How often do you find yourself getting stuck in a midweek dinner rut? After a long day at work and school dinner has got to be tasty, quick and easy!
Now that the weather is turning autumnal and blustery it’s no wonder that I’m craving comfort food! Today I’d like to share one of our family favourites with you. It’s the kind of recipe that’s so easy to throw together but makes you glow contentedly… it’s healthy, nutritious and still leaves you time to help with homework or finding those missing PE shorts!
Lentil Bolognese
1 onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, in small cubes
1-2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 courgette, grated or in small cubes
100g red lentils
400ml water
400g tin of chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp fresh marjoram leaves
a sprig or fresh rosemary
1 tsp milk paprika powder
1/2 vegetable stock cube
salt and freshly ground black pepper
a little marmite or soy sauce
Start off by sautéing the onion and pepper pieces in olive oil until softened. After 5 minutes add the crushed garlic, courgette, lentils, water and chopped tomatoes. Stir well and season with the fresh herbs, paprika and stock cube.
Simmer for 20-25 minutes until the lentils are soft and are starting to fall apart.
Season to taste with salt, black pepper and a little marmite or dark soy sauce for an extra rich flavour.
If you’re feeding a fussy eater you can blend the sauce until smooth before serving it with their favourite pasta shapes. I would recommend peeling the courgette first to avoid the tell-tale green specks in the bolognese!
I’m bringing this scrumptious dinner to the weeks Fiesta Friday. It’s Angie’s birthday and I hope these lovely bright colours will cheer up her day 🙂
Vegetarian Living September 2014
This recipe first appeared in my Vegetarian Living column and I got the sweetest letter in the next month’s issue.
I would like more bias towards easy, interesting everyday meals. The best one in the September issue was the idea of Bolognese sauce – not even set out as a recipe – in Chava Eichner’s column. We happily lived on it, combined with various things, for several days. Wonderful.
Must admit that I actually blushed when I spotted this… it really means a lot to me! Anyone who writes recipes can tell you that it’s the greatest joy when somebody cooks one of your dishes and loves it. Thank you so much June, you made my day 🙂
And here’s just a little reminder…
Don’t forget to enter the Halloween competition for all these wonderful Moo Free chocolates. Closing date is midnight on Sunday 26th October.
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