Description
A creamy, flavorful vegan Marry Me Pasta made with whole wheat linguine, bursting cherry tomatoes, and a rich coconut milk sauce enhanced with nutritional yeast and fresh basil. This quick and easy stovetop dish is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 oz whole wheat linguine
- ½ cup pasta water (reserved from cooked pasta)
Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
- 1 red onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ¾ cup vegetable broth
- 1 cup coconut milk
- ½ cup vegan cheese, shredded (optional)
- 1 handful fresh basil
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the whole wheat linguine according to package directions until al dente. Reserve at least ½ cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté Onions: Heat a pan over medium heat and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil or water. Add the diced red onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Add Garlic and Spices: Stir in minced garlic, Italian seasoning, red chili flakes, salt, black pepper, and tomato paste. Cook for about 2 minutes until fragrant, ensuring the spices and tomato paste blend well with the onions.
- Cook Tomatoes: Add the cherry tomatoes and vegetable broth to the pan. Cover and let cook for 3 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes burst and soften, releasing their juices to form the base of the sauce.
- Create Creamy Sauce: Pour in the coconut milk and stir in the vegan cheese if using. Stir continuously until a smooth, creamy sauce forms, combining all flavors well.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained linguine and fresh basil to the sauce. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta with the creamy sauce evenly. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce to your preferred consistency.
- Serve: Serve the pasta immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil if desired for a vibrant finish.
Notes
- Use whole wheat linguine for added fiber and a nuttier flavor.
- Olive oil is optional for sautéing; water can be used as a healthy alternative.
- Adjust the red chili flakes to control the spiciness of the dish.
- Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy, umami flavor while keeping the recipe vegan.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency perfectly.
- Fresh basil adds a bright herbal note; feel free to add more as garnish.
- Vegan cheese is optional but enhances creaminess and flavor.
Keywords: Marry Me Pasta, vegan pasta recipe, whole wheat linguine, creamy pasta sauce, coconut milk pasta, vegan cheese pasta, quick vegan dinner, Italian vegan recipe