Slow Cooker Lentil Bolognese
A vegan slow cooker bolognese sauce made with red lentils to provide a comforting and warming dish that works all year round. So economical too!
Servings 4
Calories 261kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 red onion peeled and chopped
- 1 sweet potato peeled and chopped
- 200 g butternut squash peeled and chopped
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 1 red pepper sliced
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes 400 g / 14 ounces
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 1 vegetable stock cube
- 500 ml water
- 150 g red lentils
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- 1 tsp dried basil or use fresh and add it near the end
Instructions
- Prep all the vegetables and put them in the slow cooker.1 red onion, 1 sweet potato, 200 g butternut squash, 2 carrots, 1 red pepper
- Add the rest of the ingredients and stir.1 tin chopped tomatoes, 2 tbsp tomato purée, 1 vegetable stock cube, 500 ml water, 150 g red lentils, 1 tsp Italian herbs, 1 tsp dried basil
- Cook for 4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.
- Check the lentils haven't absorbed too much water during cooking. if they have, add a little water to loosen the sauce.
- If you need to thicken the sauce (you shouldn't need to but all slow cookers differ and the red lentils may not absorb the same amount of liquid) you can either turn to high and leave the lid off for the last hour, or use cornflour made up as per instructions on pack if required.
- Serve with pasta or rice, with some cheese grated on the top, and a green vegetable such as broccoli.
- Freeze any extra in portions.
Notes
Storage and reheating
The cooked lentil bolognese keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days, in a lidded container.
Reheat it either in a saucepan on the hob or by heating in the microwave until piping hot.
Freezing
This is an ideal dish to batch cook and freeze for an easy meal another day. Freeze any extra in portions, in a lidded plastic container. Defrost overnight in the fridge then follow the reheating guidelines above
Nutrition
Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 384mg | Potassium: 1166mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 19544IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 5mg