Now We're Cooking


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Red Lentils and Tomato Pasta Sauce  
From: M. D. Benoit  
This pasta sauce gives you the same texture as ground meat, without the animal protein. I  
like mine with a zing, to counteract the blandness of the lentils. Test the jalapeño, though,  
before you include it. In one of my last batches, the pepper was so hot, I could see steam  
coming out of my husband’s ears. Not that he complained; he ate his entire plate. Maybe  
his mouth was numb after the first bite.  
2
1
2
1
1
1
½
tbsp. vegetable or olive oil  
clove garlic or shallot, minced  
medium onions, chopped finely  
green pepper, chopped finely  
red pepper, chopped finely  
jalapeño, chopped finely  
lb. mushrooms (button or porcini), sliced  
28-oz. can diced tomatoes  
14-oz. can tomato sauce  
5 ½-oz. can tomato paste  
1 tsp. each dried thyme, oregano  
1 tbsp. dried sweet basil  
¼
1
- ½ tsp. dried hot peppers  
bay leaf  
1
tsp. ground black pepper  
Salt to taste  
¾
½
cup split red lentils  
cup water  
Rinse red lentils under cold water, and pick out the black ones.  
Heat oil in dutch oven. Sauté garlic/shallot and onion over medium heat until translucent,  
about 5 minutes. Add other vegetables, and sauté over medium-high heat for another 5  
minutes.  
Add the rest of the ingredients except for lentils and water. Stir well and heat over  
medium-high heat until it boils. Simmer, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Add lentils and  
water, and simmer for another 15-20 minutes, until lentils are tender. Don’t overcook.  
Adjust seasoning.  
Variant:  
Instead of lentils, peel and dice 1 eggplant. Pour boiling water over eggplant and let stand  
for 10 minutes. Drain, then add to sauce 15 minutes before serving.  


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76 77 78 79 80

Quick Jump
1 32 63 95 126