Silken Tofu Pasta Recipe
A creamy and comforting silken tofu pasta recipe that brings together tender rigatoni, a smooth plant-based tofu sauce, and vibrant peas sautéed with shallots. This easy and nutritious dish uses silken tofu blended into a dairy-free, luscious sauce that mimics the texture of heavy cream, making it perfect for vegan and vegetarian diets.
- Author: Sana
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Pasta
- 8 oz (250 g) rigatoni or any short pasta
Silken Tofu Sauce
- 12 oz (350 g) silken tofu
- 1 medium garlic clove, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup plant-based milk
Vegetables & Seasoning
- 1 medium shallot, chopped
- 5 oz (150 g) frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 to 2 cups of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Prepare the Tofu Sauce: In a blender or food processor, combine the silken tofu, roughly chopped garlic, nutritional yeast, and Dijon mustard. Blend for about 1 minute until smooth. Gradually pour in the plant-based milk and continue blending until the sauce reaches a creamy, heavy cream-like consistency. Add more plant-based milk if the sauce appears too thick.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat half of the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped shallot and cook until it becomes translucent and fragrant. Stir in the frozen peas and cook until heated through.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni to the pan with the sautéed shallots and peas. Pour the silken tofu sauce over the pasta and toss everything together to combine well. If the pasta looks dry, add a small amount of the reserved pasta water to achieve the desired creaminess.
- Season and Serve: Season the pasta with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use any short pasta you prefer if rigatoni is not available.
- You can substitute plant-based milk with almond, soy, or oat milk according to your preference.
- Adjust the garlic quantity if you want a stronger or milder flavor.
- This recipe is naturally vegan and vegetarian.
- Reserve pasta water is key for adjusting sauce consistency without diluting the flavor.
Keywords: silken tofu pasta, vegan pasta, creamy tofu sauce, plant-based pasta recipe, vegan dinner, easy vegan pasta, dairy-free creamy sauce