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I have my staple ingredients I rely upon to get dinner on the table efficiently during the week, don’t you?
My kids will always vote for pasta, which is fast and easy, but I find if I don’t amp it up with some more protein, everyone is looking for more food after dinner. You know how that is. Nothing annoys a mom faster than having everyone milling around the kitchen shortly after dinner is over, looking for MORE FOOD!
So I often enrich my pasta sauce with ready-to-eat lentils. These come steamed and ready to deploy, and can be found in the fresh produce section or the cold case at grocery stores. Of course you could also use dried lentils, but you will need to cook them longer and add more liquid to the sauce to make up for what they absorb.
Cook’s Trick
For this dish, I’m also employing another favorite technique, which is to put tender greens down in the bowl first, and the hot pasta and sauce on top literally wilt them for you, with no extra pan to wash. Stir a little bit while you are eating, to mix. Ta-da!
Recipe: Shortcut Lentil Pasta Sauce
Summary: Ready-to-eat lentils amp up the nutrition in jarred pasta sauce for a fast weeknight dinner. The hot pasta and sauce wilt the greens.
Ingredients
12-16 ounces short pasta (penne, gemelli or your favorite short shape)- 1 (24- to 26-ounce) jar favorite pasta sauce (I often use Gina Rispoli Arrabbiata Sauce)
- 1 (17-ounce) package Melissa’s Steamed Lentils (or your favorite brand)
- 6-10 ounces baby spinach or other tender greens
- Garnish: Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, add sauce and lentils to a medium pot. Cover and simmer over low heat while pasta is cooking.
- To serve, portion baby spinach leaves in the bottom of 4 wide, shallow dinner bowls. Drain hot pasta and immediately portion hot pasta into bowls on top of spinach. Ladle hot sauce over top.
- Serve the grated cheese at the table.
- Serves 4.
Source
Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Diet type: Vegetarian, vegan
Diet tags: Reduced fat
Number of servings (yield): 4
Culinary tradition: Italian
My rating
Throughout the week, you can find the #SundaySupper food blogger team also sharing #WeekdaySupper meals. Getting families back to the dinner table is our mission, and I hope we inspire you to try some of our delicious recipes. You can find them on our Pinterest Boards, too. Please join us there and try something!
This week’s easy Weekday Supper recipes are:
- Monday – Momma’s Meals – Honey Garlic Chicken
- Tuesday – Shockingly Delicious – Shortcut Lentil Pasta Sauce
- Wednesday – Family Foodie – Broccoli and Ricotta Puffs
- Thursday – That Skinny Chick Can Bake – Pork Tenderloin with Maple Balsamic Glaze
- Friday – Alida’s Kitchen – Lentil Tacos
Disclosure: Melissa’s Produce sent the lentils for recipe testing.
Welcome to my kitchen!
At ShockD, you’ll find scrumptious, tried & true, "scary good" recipes, tips and coaching to make YOU a fabulous home cook! Don't blame me if you need a 12-step program to wean yourself away!
E-mail me: Dorothy.Reinhold@gmail.com
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Dorothy, I love lentils and I love the idea of putting the spinach leaves at the bottom of the bowl to be steamed by the hot pasta and sauce on top!
Jean,
Thanks! It’s a neat little trick.
This looks great! I’ve never cooked with lentils before can you believe it! Loving this recipe enough to try!
Tammi,
Oh this will be a painless introduction for you!
Looks tasty Dorothy! I’ll be making this ASAP! Also, we would love to be added to the #weekdaySupper board! =)
Lentils (dried form) are a staple for me too. They cook quick and keep FOREVER and ever! GREG
Greg/SippitySup,
I usually keep dried lentils around the pantry, too. You never know when you want to throw them in a soup or with a rice dish. But I have to say the steamed, ready-to-use lentils are just so darn easy! There is no forethought needed.
Lentils are such a good way to add protein to any vegetarian meal. Great idea!
Shaina/Take a Bite,
Agreed! And in a sauce, even those not so sure of lentils won’t complain.
This sounds so good and so easy. I am going to have try these ready made lentils!
Isabel/Family Foodie,
You absolutely must! This is a dinner-saving trick especially on weeknights with sports practice, etc.
So quick. So easy. And what a great way to use lentils too.
Renee,
Even those who aren’t so sure about lentils won’t complain.