Creamy Tomato Pasta w/ Basil & Beans
Creamy Tomato Pasta w/ Basil & Beans
The delicious secret to this ultra creamy pasta is plant based cream cheese! It lends the perfect creamy texture to balance out the tanginess from the tomatoes. This one pot pasta with lots of fresh basil and added beans for fiber, protein and texture is easy to make and is perfect any day of the week. It also makes really delicious leftovers!
Serves 5-6
Ingredients
1 pound (454g) Fusilli Pasta
18oz (510g) Cherry Tomatoes, washed
8oz (227g) Simply V Plant Based Cream Cheese Bar at room temperature
1 med (200g) Onion, diced
1 bulb Garlic
10oz (275g) Butter Beans in tomato sauce (you can sub any large plain white bean)
Bunch Fresh Basil (10g), chopped or torn
1 cup (236ml) reserved Pasta Water
pinch Red Chili Flakes or more to taste
2 Tbsp (30g) Tomato Paste
2 tsp (10ml) Oil for sautéing
Salt & Pepper to taste
Serve with
more fresh basil
grated Vegan Parmesan
Note
The white beans in tomato sauce are typically the Greek style gigantes beans but you can sub any type of large white bean such as butter beans.
Directions
1. Cut off the top of the entire bulb of garlic (about 1/4 inch) making sure that all of the cloves are exposed. Drizzle the cut top with a bit of oil and season with a salt & pepper. Put the bulb into a very small oven safe dish with a lid or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Place onto a baking sheet and bake at 400 for 40-50 minutes. A knife should pierce the garlic easily when ready. Set aside to cool.
2.Heat the oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add in the onions and sauté for 5-7 minutes or until onions become translucent. Add in the chili flakes and season with salt & pepper half way through.
3. Add in the cherry tomatoes and cover with a lid. Allow the tomatoes to cook for about 10-15 minutes. They should split open or easily break when pressed with a fork or spatula.
4.Cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, set aside.
5. Add in the tomato paste and squeeze the roasted cloves of garlic directly into the pot. Mix well.
6. Add the Simply V plant based cream cheese and mix to fully incorporate. Add in the cooked pasta and beans and mix well. Add as much of the reserved pasta water to thin if needed.
7.Remove the pot from the heat and toss in the chopped or torn basil. Serve hot with grated vegan parmesan and more fresh basil.
