Save money with a lentil bolognese

Spaghetti bolognese is a trusty, reliable family favourite, but the rising price of minced beef can make it an expensive choice these days.

Thankfully, there’s one simple way to make it more affordable - swap some or all of the mince for lentils.

They’re cheap, filling and packed with fibre, so they’re a great budget-friendly option if you’re keeping a close eye on your spending.

What you’ll need

Serves four people

• One tin of lentils
• One carton of passata or a tin of tomatoes
• One chopped onion
• Seasoning, such as oregano, garlic granules and mixed herbs
• A little oil for cooking

Optional extras

• 250g minced beef
• leftover vegetables, like grated carrots and chopped mushrooms

Once cooked, serve with spaghetti or pasta.

How to make it

1.    Heat a little oil in a large pan. 

2.    Cook the onion for a few minutes until it softens.

3.    If you’re using some mince, add it to the pan and cook until browned.

4.    Throw in any other vegetables you’re using and cook for another few minutes. 

5.    Pour in the passata or tinned tomatoes. 

6.    Stir in the lentils and herbs. 

7.    Simmer for around 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Cheap and filling

A tin of lentils costs around 50p.

Compare that with the price of a packet of minced beef.

It’s night and day.

And at the same time, lentils are filling, high in fibre and protein, and perfect for soaking up the flavour of the sauce.

So if you’re looking at knocking up a bolognese but worried about the cost, making this switch is a great way to save money.

Use lentils to bulk out your meal

Of course, you might not want to replace the beef completely.

But in that case, you could just use half the amount of mince you normally would and add lentils to bulk it out.

This is a great option if you’ve bought a bigger packet of mince, as the remaining meat can be used in other meals or put in the freezer for another day.