Vegan Tomato Cream Sauce and Pasta is a staple recipe to have in your house on those nights when you need dinner on the table in 15 minutes and you haven't had a chance to venture to the grocery store yet. Creamy, delicious and nutritious, this is the perfect meal for big and little ones alike. It also packs well for lunch the next day.
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Embracing The Simple With Vegan Tomato Pasta Sauce
It can be so easy to get caught up in trying to create something new and interesting, that you can forget that sometimes it's the simple meals that are the most enjoyable.
Take this week for example. We had some mushroom cold rolls with chili and lime dipping sauce, some chicken and zucchini skewers with salsa verde, and a lovely Summer Stone Fruit and Spinach Strawberry Pecan Salad.
All really yummy, and well received by everyone in the house. But kinda fancy for everyday weeknight faire.
Tonight....I just couldn't come up with anything exciting.
Life gets busy and sometimes coming up with the mental energy to create something new just isn't going to happen. That's when you need something quick and easy like a classic creamy tomato pasta sauce and some spaghetti that can be thrown together quickly, and you know everyone will eat.
My Secret Ingredient: Cashews
My kids' favorite thing to do is sprinkle cheese on their pasta, so I knew if they were going to eat their dinner there had to be something to sprinkle on top.
On a whim, I grated some cashews and they were thrilled with the results. It looked exactly like parmesan cheese but also added a depth of flavor to the pasta dish which was just lovely!
What Ingredients Are Required For Vegan Tomato Cream Sauce?
This is a simple dish.
One that everyone has probably thrown together at some time in their life. And it is made out of ingredients most people no doubt have lingering in the fridge and pantry.
- 2 cans of diced tomatoes, or if they are in season then fresh tomatoes are amazing;
- garlic;
- mixed herbs;
- onion;
- balsamic vinegar (don't leave this one out, it makes the dish!);
- cashews;
- non-dairy milk of choice.
Is Vegan Tomato Cream Sauce and Pasta Kid Friendly?
Definitely. What kid doesn't like spaghetti? Mine didn't even miss the cheese and were actually quite intrigued with sprinkling cashews on top. They thought it was a bit of a treat.
I even got the ultimate seal of approval with a declaration that:
'hmm, delicious...we are so lucky to have a family restaurant in our home'
Does my daughter know how to butter me up or what? I swear she is 6 going on 32!! She did request chocolate about two minutes later...so she knew exactly what she was doing 😛
Do you have a favorite staple dish you fall back to on those days you just can't muster the energy for something different? I would love to hear what it is! Be sure to leave a comment and let us know all about it.
Recipe
Vegan Tomato Cream Sauce and Spaghetti
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Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti of choice
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup cashew milk
- Grated cashews and chopped parsley leaves to serve or parmesan if you aren't vegan
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions1 lb spaghetti of choice
- While pasta is cooking, heat the avocado oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook for about 3-4 minutes, until the onions become translucent2 tablespoon avocado oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 medium onion
- Add the diced tomatoes, oregano, sage, parsley and salt and pepper to taste1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried sage, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, salt and pepper to taste
- Bring the tomato mix to a boil, reduce heat to low and leave to simmer until sauce has thickened up. About 10 minutes
- Stir in the balsamic vinegar, followed by the cashew milk. Once heated through, remove from the heat and mix in with the cooked spaghetti1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, 1 cup cashew milk
- Garnish with the grated cashews and parsley and serveGrated cashews and chopped parsley leaves to serve
Nutrition
If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it.
I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions! And if you make this please tag me on Instagram with @wholefoodbellies so I can share it <3
Try some other quick and easy meals:
- 6 Ingredient Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl with Avocado and Pickled Radish;
- Instant Pot Potato Leek and Cheddar Soup;
- Crusted Sage and Macadamia Nut Chicken Breasts
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Shivani Saxena says
Great looking dish!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Shivani!
Bonnie @ Living a Fit and Full Life says
Looks so good! Maybe I'll make some for dinner tonight!
Whole Food Bellies says
Enjoy it if you do Bonnie!!
Cathy @ Our Mini Family says
Mmmm you are so right! As a food blogger, I find myself just trying to make the most unique and diverse recipes for the blog, and I often forget about the classic recipes that everyone usually makes and eats at home! I'd love to try your spaghetti!
