One pot, 45 minutes and a hearty pasta dinner for four to six people. This One-Pot Penne with Lentil Ragout swaps ground beef for green lentils. The result is a thick, hearty sauce that pairs well with whole wheat penne.
The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so there is only one pot to wash. Start by stirring water, diced tomatoes, tomato puree, onion, red pepper, mushrooms, lentils, garlic and Italian herb seasoning together in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Stir in the penne with salt and pepper. Simmer another 5 to 7 minutes, until the pasta is almost tender. Finish with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
New to cooking with lentils? Our Canadian Ingredient Spotlight on lentils covers the basics. You can also read about how Canada became a world leader in lentils and why lentils are good for you and the environment.
The mushrooms add a savoury depth to the sauce. Find out how mushrooms are grown and get more ideas in What’s in Season? Mushrooms.
Whole wheat penne makes the meal more filling. Learn more about the grain in our Canadian Ingredient Spotlight on wheat.
Quick tip: For a vegan option, leave out the cheese or replace it with a sprinkling of nutritional yeast.
Recipe courtesy of Lentils.org
One-Pot Penne with Lentil Ragout
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups tomato puree (passata)
- 1 onion sliced
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 lb package mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup green lentils
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 1/2 tsp dried Italian herb seasoning
- 13 oz package whole wheat penne
- 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, stir together water, tomatoes and their juices, tomato puree, onion, red pepper, mushrooms, lentils, garlic, and Italian herb seasoning; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Stir in pasta, salt, and pepper. The mixture should be thick and only just cover pasta. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is almost tender but still slightly firm, 5-7 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese.
Notes
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