Simple Balsamic Lentil Pasta – She Likes Meals

October 5, 2025

5

Created On: October 2, 2025 &nbsp| Up to date: October 3, 2025 | Depart a remark

My Simple Balsamic Lentil Pasta comes collectively shortly and makes use of a number of pantry staples. The tomatoes add a contemporary summer season kick to this cozy and filling vegetarian pasta recipe. Lentils are full of protein and fiber, making them a fantastic plant-based “meaty” addition to this wholesome pasta dinner. Serve with salad and bread for a whole meal.

It’s formally fall, however we’ve nonetheless been having a number of heat days right here and there. This Simple Balsamic Lentil Pasta is a kind of recipes that helps bridge the hole between summer season and fall. The contemporary tomato and basil add a contemporary summer season taste, whereas the lentils and Parmesan cheese make it cozy and filling sufficient for fall and winter. This vegetarian pasta recipe is thrilling for the style buds and nice for a weeknight dinner that doesn’t take an excessive amount of time or effort.

Why You’ll Love This Simple Vegetarian Dinner Recipe

Simple to make – Pasta is all the time a go-to for a straightforward weeknight dinner, however typically I’m not within the temper for plain purple sauce. The cherry tomatoes, canned lentils, and balsamic vinegar add a flavorful twist to this straightforward pasta recipe that everybody will love.
Filled with vitamins – The lentils and tomatoes present important vitamins to this vegetarian pasta recipe. Lentils are full of protein and fiber, and Parmesan cheese is wealthy in calcium. Prime with contemporary herbs for an additional enhance of advantages.
Cozy and filling – I really like this recipe as a result of it’s made utilizing contemporary summer season tomatoes, however it is usually cozy sufficient to get pleasure from within the winter or fall seasons. The lentils add a pleasant heartiness, and you’ll simply add further veggies should you like. Canned tomatoes can be used as an alternative to contemporary tomatoes, if wanted.

Why Your Physique Will Love This Protein-Packed Meal

Lentils – Lentils are excessive in fiber and protein, filling you up and retaining you feeling full for an prolonged interval. The plant-based lentil protein additionally helps the physique construct and keep muscle, bones, and pores and skin. The fiber in lentils aids in retaining our digestive programs working easily, so we don’t get constipated. Lentils are additionally excessive in antioxidants. Antioxidants shield our our bodies from harm attributable to free radicals and unstable molecules that may enhance the danger of illness.

Tomatoes – Tomatoes are excessive in antioxidants, which assist neutralize dangerous free radicals within the blood. The lycopene and potassium in tomatoes could assist scale back the danger of persistent illnesses, together with coronary heart illness and most cancers. Lycopene will help decrease dangerous ldl cholesterol and stop artery blockages by inhibiting ldl cholesterol synthesis and growing the breakdown of LDL. Tomatoes are additionally excessive in vitamin C, which helps and boosts the immune system.

20-Minute Balsamic Lentil Pasta Recipe Substances

Pasta – You should use any sort of pasta for this recipe. I used rigatoni, and it labored nicely, however one thing like spaghetti may be used. Gluten-free pasta might be simply substituted, if wanted.
Lentils – I used canned lentils as a result of I often have them available, they usually save me a number of time. Dwelling-cooked lentils can be used, should you choose. I like to recommend utilizing brown lentils for this recipe as a result of they’ve a pleasant taste and maintain their form nicely as soon as blended into the pasta.
Tomatoes – I used cherry tomatoes, which I minimize in half, however you would additionally cube regular-sized tomatoes or use two cans of petite diced tomatoes as an alternative to contemporary tomatoes.
Onion + Garlic – Onion and garlic add a pleasant taste base and can make your kitchen scent actually good. You possibly can add different diced greens should you like. Zucchini, mushrooms, or broccoli could be nice additions.
Balsamic Vinegar – Balsamic vinegar has a wealthy taste that enhances tomatoes and pairs nicely with lentils. I used common vinegar, however you can even use balsamic glaze should you choose that. I additionally added a few teaspoons of tamari for a pleasant saltiness.
Herbs – I seasoned this pasta recipe with contemporary thyme, contemporary basil, and dried oregano. Contemporary parsley would even be a superb addition.
Parmesan Cheese – Parmesan pairs nicely with balsamic vinegar and cherry tomatoes, however any melty cheese can be utilized as a substitute. Mozzarella, provolone, and even feta are good substitutions.

How To Make Contemporary Cherry Tomato Pasta With Lentils

Convey a big pot of water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook dinner based on bundle instructions. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water earlier than draining. Drain pasta nicely and put aside till prepared to make use of.
Warmth a big saucepan over medium warmth and add 1 Tablespoon olive oil, diced onion, and a pinch of salt. Cook dinner the onion till softened and barely browned, about 3 minutes. Add within the minced garlic, thyme, oregano, and purple chili flakes and cook dinner for one more minute, till aromatic.
Subsequent, add within the diced tomatoes, together with a pinch of salt. Stir every part collectively and cook dinner till tomatoes have softened and are releasing their juices, about 10 minutes, stirring each couple of minutes. Use the again of your spatula to softly press the tomatoes down, guaranteeing all of the juices are launched. It’s also possible to use a potato masher.
Add within the cooked lentils, balsamic vinegar, and tamari. Combine and let it simmer for about 3-4 minutes. Subsequent, add the cooked pasta and chopped basil and stir nicely till completely mixed.
Lastly, add within the parmesan cheese and about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water and blend till the cheese is melted. Prime the balsamic lentil pasta with further basil and parmesan cheese. Benefit from the pasta instantly or retailer it within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Take pleasure in with salad and bread for a full meal, if desired.

Recipe Regularly Requested Questions

Make this recipe gluten-free through the use of your favourite gluten-free pasta.
Make this recipe vegan through the use of a vegan parmesan cheese substitute, or omit the cheese altogether should you choose. A Tablespoon or two of dietary yeast blended in can also be a superb substitution.
What sort of lentils are finest to make use of? I like to recommend utilizing any lentil, aside from purple lentils, as they have an inclination to grow to be too mushy. Brown lentils work nicely, from my expertise.
What sort of pasta works finest for this recipe? I used rigatoni, and it labored nicely, however any pasta ought to work.
Can further veggies be added? Sure, be happy so as to add some diced greens with the onions if you wish to bulk up the veggies somewhat bit.
Is that this pasta freezer-friendly? Sure, you’ll be able to freeze this pasta recipe. Permit the pasta to chill utterly, then retailer it in an hermetic container within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
How lengthy does leftover pasta final? If saved in an air-tight container within the fridge, it ought to final 4-5 days. Reheat within the microwave or on the stovetop.

Have a query I didn’t reply? Ask me within the remark part beneath, and I’ll get again to you ASAP!

Wanting For Extra Simple Vegetarian Pasta Recipes?

Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Parmesan

Spicy Baked Pasta with Vegetarian Meatballs

Tofu Broccoli Pasta

Spinach Feta Baked Pasta

Kale and White Bean Pasta with Parmesan

Print