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    Home » Recipes » Meats and Proteins » Lentils, Legumes & Beans

    Spicy Beluga Lentil Pasta Sauce

    August 23, 2022 *Updated* August 23, 2022 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 134 Comments

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    Jump To Recipe

    If you are looking for a great meatless pasta sauce, this Spicy Beluga Pasta Sauce is ideal. Budget-friendly too!

    Beluga lentils make this sauce thick, hearty, and nutritious. Dried mushrooms (soaked in red wine) give a nice earthy tone to this dense spicy sauce.

    My family would eat pasta every night of the week if I let them. Healthy sauces are just what we need. Tomato puttanesca is another favourite of ours.

    Beluga Lentil Pasta Sauce made with mushrooms and wine.

    Black lentils are such a great ingredient. We love Poached Eggs & Lentil Hash for brunch or dinner.

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    RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this pasta with lentils can be found at the bottom of this post.

    Did you know that lentils are great for gluten-free and vegan recipes too?

    • an economical source of protein
    • rich in minerals, vitamins, and fibre
    • heart healthy
    • low in fat

    Here are a few ways we enjoy them in our house:

    • Puy Lentils – another great pasta with lentils recipe.
    • Marinated Lentils – perfect to add to soups, stews, sandwiches, and more.
    • Meatless Tourtiere – a healthy version of the classic French Canadian holiday dish.
    • Cream Cheese Balls – a fun appetizer for your next party.
    • Vegan Mushroom Pate – excellent as a topper, sandwich spread, or dip.
    A bowl of dried mushrooms soaking in red wine.

    This Black Lentil Recipe Needs

    • Dried mushrooms
    • Red wine
    • Black lentils
    • Onion
    • Garlic
    • Bell peppers
    • Canned tomatoes
    • Red chili flakes and additional seasonings
    • Tomato sauce
    • Olive oil
    • Garnish
    Dried black beluga lentils in a measuring cup.

    Making This Beluga Lentil Pasta Sauce Is Easy

    It is all done in one pan. Full instructions are in the recipe card below. Be sure to check out the suggestions and recipe tips section.

    Here is a quick overview:

    • Soak the mushrooms in the wine. Drain and chop. Reserve the wine.
    • Rinse lentils and set them aside.
    • Chop all your veggies (onion, garlic, and peppers).
    • Heat the oil in a skillet.
    • Cook onion, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
    • Add reserved wine and additional seasonings.
    • Toss in lentils, mushrooms, and peppers.
    • Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and water.
    • The sauce is done when it has a nice thick consistency.

    The cooking time from start to finish is about 45 minutes. During that time cook, your pasta.

    Serve the sauce over the pasta. Garnish with grated Parmigiano Reggiano and chopped basil.

    Black lentils, mushrooms and peppers cooking in a pot.

    Suggestions/Recipe Tips

    Dried Mushrooms – Always need to be reconstituted. You can use any liquid you like. Replace the dried mushrooms with regular mushrooms. You will have to increase the amount.

    Red Wine – Dry red wine is best for this recipe. You can use white if you prefer. Don’t want to use wine? No problem, leave it out. Water can be used for the dried mushrooms instead.

    Seasonings – Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning. You can play around with any combination you like.

    Garnish – Grated cheese and fresh herbs are always great choices.

    Meatless pasta sauce made with lentils, mushrooms and wine.

    Pasta – You can choose any kind and shape of pasta you wish. You can even use gluten-free pasta. Did you know there is lentil pasta? So delicious. This sauce would also be perfect over homemade herbed potato gnocchi.

    Storage – Always store in a sealed container in the fridge. This sauce will last 4-5 days. It also freezes well and will last 4-5 months in the freezer.

    Reheating – I like to reheat in a pot on the stove. Another option is in a covered dish in a moderate oven. You can use the microwave too, but be sure to mix often, and do it on a lower setting to get even heating.

    A bowl of pasta covered in sauce made with beluga lentils.

    FAQ

    Are black beluga lentils the same as urad dal?

    Black lentils are small and disc-shaped. Urad dal is black and shaped like a mung bean.

    Do you have to soak beluga lentils?

    No, you can cook them without soaking. Be sure to always rinse them before cooking.

    Be sure to CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON located in the TOP MENU. You will get a FREE PRINTABLE and recipes! FOLLOW ME on social media too.

    Need a little more meatless inspiration? Give these lentil recipes a try:

    • Curried Coconut Lentils
    • Lentil Salad
    • Rice and Lentil Soup
    Pasta sauce with lentils pin.
    Beluga Lentil Pasta Sauce made with mushrooms and wine.

