Hearty Lentil Ragu
Packed with protein and fiber, this Hearty Lentil Ragu with mushrooms, carrots, and tomatoes in a savory red wine sauce is a cozy vegan meal! It’s delicious over a bed of pasta, polenta, or mashed potatoes.
Lentil ragu is a plant-forward, vegan twist on the classic Italian meat ragu. Instead of ground meat, lentils (a type of pulse with a nutty flavor and protein punch) are used. The sauce is typically made with tomatoes, herbs, and spices and often includes mushrooms, carrots, or onions. And I have just that for you!
When you are craving a savory and comforting meal, this Lentil Ragu recipe is a delicious and nutritious option for all types of eaters. The combination of mushrooms, carrots, and lentils in a flavorful tomato sauce creates a satisfying veggie-filled meal!
It’s a straightforward dish that’s easy to assemble and ready in under an hour. The aroma alone smells delicious and once you take your first bite, you’ll be in comfort food heaven. Seriously, I had seconds and thirds!
It’s packed with protein, fiber, and plenty of other essential vitamins to help you stay feeling your best! Give it a try and enjoy a hearty and healthy dinner tonight!
Ingredients You’ll Need
In this recipe, onion, garlic, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, and lentils are braised until tender with herbs and robust red wine for a savory ragu served with pasta for a hearty vegan main dish.
Here is everything you will need with substitutions when possible:
- Onion & Garlic – A classic aromatic duo.
- Carrots – Add heartiness and texture.
- Mushrooms – If you don’t like mushrooms, feel free to substitute them with chopped red bell pepper, zucchini, or celery.
- Red pepper flakes
- Dried oregano or herbes de Provence
- Lentils – Use brown, green, or puy.
- Diced tomatoes – If you don’t have fresh or canned tomatoes on hand, substitute a jar (25 oz) of your choice of organic pasta sauce.
- Vegetable broth – We recommend a low-sodium veg broth.
- Full-bodied red wine – You can sub with vegetable broth, or water or veggie broth. If using wine, feel free to add more, as it gives a wonderful flavor!
- Tomato paste – Added to help thicken the ragu, but can be optional.
- Salt + pepper – To taste.
- Pasta – I used pappardelle, but you can use your pasta of choice. Try fettecini, linguine, penne, rigatoni, elbow, spaghetti, etc. And two thumbs up if using whole-grain!
- Parsley – Adds a pop of color and herbaceousness to your serving.
How To Make Lentil Ragu
Making lentil ragu is easy as can be!
This is a step-by-step overview, the measurements and full printable instructions are below.
Saute: Heat oil or water in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 5 minutes. Add garlic, carrots, mushrooms, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and oregano, and saute for 4 minutes, or until mushrooms begin to soften.
Simmer: Add lentils, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, and red wine. Give it a good stir, bring it to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 35 – 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender.
Pasta: Toward the end of cooking time, cook pasta according to package directions.
And that’s it – this vegan ragu is a keeper and a welcome addition to the recipe collection!
How To Store + Reheat
Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored for 5 days in the refrigerator in a covered container.
Freezer: Lentil ragu is freezer-friendly and freezes well for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let cool completely and store in freezer-safe containers (affiliate link), leaving 1/2-inch head space for expansion. You can also freeze larger portions in large ziplock bags (remove as much air as possible before zip locking). Let thaw before reheating.
Reheat: Simply re-warm on the stovetop over low heat until warmed through. Alternatively, reheat in the microwave using 30 – 60 second intervals, stirring after each, until warm.
Serving Suggestions
Ragu is commonly served with pasta, but here are a few more ideas to make it your own:
- It would be great over a bed of Mashed Potatoes or polenta for variation.
- Use gently warmed zucchini noodles as a base for a lighter fare.
- Top with a sprinkle of Almond Parmesan.
- We love serving with a slice of homemade No Knead Bread or gluten-free Socca for swiping up the sauce.
- Serve with this Classic House Salad. Switch up the dressing with any of these: Healthy Flax & Evo Balsamic Vinaigrette, Creamy Lemon Herb Hemp Dressing, or Vegan Ranch.
More Hearty Recipes!
- Hearty Vegan Lentil Soup
- Mushroom Bourguignon
- One-Pot Mushroom & Vegan Sausage Pasta
- The Ultimate Vegetable Lentil Loaf
- Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese With Peas
- Creamy Vegan Tortellini Soup
If you try this easy lentil recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintHEARTY LENTIL RAGU
This Lentil Ragu with mushrooms, carrots, and tomatoes is packed with plant-based protein and fiber, making it a deliciously hearty, savory, and comforting vegan meal!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Category: Entree, Pasta
- Method: saute, simmer
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1/4 cup water for oil-free
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 8 oz. mushrooms, sliced or diced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano or herbes de Provence
- 1 1/2 cups lentils (brown, green or puy)
- 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes (see notes)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup full-bodied red wine
- mineral salt & cracked pepper, to taste
- 16 oz. pasta of choice (linguine, fettuccine, pappardelle, rigatoni, etc.)
- chopped parsley, to serve
Instructions
Saute: In a large dutch oven/pot, heat oil or water over medium heat, add onions and saute for 5 minutes. Add garlic, carrots, mushrooms, tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and oregano, and saute for 4 minutes, or until mushrooms begin to soften.
Simmer: Add lentils, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth and wine, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 – 40 minutes, until lentils are tender. Add more water/broth or wine as needed.
Cook pasta according to package directions.
Serve ragu over pasta. Top with chopped parsley and a light dusting of Almond Parmesan.
Serves 4 generously, or 6 smaller portions.
Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in a covered container. To keep longer, store in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months.
Notes
If you don’t have canned tomatoes on hand, sub in a jar (25 oz) of organic pasta sauce of choice.
Use whatever pasta you like. I’ve served this with all kinds of pasta types. Even zucchini noodles would be great!
If not using wine, replace with water or veggie broth. If using wine, feel free to add more, it gives a wonderful flavor!
If you don’t like mushrooms, sub in a small diced red bell pepper, small diced zucchini or 1/2 cup diced celery.
If you don’t have tomato paste on hand, sub with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water. Add to the pot, stirring well, 15 minutes before cooking time is up. If you don’t want to use either, the ragu will be fine, it’s just to thicken it up a bit.
Looking for vegan wine, take a look at this great resource! Barnivore: Vegan Wine Directory
Nutrition information has been calculated without the pasta.
Updated: This recipe was originally published in August 2014 and has been retested and updated with new photos in May 2024.
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This recipe is amazing !!!!
I made this for dinner tonight. It was so delicious!! I’ll be making it many times this fall and winter :)
This was good. Being Italian by marriage, it did need some tweaking, including the addition of basil and thanks to my new addition, used truffle sea salt. I sauteed the tomato paste with the veggies before adding the broth, etc. A little tricked learned from my mother-in-law! Oh and this made ALOT more than expected!
Love your take on this with the basil and tomato paste! Will have to try that next time I make this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing, An Lin!
I have made this recipe many times and it is a winner! The red wine adds a richness to the sauce. I love it over pasta with chopped parsley. Thank you.