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Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù

Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù layers creamy, buttery polenta with a hearty, tomato-rich sauce brimming with lentils, TVP, and classic soffritto aromatics. A hint of red wine and oregano deepens the flavor, while vegan cheese melts over the top for extra richness. Serve this comforting Italian-inspired dish for a cozy weeknight dinner or a relaxed weekend meal.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook40 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyMedium
Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

53 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
55 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
23 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
92 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

30
Heart Health
49
Metabolic
55
Digestive
30
Inflammatory
46
Performance
53
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Combine boiling water and lentils in a bowl and let stand for 1 hour. In a separate bowl, combine texturized vegetable protein with broth and set aside until the liquid is absorbed.

  2. 2

    Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a stew pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, red bell pepper, and hot pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the drained lentils and the undrained texturized vegetable protein. Stir, then add oregano and bay leaf. Pour in the red wine and continue stirring for about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes. Stir and simmer the ragu until it thickens and the lentils are soft, 5 to 10 minutes; add a little more water if needed.

  3. 3

    Bring vegetable broth, water, and salt to a boil in a saucepan. Lower the heat to low and sprinkle the polenta into the water, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes. Add the vegan butter, stirring constantly.

  4. 4

    Divide the polenta evenly among 4 pasta bowls. Remove the bay leaf from the ragu and discard it. Top each bowl with equal amounts of ragu. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon vegan white cheese over each bowl and serve warm.

About This Recipe

Plant Based Polenta with Lentil TVP Ragù is an Italian dinner recipe made with 18 ingredients. It takes about 55 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Carrot, Celery, Chili Pepper, and Diced Tomatoes. Each serving provides about 494.49 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù?
It is an Italian recipe made with 18 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
What is Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù made of?
The main ingredients are Carrot, Celery, Chili Pepper, Diced Tomatoes, Dried Bay Leaves. The full list of 18 is above.
What goes well with Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù?
Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
How long does it take to make Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù?
About 55 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 494.49 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 18 ingredients and 4 steps.
Is Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù healthy?
Plant-Based Polenta with Lentil-TVP Ragù has an easyChef Pro health score of 53/100. Per serving, it provides 494.49 calories and 22.15 g of protein, or 44% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 788.18 mg (34% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 5.71 g (29% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 5.28 g (11% of the Daily Value). It contains Soy, Celery, Tomatoes, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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