Description
Creamy Pasta Primavera is a fresh and vibrant plant-based dish featuring a colorful mix of seasonal vegetables tossed in a luscious creamy sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy and wholesome recipe balances comfort with nourishment and can be customized with your favorite veggies or proteins. Perfect for quick weeknight meals, it delivers bright flavors and satisfying textures in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 200g penne or fettuccine pasta of choice
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup peas
Sauce
- 1/2 cup plant-based cream
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1/4 teaspoon natural gelling agent
Finishing Touches
- 2 tablespoons grated plant-based cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (parsley or basil), chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Wash and chop all fresh vegetables into bite-size pieces. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, then sauté garlic and shallots until fragrant. Add zucchini and bell peppers first, cooking until they start to soften. Stir in peas and cherry tomatoes last, warming gently without losing their brightness.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well, reserving about one cup of pasta water.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In the same pan with the sautéed vegetables, add plant-based cream, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), and natural gelling agent. Stir constantly over low heat until the sauce thickens. If the sauce is too thick, loosen it with some reserved pasta water.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the creamy vegetable sauce. Toss gently to coat every piece of pasta. Sprinkle fresh herbs and grated plant-based cheese over the mixture and stir until the cheese melts and the dish is fragrant.
- Season and Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as desired. Serve hot, garnished with extra fresh herbs and a sprinkle of plant-based cheese for a polished finish.
Notes
- Use fresh vegetables and herbs to maximize flavor and texture.
- Cook pasta al dente so it holds shape when mixed with the sauce.
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without diluting flavor.
- Warm plant-based cream gently before adding to avoid curdling and achieve a silky texture.
- Adjust salt and pepper seasoning last to let flavors fully develop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: plant-based pasta, creamy pasta primavera, vegetarian pasta, quick dinner, healthy pasta recipe, gluten-free pasta, vegetable pasta, easy weeknight meal
