Creamy Tomato Vegan Pasta is a delicious and hearty dish perfect for any pasta lover. Made with a rich cashew-based sauce and flavoured with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil, this vegan pasta dish is sure to satisfy your cravings.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups water, divided, plus extra for pasta
- 3/4 cup raw cashews, divided
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 16 oz penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, divided
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped, to serve
Method of cooking:
In a small bowl, soak 1/2 cup of the raw cashews in 1 cup of hot water for at least 30 minutes or until softened.
Drain the cashews and transfer to a blender with 1/2 cup fresh water. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
Bring salted water to the boil in a large saucepan. Add the penne and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
In a large frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic and 2 teaspoons of the crushed red pepper flakes. Cook for a further 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
Stir in the tomato paste and sun-dried tomatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavours to meld.
Stir the cashew cream into the tomato mixture in the pan. Add 1/2 cup water and stir to combine. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more water to achieve the desired consistency.
Season to taste with 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt.
Add the cooked penne to the frying pan with the creamy tomato sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
Divide the creamy tomato pasta between the plates. Drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve immediately.
