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–+ servings
Green lentil bolognese in a bowl on a bed of spaghetti.
Course Main Course

Vegan Green Lentil Bolognese {Slow Cooker}

By: Elysia Cartlidge
Servings 6 servings
This easy green lentil bolognese is one of the most inexpensive yet satisfying main dishes ever. As it cooks low and slow in the crockpot, the hearty lentils soften and soak up so much flavor. It's also completely vegan, makes the best leftovers, and even freezes great for super simple meals whenever! {Gluten-free & vegan}
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups tomato sauce
  • 3/4 cup reduced sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 cup dry green or brown lentils
  • 6 ounces frozen spinach (or a couple of handfuls of fresh chopped baby spinach)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional garnishes

  • Fresh basil or parsley
  • Sprinkle of mozzarella or parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Add some olive oil to a pan or slow cooker if your crock pot has a "sautee" function and cook the onions and garlic over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until fragrant.
  • Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and stir to combine. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Serve warm over pasta, rice or quinoa with a sprinkle of parsley or parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

  • If you'd like to cook up the onions and garlic before adding them to the slow cooker to add more depth of flavour, you can certainly do so. Add some olive oil to a pan or the slow cooker if your crock pot has a "sautee" function and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until fragrant.
  • Use dry green lentils for best results. If you use red split lentils, they will turn out mushy. We want the lentils to retain their shape to resemble the texture of a meat sauce.
  • The lentils tend to absorb the liquid the longer that it sits which means that the sauce can get quite thick. If you want to thin out your sauce or make it more creamy, add a bit more broth or coconut milk. Add some additional spices to compensate if you do add more liquid.
  • If you want the lentil bolognese sauce to have more heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes, adding a small amount at a time, until desired level of heat is achieved.

Nutrition

Calories: 201kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 11gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 453mgPotassium: 920mgFiber: 13gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 826IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 5mg
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