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Creamy Tuscan Vegan Pasta Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 139 reviews

This Creamy Tuscan Vegan Pasta is a luscious, dairy-free twist on a classic Italian favorite. Featuring rigatoni tossed in a rich, velvety sauce made from vegan sour cream, nutritional yeast, and sun-dried tomatoes, it’s bursting with savory, tangy, and herbaceous flavors. The fresh spinach and basil provide bright, fresh notes, making this dish comforting yet vibrant, perfect for a hearty weeknight dinner or special occasion meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • Kosher salt, to taste, for boiling pasta
  • 1 lb. rigatoni

Sauce

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 (10-oz.) jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 5 oz. fresh spinach (about 5 cups)
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 10 whole basil leaves
  • 1 (12-oz.) container vegan sour cream

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook, stirring occasionally, until very al dente—about 2 minutes less than the package instructions recommend. Reserve at least 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
  2. Prepare Sauce Base: While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in another large pot over medium heat. Add the sliced sun-dried tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften and deepen in color, roughly 8 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
  3. Add Greens and Flavorings: Stir in the fresh spinach, nutritional yeast, and basil leaves. Cook, stirring continuously, until the spinach wilts and everything is heated through, about 2 minutes.
  4. Create Creamy Sauce: Add a splash of the reserved pasta water to the pot and cook, stirring, until the mixture becomes saucy, about 1 minute. Stir in the vegan sour cream until fully combined.
  5. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce. Gradually stir in more reserved pasta water as needed, stirring constantly to prevent sticking and to achieve a thick, creamy consistency. Adjust seasoning as desired and serve hot.

Notes

  • Reserve pasta water carefully; it helps to adjust the sauce’s consistency perfectly.
  • For more flavor, lightly toast the nutritional yeast before adding it to the sauce.
  • Use fresh basil for the best herbaceous aroma and taste, but dried basil can be substituted if necessary.
  • Make sure not to overcook the pasta so it holds well with the creamy sauce and retains a pleasant al dente bite.
  • This recipe pairs well with a crisp green salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.

Keywords: Creamy Tuscan Pasta, Vegan Pasta, Tuscan Vegan Recipe, Vegan Rigatoni, Dairy-Free Pasta Sauce, Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta, Vegan Dinner

Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/creamy-tuscan-vegan-pasta-recipe/