Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Comforting and wholesome tagliatelle puy lentil ragu in a rich tomato and red wine sauce.

Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (1)

I’m sure you’ve realised I’m a big pasta lover and it was time to add one of my favourite pasta recipes to the blog.

I think I first had lentil ragu in an Italian restaurant and fell in love instantly. Just like I fall in love with any Italian dish!

Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (2)

Although a traditional ragu is slow cooked and made with meat this lentil ragu is packed with flavour and just as satisfying.

The base to this ragu starts with onion, garlic and celery. This is fried until soft and then the puy lentils are added along with the chopped tomatoes, stock, red wine and seasoning.

Puy lentils are a green peppery lentil and come from a region in France called Le Puy. I know, technically not Italian but I love the texture of them in this dish, they hold their shape better than other lentils and have a slightly chewy texture.

Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (3)

They are more expensive than regular lentils but you should be able to find them in most big supermarkets, I bought the brand Gourmet Merchant. If you can’t find them, sub for a green or brown lentil.

I love using lentils as a meat substitute, they’re great in pasta sauces, curries and stews. It also helps that they’re super good for you and full of protein and fibre!

The rich tomato sauce is made up of chopped tomatoes, red wine, vegetable stock, tomato purée, balsamic vinegar, sundried tomatoes, smoked paprika and salt and pepper.

Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (4)

You really can’t go wrong with this flavour combination, it’s simmered until thick and dark red in colour.

Make sure the red wine you’re using is vegan, most supermarket brands are good at labelling this now. Try Waitrose, Sainsbury’s or Co-op.

For the pasta, you can use any shape you prefer. I usually opt for a linguine, tagliatelle or pappardelle with a ragu. But I know that any type of pasta would be delicious!

Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (5)

For more pasta recipes you may enjoy these:

Roasted courgette pesto pasta

Roasted red pepper and sundried tomato pasta

Creamy Butternut Pasta with Sausage Crumbles

As always if you make this vegan lentil ragu be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

Don’t forget to follow along onFacebook,PinterestandInstagram– I’d love to see you all there!

Yield: 3-4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Comforting and wholesome vegan tagliatelle puy lentil ragu. A rich tomato and red wine sauce this is the perfect meatless take on a classic!

Ingredients

1 large red onion
3 garlic cloves
3 celery sticks
3/4 cup dried puy lentils
1 tin (400g) chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup red wine (or sub for extra stock)
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tbsp tomato puree
4 sundried tomatoes in oil, chopped
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp mixed dried herbs
1 cup loosely packed basil
300g tagliatelle (gf if preferred)

Instructions

Heat a tbsp of oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Finely chop the onion and add, let cook for a few minutes and stir regularly
Crush the garlic and chop the celery into small pieces. Add to the onion, stir and let cook for 5 minutes,
When the onion is soft, rinse the lentils and add along with all the remaining ingredients, apart from the basil. Bring to a gentle simmer and leave for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 10 minutes, cook the pasta according to packet instructions. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
The sauce should have thickened and be dark red in colour, lentils should have a bit of a bite to them.
Add the pasta water to the sauce along with roughly chopped basil, stir and then add the pasta. Mix well and serve with fresh basil and vegan parmesan!

Notes

Best eaten fresh but will keep in the fridge in an air tight container for 3-4 days.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram @cupfulofkale

Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (10)

Tagliatelle Puy Lentil Ragu - Cupful of Kale Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is special about puy lentils? ›

Grown in Le Puy-en-Velay in France, our tasty lentils have a unique peppery flavour and retain their texture during cooking. They cook in just 25 minutes (no need to pre-soak) and are packed with plant-based protein and fibre, making them a great addition to salads, stews or casseroles.

Know More ›

How many calories are in lentil ragu? ›

Nutritional Information

Typical Values	when heated according to instructions Per 100g	when heated according to instructions Per 400g Serving
Energy	545kJ / 129kcal	2180kJ/ 516kcal
Fat	2.8g	11.2g
of which saturates	0.4g	1.6g
Carbohydrate	20.5g	82g

5 more rows

Tell Me More ›

What are Puy lentils called in the USA? ›

Le Puy green lentil is a small, mottled, slate-gray/green lentil of the Lens esculenta puyensis (or L. culinaris puyensis) variety. In the US, this type of lentil may be grown and sold as French green lentils or Puy lentils.

Discover More ›

What is another name for Puy lentils? ›

French Lentils (aka Lentilles du Puy)

This means that these speckled, greenish-bluish-greyish orbs, also called green French lentils or lentilles du Puy, retain their shape when cooked and have a pleasant, poppy texture. This lack of mushiness makes them ideal for non-soup applications.

Read On ›

Is lentil pasta healthier than regular pasta? ›

For example, lentil pasta is an excellent alternative to regular pasta because it's high in fiber and protein. Lentils are loaded with folate, iron, phosphorus and potassium. Lentil pasta is rich in fiber. Fiber intake helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Read The Full Story ›

How many calories are in tagliatelle ragu? ›

It combines minced beef with a tangy tomato sauce, mushrooms and the unique ribbon texture of tagliatelle pasta that soaks up the sauce. But the best thing is it comes in at just 454 calories per serving and give you a fab 24g protein boost to boot.

Discover More ›

Which lentil is lowest in calories? ›

For individuals managing their calorie intake, red lentils are ideal. Only 168 calories are in one dish of cooked dal. Vitamins are abundant in red lentils, particularly folate, a form of B vitamin.

Explore More ›

What is the benefit of Puy lentils? ›

A 100g, cup of lentils will provide the diet with 60g carbohydrate, 31g dietary fibre and the merest trace of fat at 1g. Other vital nutrients found will include 122mg magnesium, 479mcg folate, 56mg calcium, 7.54mg iron, 122mg magnesium, 451mg phosphorus, 955 mg potassium and 4.78mg zinc.

Get More Info Here ›

Are Puy lentils better than green lentils? ›

Puy lentils: These grey-green lentils, grown in the French region of Le Puy, are often more expensive than other common cooking varieties and are thought to be superior in texture (which they retain after cooking) and taste.

Tell Me More ›

Do you need to soak Puy lentils before cooking? ›

HOW TO COOK DRIED PUY LENTILS: There is no need to pre-soak Puy lentils. Simply follow these instructions to cook to perfection in under 30 minutes: Put the lentils in a sieve and rinse them for 20 seconds under cold running water.

What are the most flavorful lentils? ›

Black Beluga lentils have the most flavor, adding a rich, earthy taste and a firm texture that holds up well during cooking. Black lentils will be ready in 20–25 minutes; however, they will fall apart like their brown, green, and red partners once you cook them for too long.