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Lentil and Tempeh Bolognese
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Home / Lentil and Tempeh Bolognese

Lentil and Tempeh Bolognese

This meaty vegan bolognese combines hearty brown lentils with crumbled tempeh for an exceptionally protein-dense pasta sauce. It is rich, deeply savory, and completely indistinguishable from a traditional meat sauce in texture and satisfaction.

4.5
50 min
🍴6 servings
🔥480 cal
🔖Medium
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30 second summary

A rich and protein-loaded vegan bolognese made with brown lentils and crumbled tempeh over your favorite pasta.

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Nutrition per serving

480Calories
32gProtein
62gCarbs
12gFat
14gFiber

Ingredients

6servings

base

protein

sauce

seasoning

pasta

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Instructions

1

Cook the Lentils

Simmer brown lentils in 2 cups of water until just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain any remaining water and set aside.

2

Brown the Tempeh

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook crumbled tempeh with a drizzle of oil, stirring frequently until golden brown on the edges. This step adds essential depth and umami flavor.

3

Build the Sauce

Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and Italian seasoning to the skillet with the tempeh. Stir in the cooked lentils and simmer everything together until the sauce thickens and flavors meld.

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4

Cook Pasta and Combine

Cook whole wheat spaghetti according to package directions, drain, and serve topped with generous amounts of the lentil and tempeh bolognese sauce.

Substitutions

tempehcooked green lentils for a fully lentil-based sauce
whole wheat spaghettichickpea pasta for an even higher protein meal

Common mistakes

Skipping the browning step for the tempeh which removes most of the rich meaty flavor from the dish
Adding lentils too early to the tomato sauce as the acidity can prevent them from softening properly
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