It’s October! Not only is it the best month of the year (Halloween, Samhain, Dia de Los Muertos, and certain awesome people’s birthdays), it is Vegetarian Awareness Month! To make it even better, it’s also National Pasta Month! Truly it is a time to celebrate.

In the spirit of this Month, let’s veganize a favorite pasta dish using some creative swaps in your kitchen. This Lentil Bolognese recipe is sure to satisfy without any meat OR dairy! It also uses high-protein, gluten-free pasta for a more nutritious meal. Let’s get started!

Lentil Bolognese

• 1 box chickpea OR lentil pasta, or pasta of choice (many pastas are NOT gluten-free – check the ingredients!)
• 1 cup cooked green lentils
• 1/2 cup ground walnuts
• 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1 8 oz. container mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 Tbsp vegetable oil OR veggie broth
• 1-2 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 Tbsp Italian spice blend
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• Nutritional yeast to taste (adds a “cheesy” flavor!)
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

1. Fill a stockpot with water and a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cook pasta according to box instructions.
2. Add oil or vegetable broth to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and sauté until translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Add mushrooms and garlic. Sauté until the mushrooms start to lose their liquid, about 3 minutes.
4. Add crushed tomatoes and all dry spices / herbs. Stir together to mix well. Turn heat down to simmer.
5. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add lentils and walnuts and mix well. Simmer for 3 more minutes.
6. Taste the sauce and add any additional desired spices or seasonings, if needed.
7. Place one serving of cooked pasta into a bowl and top with desired amount of the bolongnese sauce.
8. Garnish with basil leaves and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. Enjoy!

Now there you have a hearty bowl of comfort, perfect to start the Autumn season! You can find nutritional yeast at most health food stores and even Target stores (which is the most affordable option I have found). It’s the product you can use for many meals, including my upcoming vegan Mac and Cheez recipe. Happy Vegetarian and Pasta Month!