A homemade tomato pasta that combines all the goodness of a classic tomato sauce with a rich & creamy spin. Made with fresh campari tomatoes, basil, vegan cream cheese, and broccoli for a dish that's full of flavor and packed with nutrients. A well balanced meal that is sure to satisfy!
My favorite part about this recipe is that you can make it however you like. Add whatever veggies you prefer, add some spice, or switch up the pasta. This sauce pairs well many different ingredients so, have fun with it and make it your own!
This recipe also makes a lot of pasta and makes for great leftovers. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for the whole family, this meal will not fall short.
To make this recipe, here's what you'll need:
INGREDIENTS:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup water
2 broccoli crowns
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 pounds campari tomatoes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flax seed meal
1 cup veggie broth
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons vegan cream cheese ( I used an herb garlic cream cheese by the brand Treeline Cheese)
1 pound red lentil pasta
1 tablespoon italian seasoning
1-2 tablespoons fresh basil
1 cup canned tomato sauce
Salt & pepper to taste ( I used cayenne pepper for extra spice)
DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot, add water for your pasta with some salt and bring to a boil. Add your pasta.
While your water pasta is boiling, add your 2 tablespoons olive oil and water to a large sauce pan on medium high heat.
Prepare your broccoli and add to your sauce pan. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes. Once your broccoli is tender, set aside in a large bowl.
In the same sauce pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and garlic and sautee on medium high heat for about 5 minutes.
Slice your campari tomatoes in half and add to your sauce pan. Reduce heat to lower and simmer for about 10 minutes or until your tomatoes have cooked down.
Once your tomatoes have cooked down, add them to a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.
Add your butter to the same sauce pan and allow the butter to melt.
Whisk in your flax seed meal until sauce begins to thicken.
Add your veggie broth and nutritional yeast. Mix well & bring to a boil.
Add your cream cheese and reduce heat to low. Mix everything together until all the cream cheese has melted. Your sauce should be nice and creamy. Add more flax seed meal if you like your sauce thicker.
Once your cheese sauce is well combined, add your homemade tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and mix in your seasonings. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to your preference.
Drain your pasta. Add your broccoli and your sauce. Mix until everything is well combined.
Serve it up and enjoy! You can garnish with some grape tomatoes and more fresh basil :)
NOTES:
* I used red lentil pasta to make this recipe gluten free, but feel free to use any pasta you prefer! This recipe would also be great with some rice.
*Use whatever veggies you like. Zucchini and yellow squash are also a great option for Italian dishes.
*Add crushed red pepper or cayenne pepper for some spice!
*You can use plain cream cheese for this recipe, just make sure you add a little bit more seasoning.