Silvia
Looking for a recipe to make pasta with lentils? This simple and flavorful version will win you over from the very first bite!
It’s a nutritious and versatile first course, perfect when you want to serve something hearty without giving up simplicity.
Thanks to their delicate flavor, lentils pair easily with a variety of ingredients and make it possible to prepare delicious dishes in just a few simple steps. Plus, this recipe is perfect for both lunch and dinner and can be customized to suit your tastes.
You’ll learn how to make pasta with lentils the easy way, along with useful tips and ideas to make it even more delicious. Keep reading…
Lentils and Pasta: A Simple and Nutritious Combination
Lentils and pasta are a very versatile combination, perfect for making a hearty first course with simple ingredients. Thanks to their delicate flavor, lentils pair well with different types of pasta and can be seasoned with vegetables, herbs, and spices.
You can use precooked lentils when you’re short on time or start with dried lentils, planning the preparation in advance. You can also adjust the consistency to suit your taste: keep the sauce on the drier side or add a little more liquid to make it creamier and more comforting.
It’s also an easy dish to customize: you can add tomatoes, onion, carrots, or other vegetables, or keep it more basic and let the lentils take center stage.
In the next steps, I’ll show you my version and how I prepare lentils and pasta in a simple way for everyday cooking.
Pasta with Lentils: Ingredients
Serves 2:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 400 g crushed tomatoes
- 1/4 onion
- 120 g dried lentils
- 1 small carrot (about 20 g)
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 120 g whole-wheat penne
- Water
- Salt
- Curry powder and chili flakes, to taste
Preparation
Before I start cooking, I soak the lentils. This step can help reduce some compounds naturally found in legumes and make them easier to digest. If you’re short on time, you can soak them for just an hour, as I do. However, always check the instructions on the package, as some varieties of lentils don’t require soaking.
While the lentils are soaking, you can start preparing another dish. How about lemon spaghetti?
After the lentils have soaked for an hour, drain them in a strainer and set them aside.
Slice the onion and carrot and sauté them in olive oil over low heat in a nonstick pan. As soon as they become lightly golden, add a glass of water to soften them.
Add the lentils.
Then add the crushed tomatoes, 400 ml of water (you can use the empty tomato container to measure it), and three pinches of salt.
Wash the rosemary and add only the leaves to the pan. If you like, add curry powder and chili flakes. Cover with a lid and cook over high heat.
Once all the water has been absorbed, the sauce is ready. Stir occasionally and, when you see that the water is almost gone, bring some more water to a boil in a medium-sized pot.
Fill the pot halfway with water, add 2 teaspoons of salt, and cover with a lid. Once the water is boiling, add the penne. Check the cooking time on the package; it usually takes about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, add it to the sauce, toss everything together for a few seconds, and serve immediately.
Here it is, ready to serve!
You can serve it with a tasty tomato salad for an excellent source of vitamin C to help with iron absorption.
Simple Pasta with Lentils: Tips for Making It
This is a dish you can easily adapt based on the ingredients you have on hand and the consistency you prefer.
In my version, I prepare the lentil sauce separately with tomatoes, carrot, and onion, then add the pasta only at the end. This way, I can better control the cooking time of both the lentils and the penne.
You can choose whichever pasta shape you prefer. I use whole-wheat penne, but other short pasta shapes work well too, especially those that hold the sauce nicely.
Finally, rosemary, curry powder, and chili flakes let you customize the flavor. You can use all three or simply choose the seasonings you prefer.
Creamy Pasta with Lentils
If you prefer creamy pasta with lentils, you can slightly adjust the consistency of the sauce.
Before adding the pasta, mash some of the lentils directly in the pan with a fork or blend a small portion of them. Stir them back into the rest of the sauce to create a creamier consistency without having to add cream or any other ingredients.
You can also leave a little more liquid in the sauce and finish cooking the pasta together with the lentils, adding a small amount of pasta cooking water as needed.
Pasta with Canned Lentils
When you’re short on time, you can also make this recipe using precooked lentils.
Drain and rinse them well, then add them to the sauce. Since they’re already cooked, they won’t need as much cooking time as dried lentils. Simply let them simmer with the other ingredients for a little while so they can absorb the flavors.
It’s an especially convenient option when you want to make pasta with lentils quickly without having to cook the lentils in advance.
Summer Pasta with Lentils
Pasta with lentils is often associated with the colder months, especially in soupier versions, but you can enjoy it in summer too.
You can make a drier version, like the one I’ve shown you, or prepare it ahead of time and serve it warm or at room temperature. Cherry tomatoes, seasonal vegetables, and fresh herbs can also help you create different variations depending on the time of year.
Neapolitan and Puglian Pasta with Lentils
There are many traditional versions, and the preparation can vary considerably from one region to another.
In Neapolitan cuisine, a creamy version is very common, in which the pasta is usually cooked together with the lentils. This allows the starch released during cooking to help thicken the dish.
In Puglia, there are also several traditional home-style preparations, with variations in the seasonings, pasta shapes, and other ingredients used.
The recipe on this page isn’t intended to recreate a traditional regional dish. It’s simply the way I make pasta with lentils for everyday meals.
Which Lentils Should You Use for Pasta?
You can make this dish with different varieties of lentils. However, cooking times may vary, so it’s always important to check the instructions on the package.
If you’re using dried lentils and would like to learn more about preparation, soaking, and cooking, you can also read my guide on how to cook dried lentils.
Once you’ve learned how to prepare them, you can cook a larger batch and use the lentils in other recipes as well.
Nutritional Benefits of Pasta and Lentils
Lentils
Lentils provide plant-based protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber. They also contain minerals, including iron, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as B vitamins.
The iron found in plant-based foods is non-heme iron, and its bioavailability can be improved by including a source of vitamin C with your meal. That’s why I recommended serving the pasta and lentils with tomato salad.
Whole-Wheat Pasta
Whole-wheat pasta primarily provides complex carbohydrates and contains more fiber than its refined counterpart.
Combined with lentils, it makes for a hearty and filling first course.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes have a high water content and contain vitamin C, potassium, and carotenoids, including lycopene.
Carrots
Carrots are well known for their carotenoid content, including beta-carotene, which the body can convert into vitamin A.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Make Pasta with Lentils?
You can cook the lentils with tomatoes, vegetables, and herbs, then add them to the pasta, as I do in my recipe. Alternatively, there are versions in which the pasta and lentils are cooked together.
What Type of Pasta Should You Use with Lentils?
Short pasta shapes work especially well because they mix easily with the lentils. You can use penne, ditalini, tubetti, or any other shape you prefer.
Can You Make Pasta with Lentils Using Canned Lentils?
Yes. Canned lentils are already cooked, so they can help reduce the preparation time. Drain and rinse them, then let them simmer in the sauce to absorb the flavors.
How Do You Make Pasta with Lentils Creamy?
You can mash or blend some of the lentils and stir them back into the sauce. Briefly finishing the pasta in the pan with the lentils also helps create a creamier consistency.
Can You Make Pasta with Lentils Ahead of Time?
You can prepare the lentil sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator, then cook the pasta when you’re ready to serve it. This prevents the pasta from absorbing too much liquid and losing its texture.
Conclusion
Pasta with lentils is one of those simple dishes that you can easily adapt to suit your tastes: drier or creamier, made with dried or precooked lentils, with tomatoes and vegetables, or with your favorite herbs and seasonings.
In my version, I used whole-wheat penne, lentils, tomatoes, carrot, and rosemary, with the option of adding curry powder and chili flakes to give the dish even more flavor.
