Red Lentil Buffalo Sauce

Hi hello! Happy Monday. Today, we are talking about Ryan’s favorite condiment, and how to make it happen at home with one of my favorite ingredients.

BUFFALO SAUCE!

…made with red lentils. Heh? I know.

It took a while for me to love split red lentils, because they’re different from their black, green, and brown counterparts. When I cooked them for the first time, I didn’t understand why the result was so…mushy. After several tries and some long-overdue google searching, I learned that split red lentils break apart when they’re cooked.

Once I let them be who they were meant to be, we became the best of friends.

The soft texture and mild taste of cooked red lentils makes them an easy, healthful addition to this buffalo sauce. The lentils negate the need for a thickening agent like cornstarch or flour, while adding a little boost in protein, and that hard-to-achieve bright orange/red color. I’ve made this sauce a couple times, and came up with the spice/ingredient list below while taste-testing it next to a bottle of Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce (Ryan’s favorite). I honestly prefer the red lentil version, and I feel good knowing that I control everything that goes into it. Red lentils also cook up quickly, so you can make the sauce in the time it would take you to go to the store to buy a bottle.

Use this buffalo sauce as a dip for veggies, or on sandwiches, salads, or pizzas!…and/or check back tomorrow for my new favorite use for this magic sauce.

Print Recipe

Red Lentil Buffalo Sauce

Spicy, tangy buffalo sauce with a kick of protein from red lentils! Easy to make and home, and way better than the stuff from the bottle.

Yield: 1 1/4 cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup split red lentils, picked through and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups water (for cooking the lentils)
• 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• 1/2-1 teaspoon ground cayenne
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

1. Combine the lentils and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. The lentils will break apart and become mushy - that's the goal! Rinse and drain thoroughly.
2. Combine the lentils in a blender with all other ingredients. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust heat/spice levels as needed.