Who says you can't eat pasta if you are on a vegan diet? You can enjoy a nice creamy pasta without any of the dairy involved. I bring you here five recipes you must learn to impress anyone.
Vegan Mac and Cheese
Let's start with a classic. Who doesn't enjoy a nice plate of mac and cheese? It is a perfect treat for a day of hard work or a perfect dish to put together for a potluck.
I'm sure you can find an instead vegan version of this dish in a plant-based store. But what is more satisfying than cooking something from scratch. Also by learning this then you can mix up the recipe and make it your own.
Mac and Cheese it's an all-age favorite. so let's see what we need to get this vegan pasta recipe started.
Ingredients
For the vegan cheese
Disclaimer! you can buy a premade plant-based cheese, you can even get a cheddar flavored one but I find this recipe to be cheaper and it is so easy that it is worth the try.
- 2 cups peeled and chopped potatoes
- 1 cup peeled and chopped carrots
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil or other oils like coconut or peanut.
- 1/2 cup plant-based milk I like using soy or oatmeal
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (Key ingredient!)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice.
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Salt to taste
Ingredients for the pasta
- 1 package of dried vegan pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions to make the plant-based cheese
Step 1
Preheat your oven at 250
Step 2
Boil the chopped potatoes and the chopped carrots for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, you can boil some heavily salted water for the pasta.
Step 3
Drain and transfer the boiled carrots and potatoes to a blender or processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth. If you find it too thick you can add a little bit of the water where you boiled the potatoes until you get the consistency you like.
TIP: Add this plant-based cheese sauce to every vegan pasta recipe, you won't regret it!
Step 4
Mix your vegan cheese with the cooked pasta and put it in a baking tray. Sprinkle nutritional yeast on top of the pasta and bake until golden.
This last step is optional but it shouldn't be! it makes all the difference.
Step 5
Top it with some chopped parsley and chilly flakes and serve while it's hot. Enjoy!
This vegan twist of a classic dish will make you the most popular cook at a party. You can treat yourself and your friends to this comfort food dish at any time.
Prep time for this dish is only 30 minutes and if you make a big amount you can enjoy it for a few more meals.
Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese
Eating Spaghetti Bolognese might sound impossible if you are on a vegan diet. But with this vegan pasta recipe, you won't be missing out on this Italian dish. The key ingredient is easier than you think... mushrooms!
Fungi have the perfect consistency to play as the meat on this dish. They are also perfect since they are filled with flavor and they also soak up the sauce pretty well. You can shape them into little balls or chopped them finely so they mix with the sauce. Let's get familiar with this vegan pasta recipe.
Let's get into it, shall we?
Ingredients for the sauce
- 2 cans of tomatoes or tomato sauce. I like the whole tomatoes better.
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 big onion chopped
- 1 small carrot finely chopped or grated
- 2 cups mushrooms (Shitake are my fave but Crimini can also work)
- Chilli peppers to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For serving: chopped parsley or basil leaves
Check this post about: Organic Mushrooms: 3 Recipes that Will Make your Mouth Water
Ingredients for the pasta:
- 1 packaged vegan spaghetti
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions:
Step 1
In a large pan add the olive oil, garlic, and onions and cook until the onions are clear.
Step 2
Process the mushrooms in a blender or food processor. Add the mushrooms to the pan and stir for 3 minutes.
Step 3
Add the chopped carrots and the tomato put the lid on and let simmer for 20 minutes. At this moment you can up your heavily salted water to a boil.
Step 4
When the tomatoes are fully cooked, adjust the condiments. And put your pasta in the water.
Step 5
Serve the spaghetti with a generous amount of sauce and top it with chopped parsley or basil. Enjoy with a glass of red wine and some garlic bread, yum!
Prep time 40 minutes.
You can also exchange the mushrooms with other types of vegetables such as cauliflower or even tempeh ground meat. This dish is a perfect dinner date idea, so easy and so good!
