Vegan Creamy Tomato Spinach Pasta Recipe (Nut Free, Dairy Free)

One of the BEST Pantry Dairy Free Pasta Recipes!

This creamy tomato spinach pasta recipe is a fantastic pantry-staple meal!  It uses almost all ingredients you would have in your dry pantry or cupboards – most of which you probably have on hand. Keeping a well-stocked pantry makes it easy to come up with delicious and healthy meals using a few staples you can rotate.  I made a list of my Top 125 Plant-Based Pantry Staples that always keep stocked. And you can check out all my favorite pantry staple ingredients in my Amazon shop here.  By stocking up on healthy whole ingredients you can cook delicious recipes without a trip to the store!

• Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity Zoe olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s really inexpensive online here, so I keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry.  For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value, I would highly recommend!
• Diced Tomatoes:  I only use no salt added diced tomatoes, these boxed tomatoes are really great to stock up on!  I like boxed tomatoes better because they are BPA free and more eco-friendly than aluminum cans. If you haven’t read about the dangers of consuming foods stored in BPA cans, head over to Nutrition Facts to read more.
• Onion
• Garlic: I use fresh garlic when I have it, and this great jarred organic garlic when I don’t have fresh. It’s actually super convenient to have pre-chopped garlic on hand for quick and easy meal prep.
• Italian Seasoning Blend: usually has thyme, basil, rosemary, parsley, etc. I love this bright and flavorful Italian season mix which brings this amazing dish to life.
• Garlic Salt: for a little extra flavor than traditional salt.  I like to use this garlic salt in my savory Italian dishes for that extra kick.
• Tofu – The secret ingredient in this sauce is tofu, specifically these shelf-stable tofu packs from Amazon. I literally have 3 cases of them in my pantry as we speak. They are an inexpensive and healthy way to get some plant protein in. The texture of this extra firm tofu is perfect for this pasta sauce, it blends totally smooth and creamy!
• Milk Alternative: soymilk is a great option since it is nut free, and you can even buy shelf-stable soy milk powder too!  Or use oat milk, rice milk, or coconut milk… any kind you would normally drink!  However, make sure it is plain and unsweetened.
• Nutritional Yeast: not to be confused with bread baking yeast, nutritional yeast has a cheesy nutty umami flavor which is great in all kinds of dishes – I even sprinkle it on fresh popped pop corn and WOW!  Also great in soups and sauces of all kinds.
• Spinach: Fresh, frozen,  or canned

Easy Weeknight Vegan Spinach Tomato Pasta!

This creamy spinach tomato pasta sauce is what I call an Easy Weeknight Meal – which is on your table in about 30 minutes.  These quick and simple recipes are perfect for those nights when you want a healthy homecooked meal but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. I have a whole section of The Herbeevore dedicated to Easy Weeknight Meals, that are great for the whole family. From soups and stews, to pastas and proteins – a healthy meal can be on your table in no time.  Even faster than ordering from your favorite Italian bistro!

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and set aside.
2. In a pot, heat the olive oil over low heat.  Add the onions and garlic, and saute for 5 to 6 mintues until the vegetables have become translucent.  Add the diced tomatoes with the juice, the italian seasoning, tofu, and garlic salt.  Cover the pot and allow tomato mixture to simmer for 15-20 minutes.
3. Once finished cooking, carefully transfer the tomato and tofu mixture to a blender. Add the soy milk and nutritional yeast and blend on high until the sauce becomes thick and creamy. Transfer  back to the pot it was cooked in.
4. Add the pasta to the sauce, and the spinach, and simmer for another 5 minutes over low heat until the pasta is warmed all the way through.

As always, if you make this vegan and dairy free creamy tomato spinach pasta recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you.  I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!

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