This creamy spinach and tomato pasta recipe is straightforward to make in lower than half-hour and utterly dairy-free!
Desk of Contents
Recipe Highlights
- Vegetarian and vegan.
- No heavy cream or cream cheese.
- Could be gluten-free.
- Fast and straightforward to make.
- Made with pantry staples.
- Use any pasta form.
- 17 g protein per serving.
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta: The pasta is cooked individually so you should use any selection. Quick or lengthy pasta varieties each work properly. Strive spaghetti, linguine or fettuccini or a brief form like shells, bows or penne.
- Cashews: Use uncooked cashews (no oil or salt added).
- Diced Tomatoes: Use a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes, or about 1.5 cups. Since they’re getting blended, canned complete tomatoes, tomato passata or crushed tomatoes additionally work.
- Spinach: Use recent spinach or child spinach. The quantity doesn’t should be precise. You may substitute finely chopped kale however I like spinach finest for this recipe.
- Dietary Yeast: This provides a tacky and umami flavour to the sauce.
- Herbs: You may substitute 2 tsp Italian seasoning for the basil and oregano.
This checklist will not be full. Please see the recipe card on the finish of the put up for the whole ingredient checklist with measurements and detailed directions.
Variations & Additions
- In the event you’d wish to add recent tomatoes, saute as much as 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes with the onions.
- For further recent greens, add as much as 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 1 diced pink bell pepper or small chopped zucchini with the onion.
- For a variation, drain on 1 jar of sun-dried tomatoes and mix half into the sauce and blend the remaining in while you add the spinach.
- Topping Ideas: Vegan Parmesan Cheese, Tofu Ricotta Cheese, recent basil or freshly cracked pepper.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Soak the cashews. You are able to do a fast soak by masking the cashews with boiling water in a bowl and soaking for quarter-hour or soaking at room temperature for 4-8 hours (or in a single day). Drain and rinse after soaking.
Step 2: While you’re able to proceed with the recipe, deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil then prepare dinner the pasta al dente in line with the bundle directions. Earlier than draining the pasta, reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water.
Step 3: Add the soaked cashews, water or broth, canned tomatoes, dietary yeast and a pinch of salt and pepper (and non-obligatory tomato paste) to a blender and mix till utterly easy and creamy. Set it apart for now.
Step 4: Warmth the olive oil in a big sauce pan or skillet, then add the diced onion. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes.
Step 5: Add the garlic, basil, oregano and chili flakes and prepare dinner for a number of extra minutes, stirring typically.
Step 6: Add the sauce from the blender, scale back the warmth to medium-low and simmer frivolously till the pasta is able to add, stirring sometimes.
Tip: Scoop the reserved pasta cooking water into the empty blender container to assist get the surplus sauce out earlier than pouring it in on the finish.
Step 7: Add the cooked pasta and toss to mix. Slowly pour in a few of the cooking water till you attain your required consistency. Anyplace from 1-2 cups is beneficial relying on how saucy you need the ultimate dish, I used about 1 cup. Stir within the spinach till wilted and blended in.
Divide the pasta between bowls and serve topped with freshly cracked black pepper, recent basil and/or grated parmesan cheese. Even higher with garlic bread for dipping into the additional sauce!
Recipe FAQs
The pasta sauce is gluten-free, so simply make sure you pair together with your selection of gluten-free pasta corresponding to brown rice pasta or quinoa pasta.
You may retailer leftovers within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. Reheat leftovers in a saucepan on the stovetop or within the microwave.
Sure. The pasta is cooked individually so you should use any pasta you want.
Sure, although recent spinach is beneficial to keep away from watering down the sauce. To make use of frozen spinach, thaw it first then squeeze to take away extra moisture earlier than including to the sauce.
This recipe will not be freezer-friendly.
Chef’s Ideas
- Don’t overlook to reserve a few of the pasta cooking water earlier than draining. This helps thicken and add creaminess to the sauce on the finish.
- Season all through cooking. Make sure to add a beneficiant quantity of salt to the the pasta cooking water properly with salt, season with onions with salt and pepper and add salt and pepper to the blended with the opposite sauce elements.
- The pasta will thicken after sitting or storing so be beneficiant when including the reserved pasta cooking water. It is going to appear to be there’s additional sauce however the pasta will soak it up.
- Most pasta is available in 450 g or roughly 16 oz containers. The recipe requires 340 g (4 x 85 g servings) dry pasta however there’s various sauce, so you’ll be able to enhance the pasta to five servings, or an entire 450g container, for those who like.
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Description
Creamy tomato pasta with spinach that’s excellent for a straightforward dinner recipe the entire household will get pleasure from.
For the Cream Sauce
For the Pasta
- Soak the cashews for quarter-hour in boiled water or for 3 hours as much as in a single day at room temperature. In the event you would not have a high-speed blender, an extended soak is recommended for a easy sauce. If in case you have a high-speed blender corresponding to Vitamix, a fast soak in boiling water or 1-2 hours at room temperature adequate. Drain as soon as executed soaking.
- While you’re able to proceed with the recipe, deliver a big pot of generously salted water to a boil and prepare dinner your pasta of selection al dente in line with the bundle directions. Earlier than draining the pasta, reserve 2 cups of the pasta cooking water. Tip: If the blender container is free by this time, scoop the pasta water into the blender container and swirl to assist get out the left behind sauce. Drain the pasta however don’t rinse.
- Add the soaked cashews to a blender with the water, can of diced tomatoes, dietary yeast, tomato paste and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Mix till easy and creamy. Put aside for now.
- Warmth the oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Add the diced onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes till softened and aromatic.
- Add the garlic, basil, oregano and pink pepper flakes and prepare dinner for one more 2-3 minutes whereas stirring.
- Add the sauce from the blender and scale back warmth to medium-low. Convey to a light-weight simmer, stirring typically.
- Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat then stir within the spinach till wilted and blended in.
- Serve your pasta topped with freshly cracked black pepper, recent basil, your selection of grated parmesan cheese and garlic bread on the facet.
Notes
Most pasta is available in 450 g or roughly 16 oz baggage or packing containers. This recipe requires 4×85 g servings of dry pasta however there’s various sauce, so you’ll be able to enhance the pasta to five servings or an entire 450g container for those who like.
Leftover pasta could be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Reheat within the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop till heated by.
*Tomato pasta could be added for a deeper tomato taste although the sauce continues to be tasty with out it!
Vitamin
- Serving Measurement: 1
- Energy: 502
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 469 mg
- Fats: 13 g
- Carbohydrates: 80 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 17 g
Key phrases: creamy spinach and tomato pasta