Vegan Garlic Pasta
Now that we are on the mushroom train, how about a garlic mushroom for this vegan pasta recipe. This is probably the faster recipe you'll find here. Perfect for a weeknight when you have no time to spare.
So here is all you need:
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped mushrooms of choice
- 8 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For serving: chopped parsley or basil leaves
Ingredients for the pasta:
- 1 packaged vegan pasta of choice. I love this recipe with Fusilli (the little curly ones)
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions:
Step 1
In a large pan add the olive oil, garlic, and the finely chopped mushrooms
Step 2
Stir constantly and add salt and pepper to taste. You can add a tablespoon of nutritional yeast at this point.
Step 3
Boil a big pot with heavily salted water.
Step 4
Drain the pasta when it gets to al dente point and save half a cup of the pasta water.
Step 5
Toss the fusilli in the pan with the mushrooms and garlic and mix well. Add a little bit of the pasta water to ger a better consistency. That is the key for most vegan pasta recipes.
Step 6
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and nutritional yeast on top. Enjoy!
Prep time 15 minutes.
The best part of this vegan pasta recipe is that you can do virtually the same thing with anything you had in your kitchen. Bell peppers and onions go perfectly together!
Ok, now let's get serious. If you are up for a challenge here is the perfect vegan pasta recipe for you. Let's get into it!
You may be interested at: Vegan Smoothies: How to Relax in a Healthy and Delicious Way
Vegan Lasagna
Ok, now let's get serious. If you are up for a challenge here is the perfect vegan pasta recipe for you. Let's get into it!
Ingredients for the red sauce filling
- 2 cans of tomato sauce
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 big onion chopped
- 2 cups chopped eggplant
- Chilli peppers to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Nutritional yeast to cover the top
Ingredients for the white sauce
- 2 cups presoaked cashews or non-dairy cream
- Water
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the pasta
- 1 package vegan lasagna pasta
Instructions:
Step 1
In a large pan add the olive oil, garlic, and onions and cook until the onions are clear.
Step 2
Add the finely chopped eggplant and the tomato paste and let simmer for 20 minutes. Adjust condiments.
Step 3
While that is simmering put process and blend your presoaked cashews with a little water and nutritional yeast. Put it in a pan and add water or flour until you get the consistency you want. Add the nutmeg and pepper to taste.
Step 4
Assemble! Start layering your elements on a rectangular baking pan. Start with a generous amount of the cashew cream sauce to make sure your pasta cooks properly. Then add the pasta, the red sauce, and more pasta. Keep building it up until you reach the edge. Finish it up with more creamy cashew sauce and sprinkle nutritional yeast on top.
Step 5
Bake for 30 minutes at medium heat. Serve while hot!
The best thing about this vegan pasta recipe is that it serves a ton of people and you can freeze ready to bake lasagnas so you will only be doing the "hard work" once!
One-pot Vegan Pasta
So now that we already conquer lasagna, it is time for an easy lazy recipe for those days when you don't feel like washing more than one pot.
You can do a vegan one-pot pasta with anything you have on your fridge. But here is a starter recipe for you to try:
Ingredients
- 1 package vegan spaghetti
- 2 chopped tomatoes
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 cup crushed red peppers
- Chilli peppers to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Water
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Instructions:
Step 1
In a large pan add all of the ingredients except the water. Make sure the pan is big enough for everything to fit.
Step 2
Bring water to a boil and pour it on top of the ingredients.
Step 3
Bring it to a boil on the pan and let simmer until the pasta is cooked.
Step 4
Serve with chopped basil leaves on top.
Step 5
Enjoy this vegan pasta recipe without worrying about the dishes!
Hopefully, you will find a good fit for your lifestyle in this list of vegan pasta recipes. Remember that the secret is mastering at least one vegan pasta recipe and then you will be able to mix it up a little. Make sure you always add some herbs to get that extra Mediterranean flavor.
Let me know if you try any of this vegan pasta recipes in the comments below!
You may be also interested at: Vegan Desserts and Sweet Treats: Easy DIY Recipes