Creamy Lentil Tomato Pasta30m

Creamy Lentil Tomato Pasta

A cozy tomato pasta where red lentils simmer into a simple, family-friendly sauce with spinach. The lentils soften into the tomato sauce for a creamy texture without dairy.

8 min prep22 min cook4 servingsmedium
Energy
652 calories per serving
Protein
26.5 g per serving
Carbs
119.5 g per serving
Fat
9.3 g per serving
Sodium
1035 mg per serving

Shopping options

Loading shopping options…

Cook this recipe

  • penne pasta-12 oz
  • water-1.5 cups
  • vegan marinara sauce-1 jar
  • canned diced tomatoes-1 can
  • baby spinach-5 oz
  • dry red lentils-1 cup
  • olive oil-1 tbsp
  • yellow onion-1 medium
  • garlic-2 cloves
  • Italian seasoning-1 tsp
  • fine salt-0.5 tsp
1
Boil water and rinse lentils
Large pot
Fine-mesh sieve

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Rinse the red lentils in a fine-mesh sieve.

Keep pot handles turned inward while bringing water to a boil.

1 1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 Cup red lentils
2
Sauté onion
Wooden spoon
Large deep skillet

Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring often.

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Count yellow onion
3
Bloom aromatics
Wooden spoon
Large deep skillet

Add garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for 30 seconds.

2 Count garlic
1 Teaspoon italian seasoning
4
Start the sauce
Measuring cups and spoons
Wooden spoon
Large deep skillet

Stir in red lentils, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes with juices, water, and salt. Bring to a simmer.

1 Cup red lentils
1 Jar marinara sauce
1 Can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Teaspoon salt
5
Simmer until creamy
Wooden spoon
Large deep skillet

Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are very tender and the sauce looks creamy.

Open the skillet lid away from your face to avoid steam burns.

1 Cup red lentils
1 Jar marinara sauce
1 Can diced tomatoes
1 1/2 Cup Water
6
Cook and drain pasta
Large pot
Colander
Measuring cups and spoons

While the sauce simmers, cook penne according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.

Use caution when draining boiling pasta water.

12 Ounce penne pasta
1 1/2 Cup Water
7
Wilt spinach
Wooden spoon
Large deep skillet

Stir baby spinach into the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes, until wilted.

5 Ounce spinach
8
Combine pasta and sauce
Wooden spoon
Large deep skillet

Add drained penne to the sauce and stir to coat. Stir in a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

12 Ounce penne pasta
1 1/2 Cup Water
9

How did it turn out?

Rating and review tools are unavailable right now.