Vegetarian Bolognese with Walnuts and Red Lentils

You cannot beat a good bolog! It's the perfect comfort food (in my opinion). This bolognaise recipe created a really delicious texture. It was a tasty mix of protein and veggies and is a great meat alternative!

Prep time around 15 minutes

Cook time around 30-40 minutes

Recipe makes between 4-6 portions, so eat the leftovers, freeze or create something new like a delicious toastie (see below), a veggie chili or Sheppard's pie!

You will need:

Ingredients:

1 onion

6 garlic loves

2 celery sticks

2 carrots

a generous glug of red wine

1/2 a cup of red lentils

6-8 mushrooms

1/2 a cup walnuts (I get mine in bulk from here)

1-2 tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp thyme,

1 tsp rosemary

1/4 tsp of allspice

2 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tin of tomatoes (+ 1 tin of water)

1 tbsp of tomato purée

1 tsp marmite

Equipment:

1 sharp knife

1 chopping board

1 hand blender (or use a freezer bag & rolling pin/something similar)

1 large pan/wok & lid

1 medium size pan

1 bowl

1 spatula/mixing spoon

Method:

Start by peeling and chopping the onion, add to a large pan with a splash of oil and start to fry

Grab the celery, slice length-ways down the middle and then chop in to small pieces and add to the pan, a long with the carrot (chop this too) and a generous pinch of salt

Add a good glug of red wine and let it simmer away

Next grab the lentils and allow them to sit/soak in a bowl of water until you’re ready to use them

Peel and crush/finely chop the garlic and add to the pan

Then wash and chop the mushrooms into small pieces and add them in too

Now, grab a bowl and add the walnuts and blend untill you’ve created a crumb (or use a freezer bag & rolling pin/something similar)

Add the crumb into the bolognese, then the tinned tomatoes and another tin of water, the herbs, allspice and mix well

Drain the lentils and give them a rinse under the tap and then add them in - mix the Bolognese well

Add the tomato purée, marmite, nutritional yeast, some more salt and a little pepper then place on a lid and let it simmer away for 30 minutes or so- until it’s thickened and look delicious !

After 30 minutes, have taste, season more (if needed) and then all you need to do now is cook your pasta, grate some cheese and you’re ready to go!

Serving suggestion: a delicious "leftovers" toastie with lashings of butter, fried red onion, kale & vegan smoked applewood in ciabatta bread- YUM!