Lentil and balsamic tomato pappardelle

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Spaghetti Bolognese is one of those ubiquitous dishes. Everybody eats it, everybody cooks it, everybody likes it.

Except me.

Maybe because we had it upwards of three times a week (may be an exaggeration... but not much!), maybe because I don't like the way spaghetti feels in my mouth, maybe because I just don't like tomato pasta sauce. I don't know. I rarely never cook it and pretty much never want to eat it.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, QUIT CALLING IT SPAG BOG.

It makes me think of a toilet.

Mr Veggie Dad finds my bolognese aversion tough going, as he really likes it. And he makes a mean version too, just quietly. Sometimes I make similar sorts of things, like this lentil dish, and it seems to suffice. Want to cut down on meat? (And since when did mince get so expensive? I thought it was just snouts and tendons...) throw in some lentils. Add something, anything, for the love of god other than spaghetti and hey... even I might eat it.

Cover it in parmesan and I'm your man.

You could make this even better (and I have), by roasting halved tomatoes until soft. Then squashing them with salt and balsamic and adding to the lentils. YUM.

It's easy, quick and good for you. A delicious dish on a cold night with a sneaky red. You know you want to.

Oh and don't forget the garlic bread. Tell 'em Veggie Mama sent ya.

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 can green lentils

1 can chopped tomatoes

A good splash of balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon mixed herbs
a pinch of sugar
salt and cracked black pepper
Fresh pappardelle pasta, or cut your own from fresh lasagna sheets.


Directions:

1. Heat some oil or butter in a saucepan and fry onion over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic and fry 1 minute.

2. Add everything else and bring to the boil. Let simmer for at least 10 minutes. The longer you do, the richer and better it will taste.

3. Cook pappardelle according to package directions.

4. Test your sauce for seasoning, add to pasta, cover the lot with parmesan.

5. Never eat spaghetti bolognese again.


Seriously... am I the only one that doesn't like it?

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