Heat the oil in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, tomato paste, Calabrian chili paste and dry seasonings. Cook down for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, marinara and cooked lentils - add a little bit of water as needed to thin. Stir and bring to a gentle boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 45-60 minutes.
Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Add in some hand torn basil. Serve over your favorite pasta.
Notes
The amount of Calabrian chili paste to use is totally up to you. I used 2 tablespoons because I lOVE heat. If you are sensitive to heat, start with 1 teaspoon and add more to your taste!
I used steamed brown lentils from Trader Joe's. You could also use canned lentils or cook some lentils from scratch and add them to the sauce.
The longer this sauce simmers the better. So, if you have the time, let it go all day on low heat!