Description
A creamy, nutritious Silken Tofu Pasta Sauce made with fresh spinach, silken tofu, and flavorful seasonings. This plant-based sauce combines sautéed garlic, onion, and spinach blended with silken tofu and nutritional yeast, tossed with perfectly cooked fusilli pasta for a wholesome, dairy-free alternative to traditional cream sauces. Ready in under 30 minutes, this vibrant sauce is garnished with fresh basil or vegan parmesan for a delicious, healthy meal.
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 2 cups (200 g or 7 oz) fusilli pasta (uncooked)
- 4-5 cups water
- 1 tsp salt (for boiling pasta)
For the Sauce
- 150 g (5.3 oz) silken tofu
- 5 cups (200 g or 7 oz) fresh spinach, chopped
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
For Garnishing
- Fresh basil leaves
- Vegan parmesan or extra nutritional yeast (optional)
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: In a large pot, bring 4-5 cups of water with 1 tsp salt to a rolling boil. Add the fusilli pasta and cook for 2 minutes less than the package instructions to keep it slightly undercooked since it will finish cooking in the sauce. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics and Spinach: Heat 2 tsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic, chopped onion, and chili flakes if using. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until the onion turns slightly translucent. Add the chopped spinach and cook while stirring until the spinach wilts completely. (Tip: Alternatively, blanch the spinach in the pasta boiling water for quicker cooking.)
- Make the Sauce: Transfer the cooked spinach mixture to a blender jar. Add silken tofu, nutritional yeast, salt, crushed black pepper, and lemon juice. Blend until smooth, creating a creamy pasta sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Pour the spinach-tofu sauce back into the pan and add the partially cooked pasta. Mix gently and simmer on low for 2-3 minutes to let the pasta finish cooking and absorb the flavors. Use reserved pasta water as needed to adjust the sauce consistency to your liking.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the pasta to serving plates and garnish with fresh basil leaves and vegan parmesan or extra nutritional yeast, if desired. Serve immediately for a creamy, flavorful meal.
Notes
- You can use any variety of pasta you prefer – fusilli is recommended for holding the sauce well.
- If you prefer a lighter sauce, blanch the spinach instead of sautéing to retain brighter green color and freshness.
- Adjust lemon juice for tanginess and chili flakes for heat according to your taste.
- Reserve pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and makes it creamier without adding extra fat.
- Use vegan parmesan or extra nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without dairy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vegan, Plant-Based
