Mushroom & Lentil Ragu

Spaghetti was one of my favorite things to eat growing up. My mom use to prepare her spaghetti sauce in the crockpot and it would cook all day. When I would walk into the door from school, that amazing aroma of spaghetti fulfilled the house.

Since I am not eating meat anymore, I decided to make a vegetarian version of this meal.  This came out great! Who needs meat when you can have mushrooms & lentils! 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

12 ounces button mushrooms, sliced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 large carrot, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped

1/4 cup red wine

1 bay leaf

1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes

2 cups water

1 cup brown lentils, rinsed and picked through

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

1 box (16 ounces) brown rice spaghetti

Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

In large saucepot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, garlic, carrot, bell pepper and onion. Cook until vegetables are very brown and soft, about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add wine; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Use wooden spoon to scrape browned bits from bottom of pan.

Stir in bay leaf, crushed tomatoes, water, lentils, oregano, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are tender, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water, as needed, if ragu gets too thick. Remove bay leaf and stir in basil.

Meanwhile, prepare spaghetti according to package directions.

Serve ragu over spaghetti. Garnish with parsley and serve.