Description
This creamy Tofu Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes is a quick and easy vegan pasta recipe made with silken tofu, sundried tomatoes, garlic, olives, and nutritional yeast. The no-cook sauce blends into a rich, protein-packed coating for your favorite pasta, making it an ideal weeknight dinner or meal-prep lunch that’s ready in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250 g pasta (penne, fusilli, rigatoni, or preferred pasta)
- 1 tsp salt (for pasta water)
- 350 g silken tofu
- 125 g sundried tomatoes in oil, drained (reserve 1 tsp oil)
- 1 tsp oil from the sundried tomato jar
- 50 g pitted Kalamata olives
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 60 ml reserved pasta cooking water (as needed)
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
- 2 tbsp vegan Parmesan, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to the package directions.
- While the pasta cooks, add the silken tofu, sundried tomatoes, reserved tomato oil, Kalamata olives, garlic, nutritional yeast, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper to a blender or food processor.
- Blend for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture becomes completely smooth and creamy.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, garlic, or balsamic vinegar if needed.
- Reserve about 60 ml (1/4 cup) of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Return the hot pasta to the pot and pour the creamy tofu sauce over it.
- Add a little reserved pasta water and toss until the sauce evenly coats the pasta. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve immediately with fresh basil, vegan Parmesan, extra chopped sundried tomatoes, or olives if desired.
Notes
- Silken tofu produces the smoothest and creamiest sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to help the sauce cling to the pasta.
- Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free version.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy variation.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Add a splash of water or plant milk when reheating to restore the creamy texture.
- The sauce can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated.
- Freeze the sauce separately for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Boiling and Blending
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 767 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1737 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 119 g
- Fiber: 11 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg