Tofu is an excellent ingredient for a vegan diet, as it provides proteins, calcium, and iron. We always look for tasty ideas to use tofu in recipes, and one exciting way is to make a deliciously creamy tofu sauce for pasta!
So, today, we want to share our easy vegan recipe for tofu pesto pasta.
It's a plant-based take on Italian pesto pasta made with silken tofu basil pesto sauce stirred through whole wheat pasta, with green beans and cannellini added for extra goodness.
Wondering if tofu and pasta go well together? Yes, they do! Tofu has a very mild flavour that doesn't overpower the pasta sauce, which, in this case, is a fresh and herby basil pesto.
The tofu green pesto is prepared with classic ingredients like fresh basil, garlic, and nuts but uses silken tofu instead of cheese and oil.
So, this pasta recipe with tofu pesto is not only dairy-free and vegan but also low-fat. Pair that with the fibres and proteins from green beans and cannellini, and you'll have such a healthy and balanced pasta dish!
What are the ingredients for tofu pesto pasta?
The main ingredients for tofu pesto pasta include:
Silken tofu, fresh basil, nuts and garlic for the vegan pesto sauce;
Pasta (any type you prefer);
Optional vegetables like cherry tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, beans or peas.
Is pasta with tofu pesto vegan?
Tofu pesto pasta is a vegan recipe as it uses a vegan tofu pesto sauce prepared with silken tofu instead of traditional Parmesan cheese.
How do you make basil tofu sauce for pasta?
To make tofu pesto sauce for pasta from scratch, blend together silken tofu, fresh basil leaves, garlic, nuts, and salt in a food processor until smooth and creamy. Use traditional pine nuts or swap them for walnuts or cashews.
What type of pasta works best for tofu pesto pasta?
Tofu pesto goes well with just any type of pasta, but we especially recommend:
Long shapes like spaghetti, fettuccine, and tagliatelle for plenty of surface to hold and absorb the tofu pesto;
Short shapes like fusilli, trofie, casaraccie, and spirali/cavatappi to catch this creamy tofu pesto into their grooves and coils.
Can I add other vegetables to pasta with tofu pesto?
Absolutely! Adding vegetables to vegan pesto pasta enhances the flavour and boosts the nutritional value of this healthy pasta dish.
Vegetables that pair well with tofu pesto in pasta include:
Mushrooms, as in this pesto mushroom pasta
Green beans
Fresh spinach or sauteed kale
Olives like black Kalamata or green olives
Aubergines, courgettes, or peppers — really tasty if roasted
Sun-dried tomatoes or fresh cherry tomatoes, as in this quinoa pasta salad with pistachio pesto
For a pesto pasta higher in protein, also add beans and legumes like cannellini, butter beans, edamame, or peas as in this high-fibre pasta recipe with peas.
Ingredients
| Tofu Pesto Saucerecipe | 200 g |
| Green Beans | 280 g |
| White Beans (haricot, cannellini or butter beans) | 280 g |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 1 tbsp |
| Garlic Cloves | 2 |
| Whole Wheat Pasta | 280 g |
| Lemon Zest | 0 to taste |
Step 1
Follow this tofu pesto recipe to prepare the pasta sauce using silken tofu, fresh basil, cashews, garlic and lemon juice.
Season with salt to taste and set aside.
Step 2
Trim and chop the green beans, rinse and drain the canned white beans.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add the garlic cloves and sauté until fragrant. Then, tip in the green beans and cook covered for 8 minutes until softened (1).
Add in the beans and a splash of water and cook for 5 more minutes until tender (2).
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3
Cook the whole wheat pasta according to the packet's instructions, making sure it's al dente—that is, tender but with a slight chew.
Before draining the pasta, reserve about 100 ml / 3.5 fl oz (for the default ingredients) of the pasta cooking water and use it to thin out the prepared tofu pesto into a smooth sauce.
Then, stir the pesto sauce through the cooked pasta to coat it well.
Step 4
Finally, mix the cannellini and green beans into the pesto pasta (1).
Divide the tofu pesto pasta among bowls, garnish with lemon zest and enjoy warm (2).
If you have leftover tofu pesto sauce, spoon a few dollops over the pasta for extra delight!
Tips
Gluten-Free Option
For a gluten-free version, you can use gluten-free pasta or gnocchi or replace pasta with diced boiled potatoes.
How to Store Tofu Pesto Pasta
Though best eaten on the same day, leftover tofu pesto pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To eat, add a splash of water or olive oil to refresh the sauce or a few spoons of the tofu pesto if you have any extra.
You can have the tofu pesto pasta cold, like a pasta salad, or briefly reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.
If you want to make tofu pesto pasta ahead of time, it's best to store the cooked pasta separately from the tofu pesto sauce and mix them together before serving.
Like this recipe?
For extra creaminess, try making the tofu pesto sauce with sesame paste instead of cashews — check how in our nut-free tahini basil pesto recipe.