Equipment
- stove, blender
Ingredients
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 12 oz cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup vodka
- 12 oz fusilli pasta, or any noodle of choice, gluten free if desired
- 4 cups water
- 2 vegan "chicken" bouillon cubes
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 10 oz silken tofu
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ lemon, juiced
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups baby spinach, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup basil
Method
- Heat a large pot over medium low heat. Add a splash of water or cooking oil to coat.
- Add in the garlic and shallot and sauté for 2-3 minutes until tender and fragrant, before adding in the tomato paste and tomatoes and stirring to combine. Deglaze the pan with vodka and let the liquid evaporate before adding in the noodles, pouring in the water, and adding the bouillon cubes, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
- Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover, cooking for 10-12 minutes until noodles are al dente.
- Meanwhile, add the tofu to a blender with a splash of water and puree until smooth and pourable.
- Once pasta has cooked, pour in the pureed tofu, add the nutritional yeast, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper before folding in the spinach and basil. Stir just until wilted.
- Serve hot and never hesitate to garnish with a sprinkle of dairy-free parm!
Notes
The vodka helps enhance and round out the flavor of the tomato sauce, but it’s totally optional. If you prefer to leave it out, simply omit it—no substitutions needed, and the sauce will still be delicious.
Nutrition
Serving 1servingCalories 455kcalCarbohydrates 78gProtein 19gFat 4gSaturated Fat 1gPolyunsaturated Fat 2gMonounsaturated Fat 1gSodium 450mgPotassium 820mgFiber 6gSugar 8gVitamin A 2085IUVitamin C 34mgCalcium 109mgIron 4mg
*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.