Pasta with creamy lentils
- Easy
- 40 min
Flavor-packed and absolutely family-friendly, pasta with lentils stands out for its rich, hearty taste and cozy comfort. Soft cooked pasta e lenticchie looks really welcoming at the dinner table, filled with smooth lentils that make each forkful taste extra good. Families often lean toward this classic Italian pasta dish since it checks every box—a healthy meal that feels just right for busy weeknights, easy lunches, or even casual gatherings with friends. Silky, mild lentils bring a deep, satisfying flavor, while still feeling wholesome and light. There’s a nice mix of creamy lentils and tender pasta, so every bite hits that spot between filling and delicious. Kids and adults both tend to clean their bowls, and honestly, those savory lentils with chewy pasta are tough to resist. Even picky eaters usually end up reaching for seconds when this dish makes an appearance at home.
Families with packed schedules really appreciate a dish like this – quick to put on the table, full of protein, yet still full of comfort that everyone craves on cooler days. Since it’s a true lentil pasta recipe, it fits in with there being fewer cleanup duties and more time sitting together at the table. Great for meal prep (try doubling it for easy lunches), it reheats beautifully and leftovers often have even more flavor. Don’t box it in—try it as a thick stew, mellow soup, main course, or even in smaller bowls topped with parsley or a swirl of olive oil. Works well with whole wheat varieties for a healthy twist, fitting right into those times you want easy pasta recipes with added nutrition. Simple combos like this truly appeal to any home cook who likes reliable meals with Italian taste and that nice, comforting feeling. For vegetarian pasta meals that are BOTH tasty and practical, this one really earns its spot. Give it a try...most families quickly add this to the go-to dinner list because it's just that great for everyone.
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To prepare pasta and lentils, start by heating up the filtered vegetable borth: you will need it soon. Then proceed to the preparation of the sautéed base: chop the onion, celery, and carrot 1 then, in a large saucepan, pour the oil 2 and add the chopped onion, celery, and carrot 2. Then add the peeled garlic clove 3.
Deglaze with a ladle of broth 4 and let this mixture stew. In the meantime, cut the pancetta bacon into cubes 5 and place it into the saucepan 6.
Mix all the ingredients well, then, using tongs, remove the garlic clove 7. Rinse the lentils under running water, using a sieve 8 and add them to the pan 9.
Also add the chopped dried chili pepper 10, mix in the tomato puree 11, and add the sprigs of rosemary and thyme, which you can tie together with kitchen twine 12 so that they are easier to remove later.
Add the broth until the mixture is well covered 13, then cover the saucepan 14 and leave to cook over low heat for about 40 minutes until the lentils are tender. Remove the sprig of herbs 15 and pour in your pasta.
Add a few ladles of broth to cook the pasta 16 and leave to cook for about ten minutes. Once the pasta is ready, you can decide: if you prefer it more watery, add more broth until the desired consistency is obtained. Once the pasta is cooked, season with salt and pepper and add grated parmesan cheese 17: you can use half a ladle of broth again to help mix in the cheese. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving 18. Your pasta and lentils are ready to be enjoyed!