    Beluga Lentil Pasta Sauce

    Black beluga lentils create a wonderful meatless pasta sauce. Mushrooms and red wine add an earthy, rich flavour.
    5 from 100 votes
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    Course: Lentils, Main Course, Pasta
    Cuisine: Canadian
    Keyword: Lentils Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes
    Soaking mushrooms: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 171kcal
    Author: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup dry mushrooms
    • 1 cup dry red wine (your choice)
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 cup Beluga lentils (rinsed)
    • 5 ounces onion (diced)
    • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
    • Salt and pepper (to taste)
    • 10 ounces bell peppers (diced) (I used yellow and orange)
    • 19 ounces canned petit cut tomatoes (1 can)
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
    • 14 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (for garnish)
    • Fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano (for garnish)
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Soak mushrooms in the red wine for approximately 30  minutes.
      Drain and squeeze the mushrooms. Reserve the wine. Chop the mushrooms.
      Rinse lentils and set aside.
      1 cup dry mushrooms, 1 cup dry red wine
    • Heat a heavy bottom skillet over medium-high heat. 
      Add the olive oil.
      1 tablespoon olive oil
    • Add the onion, garlic, and chili flakes. Sauté for 5 minutes. 
      5 ounces onion, 4 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
    • Add the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and the reserved wine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat slightly and simmer for 3 minutes. 
      1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, Salt and pepper
    • Add the drained lentils and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
      1 cup Beluga lentils
    • Add the mushrooms and peppers. Cook for 5 minutes.
      10 ounces bell peppers (diced)
    • Add the water, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 25-30 minutes (until desired sauce consistency).
      1 cup water, 14 ounces tomato sauce, 19 ounces canned petit cut tomatoes
    • Remove from heat. 
      Serve over your favourite pasta garnished with chopped fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese.
      2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, Fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1510IU | Vitamin C: 58.1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 3.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy
    Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.
     

    More Lentils, Legumes & Beans

    • Mediterranean Tuna Avocado Salad
    • Healthy Chickpea Salad
    • Mini Green Lentil Cream Cheese Balls
    • Vegetarian Burrito

    MEET THE AUTHOR

    Gloria Duggan is the author for Homemade & Yummy, where she creates fun and easy recipes. She is also a brand ambassador/influencer for well-known companies. Gloria has judged food competitions and has posted about local food events. Gloria's work has been featured in magazines, and she has been interviewed on several podcasts. Read More…

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. marcy youker

      December 01, 2022 at 8:49 am

      love lentils, used fresh mushrooms,( could not find dry), try it over brown rice, very good. thanks.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        December 01, 2022 at 10:15 am

        Mushrooms and lentils go hand in hand, glad you liked the recipe.

    2. Loreto and Nicoletta

      September 05, 2022 at 1:09 pm

      Wow, this is outstanding. What a great vegetarian option for a very meaty pasta dish. Nicoletta and I just love lentils. Great tip on cooking the prepping the lentils! Making me so hungry!❤️👍👌🥰😋

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 06, 2022 at 9:16 am

        Lentils are perfect in this meaty meatless sauce.

    3. Debbie

      September 04, 2022 at 4:12 pm

      This Beluga Lentil Pasta Sauce is amazing and my whole family loved it . Honestly dried mushrooms are such an under utilized ingredient and I love how the recipe rehydrates them with wine. It really adds a depth of flavor. Thanks for such an easy to follow recipe.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 05, 2022 at 9:17 am

        You are very welcome. So glad you enjoyed this black lentil pasta sauce.

    4. Adriana

      September 04, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      Gotta love lentils packed with protein and good health benefits. Like the idea of using dried mushrooms and red wine for a robust flavor. Definitely a great meatless option to enjoy at home. My family enjoyed it a lot.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 05, 2022 at 9:17 am

        This lentil pasta sauce is meaty without the meat, and layered with flavours.

    5. Adriana

      September 04, 2022 at 3:35 pm

      Gotta love lentils packed with protein and good health benefits. Like the idea of using dried mushrooms and red wine for a robust flavor. Definitely a great meatless option to enjoy at home.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 05, 2022 at 9:18 am

        This pasta sauce is robust for sure. Glad you enjoyed it.

    6. Moop Brown

      September 04, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      This lentil sauce seems incredibly tasty and protein packed. What a great meatless sauce alternative.

      Reply
      • Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy

        September 05, 2022 at 9:18 am

        Yes for sure this meatless lentil pasta sauce is packed with flavour and lots of protein.

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