Perfect for “Meatless Monday” this Puy Lentil Sauce is a great alternative to meat-based sauces. Nutritious, gluten-free, and budget-friendly. A delicious and easy lentil pasta sauce with no tomatoes.
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 dinner. You may also like to try this spicy beluga lentil pasta sauce too.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this quick lentil sauce can be found at the bottom of this post.
Lentils are so easy to prepare. Healthy lentil recipes are perfect for helping you in the “weight loss” department. Chock full of nutrition, fiber, and a great protein alternative to meat that works for gluten-free and vegan diets too.
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 recipes 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.
Puy 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)
Making Green Lentil Pasta Sauce Is Easy
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.
Recipe Substitutions/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.
Fresh Herbs – Are always a great garnish. Basil, thyme, and oregano are perfect here.
Serving – This creamy lentil 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.
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Looking for a few more pasta recipes? Give these a try:
Puy 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.
Jennifer
What a delicious looking naturally gluten free dish! We love spaghetti squash and a lentil sauce is the perfect way to get protein and save money. I can’t wait to give this one a try.
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…this is a keeper in our house. Spaghetti squash is so fun to work with too.
Sarah
I have spaghetti squash AND French lentils! How perfect! This looks delicious- I’m always looking for things to pair with spaghetti squash- I think it needs something meaty like this. Yum!
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…I think you will love this combination…we sure do.
Marisa Franca
All you had to say is goat cheese — and I couldn’t turn down a sauce that tastes loaded with meat. After reading this the first time I went to the grocery store and by golly they had the lentils. So, this week I’m making this recipe.
Homemade & Yummy
Well enjoy….hope you and hubby love this as much as we do.
Pavani
That is such an interesting and delicious combination of ingredients. I would have never thought of cooking lentils in spaghetti squash. This is such a hearty and healthy dish perfect to serve for the whole family.
Homemade & Yummy
It is a winning combination….nutritious and delicious.
Catherine
What a hearty vegetarian meal! This looks absolutely wonderful…I love finding new ways to serve up lentils. Saving this for the weeknights. XO
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….makes a great weeknight dinner for sure.
Carmy
If there’s goat cheese in it, I’ll gladly eat it! We try to have a meatless day or two and lentils have been my go-to for those days. They are so nutritious and easy to make plus they’re hearty enough that my partner doesn’t even notice there isn’t meat haha! Such a great recipe!
Homemade & Yummy
These lentils work so well, and are a GREAT meat alternative. Hope you give this recipe a try…it is so delicious.
Linda
I’ve been into lentils ever since I had black dal a while back. And this puy lentil sounds delicious and perfect for Meatless Monday. Definitely will give this a try!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…it is great for Meatless Monday…hope you give it a try.
Catalina
I love lentils. I do make them often. But I’ve never tried lentils with pasta. I am so curious to make this recipe.
Homemade & Yummy
Lentils make a great sub for meat in sauces. ENJOY!!
Veena Azmanov
I love having lentils on meatless days. I love how delicious this sounds. I love goat cheese but I have never had it with lentils. Saving this for later.
Homemade & Yummy
Lentils and goat cheese are amazing…but goat cheese makes everything delicious.
Amanda
I especially love spaghetti squash in the fall, and that creamy goat cheese addition looks perfect. I can’t wait to give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
Spaghetti squash is the most fun squash of all. Hope you give this recipe a try.
Dana
I’m always looking for more ways to use spaghetti squash. Adding these scrumptious lentils to the mix just seems perfect. I’ve never had lentils prepared this way, but it sounds super yummy! Can’t wait to try it!
Homemade & Yummy
This really makes a wonderful sauce, and I could eat it by the spoonful.
Jacqueline Debono
I love cooking with lentils and actually have a packet of green lentils in the larder waiting to be used! This recipe sounds perfect for them. Here in Italy, lentils are traditionally cooked at New Year and signify prosperity!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes…my meatless lentil tourtiere is very popular.
Stine Mari
This looks like the perfect weeknight dinner! I haven’t cooked much with green lentils, but I really like red so I’m guessing this is super yummy. Love using lentils for meatless dinners, thanks for sharing!
Homemade & Yummy
Green lentils hold their shape, but I do use red lentils in my mock tourtiere.
Dan Zehr
My children do not like tomato sauce, but I adore it. I definitely want to try your recipe. An interesting mix of ingredients. Sounds really tasty. This is really a great job. Thanks for the recipe
Homemade & Yummy
This sauce is perfect for people that do not like tomato based sauces.
Mahy Elamin
Wow, what an interesting recipe! Good idea! Looks very tasty! I am going to make this! This recipe really impresses! I really like! Thank you.
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY….and thanks for stopping by. Hope you give this recipe a try soon.