Budget Pasta with Lentils and Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 Sweet onion (Use half diced and half sliced)
• 3 cloves Garlic (Minced)
• 2 cups Water (For cooking the lentils)
• 0.5 lb Lentils (Wash before cooking; the creator uses half a bag)
• Water (Additional water for cooking the pasta in the lentil pot; amount not stated)
• 0.5 lb Ditalini pasta (The creator uses half a box; cook al dente)
• 1 can Tomato sauce (The creator describes a 1-dollar can; can size not stated)
• Parsley (Optional; fresh, chopped, for serving)

Steps

1. 1

   Cut the onion in half. Slice one half and dice the other half. Mince the garlic cloves.

2. 2

   Put 2 cups of water in a pot over high heat. Wash the lentils, add them to the pot, and bring the water to a boil with the lentils already in it.

3. 3

   While the lentils cook, heat a pan over medium heat. Add the diced onion and move it around for about 1 minute, until it begins to change color.

4. 4

   Add about 2 tablespoons of lentil cooking water to the pan. When the water evaporates and the pan dries, add the cooked lentils and mix them with the diced onion.

5. 5

   Transfer the lentil and diced-onion mixture to a bowl and set it aside.

6. 6

   Add the sliced onion to the same pan and move it around for about 1 minute, cooking it a little longer than the diced onion so it develops more color.

7. 7

   Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of lentil cooking water. Scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze it and lift up the browned flavor.

8. 8

   When the onion liquid has reduced by about half, mash a small spoonful of lentils and stir them into the onion water. Let the liquid reduce until only about 1 to 2 tablespoons remain and it has a sauce-like consistency.

9. 9

   Add enough water to the lentil pot to cook the pasta; the source does not specify the amount. Bring it to a boil, add the pasta, and cook until al dente. Reserve some pasta water before draining or removing the pasta.

10. 10

    Add the can of tomato sauce to the pan and mix well. Reduce the heat to medium-low.

11. 11

    When the sauce starts to pop, add the minced garlic. Cook it in the sauce for about 5 minutes.

12. 12

    Add the lentils and diced onion mixture to the sauce and mix well.

13. 13

    Add 4 tablespoons of reserved pasta water to the sauce and stir to emulsify it. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes.

14. 14

    Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and lentils. Mix thoroughly, then transfer to bowls and plate.

15. 15

    If using fresh parsley, chop it and sprinkle it over the plated pasta.

Notes

The creator says seasonings may be added if available, but are not necessary; no specific seasoning is named. The transcript says the recipe uses half a bag of lentils and half a box of pasta, but does not state the bag or box sizes clearly. The quantity and size of the tomato-sauce can, lentil cooking time, and pasta-water amount are not given.

Nutrition per serving

• vegetarian
• budget-friendly
• high-protein
• high-fiber
• one-pot pasta
• stovetop
• family meal