Meat-free dinner ideas UK

Lentil Bolognese

A meat-free spag bol from the cupboard. Serves 4, about 40 minutes.

Lentil Bolognese - AI-generated illustration

Photo: AI-generated illustration of the dish.

You'll need

  • 200g dried green or brown lentils
  • 300g spaghetti
  • 2 tins chopped tomatoes
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 2 carrots, finely diced
  • 2 sticks celery, finely diced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • a little grated cheese, to serve

Method

How to make it

  1. Soften

    Heat the oil in a deep pan and cook the onion, carrot and celery gently for 8 minutes until soft.

  2. Add

    Rinse the lentils and add them with the tomatoes, the herbs and one tomato tin full of water.

  3. Simmer

    Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring now and then, until the lentils are soft. Add a splash more water if it gets too thick.

  4. Boil

    Cook the spaghetti as the packet says for the last 10 minutes, then drain.

  5. Serve

    Serve a quarter of the sauce over each portion of spaghetti with a little grated cheese. The sauce freezes well.

Shopping list

  • Dried green or brown lentils
  • Spaghetti
  • Chopped tomatoes, 2 tins
  • Onion x1
  • Carrots x2
  • Celery
  • Dried mixed herbs
  • Olive oil
  • Cheese

What's in a portion

545kcalCalories (estimated)
26gProtein (estimated)
95gCarbs (estimated)
10gFat (estimated)
3gof which saturates (estimated)
15gof which sugars (estimated)

Every figure is an estimate per portion, worked out from UK government food-composition data (CoFID). Your portions and brands will differ, so treat these as a guide. Salt not measured. Dry spices and dried herbs are not included in the figures (not measured). How our recipes are made.

Allergens

Contains: gluten (pasta), milk (cheese), celery.

Always check the label on anything packaged — recipes and brands vary, and we cannot see your packet.

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