahhh…this lentil recipe looks so delicious! A perfect meal for a busy family.
Homemade & Yummy
It sure is…and it does not take long to prepare. Enjoy!!
Dianna
Thank you for sharing my sister is always looking for a new vegan recipe to try.
Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome, hope she gives this recipe a try.
April
I can only imagine how flavorful the combination of lentils, onions, goat cheese and peppers is! And that goat cheese… something new for me, that’s for sure! Definitely need to try it instead of my traditional sauces!
Homemade & Yummy
Goat cheese makes everything creamy and delicious. Hope you give this recipe a try…we love it. ENJOY!
Claudia Lamascolo
I will take this over any caviar since I am not found of that and love love love lentils this really is my kind of meal! looks fantastic!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give this super delicious recipe a try. ENJOY!
Karyl Henry
What a unique combination! Never in a million years would I think to combine lentils with cheese. I’m going to share this with my parents as a side for their vegetarian Thanksgiving meal
Homemade & Yummy
Lentils and cheese go so well together. This recipe makes such a great tomato free sauce.
Catherine Brown
These look fantastic Gloria! I haven’t had spaghetti sauce yet this season, but this is definitely something I want to make as soon as I bring some home. I have puy lentils too!
Homemade & Yummy
Such a great tomato free sauce that is hearty and delicious. Hope you give it a try soon.
Kelly Anthony
I love one pot meals during the week. This looks like the perfect meal that everyone will enjoy.
Homemade & Yummy
This recipe is awesome for leftovers too. Hope you give it a try.
Denise
I was focusing so much on that yummy lentil sauce I didn’t realize you were using spaghetti squash too.What a deliciously healthy meal! I could eat the lentil s as is.
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…a healthy dinner all the way around.
Lauren Vavala
This sounds so good! I was never a big fan of tomato sauce, but would LOVE this – especially with all that goat cheese in there – yum!!
Homemade & Yummy
Goat cheese makes everything delicious. ENJOY!
Adriana Lopez Martin
I am a lentils fan today we had lentils soup with chorizo. Never have heard of Puy lentils just knew them as French green lentils, I love them because they keep their shape. Your dish looks so tasty perfect for a vegetarian option. Another to try this fall!
Homemade & Yummy
Some people also call “green” lentils French lentils…but there is a difference.
Michelle
Cheap caviar? I love it! This will go perfectly with my vegetarian diet I am trying out.
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH…I thought that was a fun description too. Hope you give this a try.
Karyl Henry
My parents are always looking for new vegetarian recipes, and they love lentils. I’ll definitely be sharing this one with them. Thank you!
Homemade & Yummy
This is a great recipe, and if they like lentils, they should love this recipe.
Jolina
This looks so delicious! We always have a bag of lentils for when we want a meatless but hearty meal. They’re not puy lentils so I’m glad to see we can use them in this recipe too.
Homemade & Yummy
Yes any kind of lentils will work in this recipe. Hope you give it a try.
Veena Azmanov
Oh, these sounds do good Gloria. I usually make my Puy lentils with tomato sauce but this sounds even better. I must try this. I do get fed up of too much tomato sauce so this would be perfect. Puy lentils are so delicious.
Homemade & Yummy
I know, the goat cheese is so good in this recipe.