Lentil Bolognese

After a fanatastic camping holiday what better way to enjoy the trip home than with a stop at a delightful country town cafe. We stumbled across Alfreds Cafe in Euroa.  An eclectic yet boutique cafe with delicious food and five star service. Walking in with kids all a little shabby post camping, we were warmly welcomed with a high chair, colouring books and kids menu.

Enjoying lunch at Albert's Cafe in Euroa

 

Veggie mum and dad enjoyed a very satisfying coffee followed by a smoked salmon, Milawa brie, preserved lemon tart and zucchini and haloumi fritters. We couldn't resist the cake selection and chose the orange almond cake to share on the drive home. Incredibly light for an almond cake with the unmatchable flavour of whole orange. Any drive along the Hume would be enhanced by Alberts Cafe in Euroa.

licking the every last piece of cake crumbs...

So we got home rather late, needed a quick and reliable dinner, and I was pretty keen to get my hands back on the Thermomix dials.  Was better than a trusty Lentil Bolognese.  It’s one of those favourites that you can use whatever veges you have on hand or prefer and the lentil can be pre cooked dried green lentils or straight from a tin if time is calling you.  Any pasta if fine but the kids love spaghetti and topped with some fresh parmesan cheese you can’t go wrong.



Lentil Bolognese with Spaghetti

Lentil Bologese

 

40g parmesan cheese cubed

1 onion

1 clove garlic

20g olive oil

1 carrot

1 zucchini

1 handful of mushrooms

¼ red capsicum

1 tin lentils drained

1 tin tomato

1/4 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp vege stock concentrate

50g red wine or water

Handful of fresh herbs eg basil, oregano or 1 tsp dried herbs

• Add cheese to Thermomix bowl and chop for 4 seconds on speed 6 then set aside
• Add garlic and onion to bowl and chop for 5 seconds on speed 6
• Add oil and sauté for 3 minutes at 100° on speed 1
• Add roughly chopped carrot, zucchini, mushrooms and capsicum and chop for 4 seconds on speed 7
• Add all other ingredients (if using fresh herbs leave for last 5 minutes) and cook for 15 minutes at 100° on Reverse speed 1
• Meanwhile cook your favourite pasta to your liking then serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese

Enjoy!