Whole Food Bellies says
It's so easy to do Cathy, isn't it! I mean, I am sure I will keep going back to trying new things, but sometimes it's good to touch base with the classics 🙂
Karissa says
That looks good and your kids seem happy with it. My go to meal is pasta as well.
Whole Food Bellies says
My kids were ecstatic with it 🙂 Pasta is just so easy hey!
Rebecca says
I love that this has a creamy tomato sauce, there's nothing quite like a simple pasta dish. Looks like your kiddos enjoyed it too!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh they loved it Rebecca 🙂
Kat from curlsnchard.com says
The most simple and easiest recipes are often the best! I know exactly how you feel about sometimes feeling that as a blogger you always have to bring something new, exciting, elaborate. But hey, we are all just humans and who really has time to make something elaborate all the time?!
Whole Food Bellies says
Exactly Kat 🙂
Howie Fox says
Wow, it's amazing how easy it is to prepare awesome vegan dishes once you get the hang of it! The kids really didn't seem to miss any meat or cheese, amazing!!!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh I know! When I first started introducing vegan meals a couple of nights a week, I thought it would be really hard - but once you get into the swing of things, it really just flows! It helps that my kids eat anything (at the moment) 🙂
Bernadette Callahan (@AimlessMoments) says
We eat pasta often and we love making new sauces...pinned for later 🙂
Whole Food Bellies says
Well this is a super simple one to add to your rotation 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Lois Alter Mark says
This looks delicious! Obviously that adorable little baby of yours is loving it!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh he did indeed Lois 🙂 He was doing those fist pumps for a while afterwards (secretly I think he was just impressed with the mess he made on the floor)
Stacey says
I have never made a vegan style cream sauce . Looks good! And I love there real -life photos!
Whole Food Bellies says
My husband couldn't even tell it was vegan - so that is a good sign 🙂 Oh and thanks re the photos - I was so dubious about putting them in there, but they just showed how enjoyable the dish was 🙂
Cristy says
This looks delicious and the baby agrees! So adorable!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Cristy 🙂 I think he is pretty cute!
Michelle says
Yum! Pasta is my weakness, and this looks like a recipe the whole family would love. Thanks for sharing!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks for stopping over Michelle! Pasta is definitely a weakness of mine as well 🙂
Iryna Bychkiv says
I can imagine how good it is! I love vegan recipes! Never cooked with cashew milk before! Gotta try it!
Whole Food Bellies says
I hope you do Iryna! This was my first time using cashew milk for a savoury dish, and it really adds a whole other depth of flavour - especially if its the homemade stuff and you get the extra creamy cashew goodness from the bottom of the jar 🙂
Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets) says
I laughed out loud when I saw the photo of your little ones all covered in sauce 🙂 That brings back memories....though my 12 yo son would probably still love to eat that way if we let him. I will have to try this recipe and hope that my kids will inhale it as well as yours did.
Whole Food Bellies says
Haha I'm glad I could give you a laugh Sandi - the bath afterwards was particularly gross 🙂
Justine Y @ Little Dove Creations says
Oh goodness, this tomato cream sauce sounds wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing Donna, I have lots of other pasta sauce recipes, but not one of these yet, can't wait to try! Pinning!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Justine! I hope you enjoy if you give it a go 🙂 I have a huge rotation of pasta sauces too!!
Andele says
Love spaghetti and love your messy baby photo...SO cute!! Thanks for sharing this quick and easy recipe:-)
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks for popping over Andele 🙂 I couldn't resist throwing in the messy baby!
Dayne says
Looks delicious!!!!! I have to try this!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Dayne!
Byron Thomas says
Looks so good! Those kiddies seem to be enjoying it too!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh they did indeed Byron 🙂
Stephanie says
Pasta is my love language- this looks delish!
Whole Food Bellies says
Haha I have never heard anyone say that before Stephanie, but I think I would have to agree with you 🙂
lifestyletalks.wordpress.com says
Hi Donna! I totally agree with you! The best dishes are overall the most simple ones! And congratulations on your new business! I wish you the best of luck! Your little princess is a very smart girl indeed 🙂 Love, Bieke
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Bieke 🙂 She is too smart for her own good!