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.
Black lentils are such a great ingredient. We love Poached Eggs & Lentil Hash for brunch or dinner.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
FAQ
Black lentils are small and disc-shaped. Urad dal is black and shaped like a mung bean.
No, you can cook them without soaking. Be sure to always rinse them before cooking.
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Need a little more meatless inspiration? Give these lentil recipes a try:
Beluga Lentil Pasta Sauce
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)
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
marcy youker
love lentils, used fresh mushrooms,( could not find dry), try it over brown rice, very good. thanks.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Mushrooms and lentils go hand in hand, glad you liked the recipe.
Loreto and Nicoletta
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!❤️👍👌🥰😋
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Lentils are perfect in this meaty meatless sauce.
Debbie
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.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are very welcome. So glad you enjoyed this black lentil pasta sauce.
Adriana
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.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This lentil pasta sauce is meaty without the meat, and layered with flavours.
Adriana
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.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This pasta sauce is robust for sure. Glad you enjoyed it.
Moop Brown
This lentil sauce seems incredibly tasty and protein packed. What a great meatless sauce alternative.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Yes for sure this meatless lentil pasta sauce is packed with flavour and lots of protein.