Categories: Main Dish, Pasta Sauce

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus additional for drizzling
• 1 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 cup finely chopped carrot
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 2 plump garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 -2 fresh hot pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups lentils
• 1 1/2 lbs linguine or 1 1/2 lbs penne
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a saucepan; add in the celery, carrots, onions, and garlic; stir/saute over med-high heat, about 15 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and beginning to brown.

2. Add in the hot peppers, salt, and red pepper flakes; continue sauting 5-10 minutes, allowing vegetables to brown—keep a close eye on the vegetables, stirring often, so they don’t burn.

3. Add in the lentils and 5 cups water; cover, bring to a boil; decrease heat, and simmer until the lentils are soft but not falling apart, 18-22 minutes (if you lentils have been gathering dust in the pantry, they can take as much as 40 minutes to cook; for a longer cooking time, may have to add more water).

4. When the lentils are tender, bring at least 5 quarts of water to a boil in a big pot.

5. Generously salt water; drop in pasta; cook, stirring often, until al dente.

6. Drain pasta and toss it into the lentil sauce; drizzle with an additional tablespoon or two of olive oil.

7. Fold in lemon zest and parsley; serve immediately.

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