Ingredients
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pound of your choice of pasta
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 (12-ounce) box of silken tofu
- 1 cup of pasta water (reserved)
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper
Vegetables
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups broccoli florets, roughly chopped
- 1 small zucchini, sliced into half moons
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 ½ cups halved grape tomatoes
Herbs and Seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup chopped basil
- ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
- Crushed red pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil pasta in a large pot according to package instructions, but reduce cooking time by 2 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then set drained pasta aside in a colander.
- Sauté Aromatics: Rinse the empty pot and heat it over medium-high heat. Once dry, add olive oil, then sauté diced red onion, sliced garlic, and diced bell pepper until onions turn translucent and fragrant.
- Cook Vegetables: Add broccoli florets, sliced zucchini, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper to the pot. Stir frequently to prevent burning and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add Peas and Lemon: Stir in frozen peas, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce heat to the lowest setting to keep vegetables steaming.
- Prepare Creamy Sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine silken tofu with ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Sauce and Vegetables: Pour the tofu cream into the pot with vegetables and mix well. Increase heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes until the mixture reaches a gentle boil, stirring occasionally.
- Finish Pasta: Turn off heat. Add halved grape tomatoes, chopped basil, Italian parsley, and the partially cooked pasta to the pot. Gently stir to combine, then cover with lid and let sit for 10 minutes to allow the pasta to finish cooking in the sauce’s steam.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: After 10 minutes, uncover and taste. Adjust seasoning as needed. If pasta requires more cooking, cover again and let sit for 5 additional minutes. Before serving, add the remaining ½ cup reserved pasta water, stir well, garnish with crushed red pepper flakes, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use silken tofu only to achieve a smooth and creamy sauce; firmer tofu varieties will not blend properly.
- Always reserve pasta water when draining as it helps achieve the perfect sauce consistency.
- Keep the pot covered during the final sitting time to ensure the pasta finishes cooking evenly with the steam.
- Serve the dish immediately after adding the reserved pasta water to enjoy the creamiest texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
