Harissa Lentil Bolognese

Instructions

1. Prepare Sofrito Base

   7 min hands-on

   • Peel and roughly chop the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic.
   • Place them in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not pureed.

2. Cook Sofrito

   2 min hands-on12 min waiting

   • Heat olive oil in a large, deep pot over medium heat.
   • Add the chopped sofrito mixture and a pinch of salt.
   • Cook for about 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.

3. Prepare Mushrooms and Lentils

   5 min hands-on

   • Clean and roughly chop the mushrooms.
   • Add mushrooms and raw lentils to the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.

4. Enhance Base with Harissa

   3 min hands-on

   • Stir in the hot sauce into the softened sofrito.
   • Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.

5. Combine Mushrooms and Lentils

   3 min hands-on12 min waiting

   • Add the mushroom-lentil mixture to the pot.
   • Cook over medium heat for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid evaporates.

6. Add Tomatoes

   4 min hands-on25 min waiting

   • Chop fresh tomatoes into small chunks or pulse briefly in the food processor.
   • Stir tomatoes into the pot and lower the heat to medium-low.
   • Simmer gently for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7. Cook Pasta

   3 min hands-on

   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
   • Cook the whole grain pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
   • Reserve some starchy pasta water before draining.

8. Combine Sauce and Pasta

   2 min hands-on2 min waiting

   • Add the cooked pasta directly into the pot with the sauce.
   • Pour in the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, while tossing the pasta.
   • Heat gently for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

9. Finish with Fresh Parsley

   1 min hands-on

   • Finely chop fresh parsley and sprinkle over the pasta just before serving.

10. Serve and Enjoy

    1 min hands-on

    • Divide the pasta among plates or bowls and serve immediately.
    • Cooking tips:
    • For a deeper smoky flavor, try roasting the mushrooms before adding them to the food processor.
    • If you prefer a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to partially blend the sauce after simmering.
    • Adjust the spice level by adding more or less hot sauce to suit your preference.
    • The reserved pasta water is critical for achieving a silky sauce consistency—don’t skip this step!