Description
Creamy Pasta Primavera is a vibrant, wholesome dish celebrating fresh springtime flavors with crisp seasonal vegetables and a smooth plant-based cheese sauce. This quick, easy, and customizable recipe creates a comforting and colorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners or special gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 300g penne or fusilli pasta
Vegetables
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 bell pepper, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup snap peas, trimmed
Sauce
- 1 cup plant-based cheese (plant-based), creamy blend
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon natural gelling agent
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Finishing
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Olive oil, for drizzling (optional)
- Toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare your vegetables: Wash and chop zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and snap peas into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and vibrant color.
- Cook the pasta: Boil salted water and cook chosen pasta until al dente according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics and vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion, cooking until fragrant and golden. Add vegetables and sauté until tender yet still vibrant.
- Make the creamy sauce: In a separate pan, gently warm plant-based cheese sauce with apple cider vinegar (natural), natural gelling agent, salt, and pepper, stirring until smooth and luxurious in texture.
- Combine pasta, veggies, and sauce: Add cooked pasta to skillet with vegetables and pour warm cheese sauce over top. Toss thoroughly to coat evenly and heat through.
- Finish with fresh herbs: Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped basil and parsley over pasta. Optionally drizzle with olive oil and garnish with toasted nuts for extra texture and flavor.
Notes
- Do not overcook the vegetables to keep their crisp texture and vibrant color.
- Save some pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
- Add fresh herbs at the end to preserve brightness and aroma.
- Adjust sauce thickness by adding more plant-based cheese sauce for creaminess or a splash of pasta water/plant-based milk for thinning.
- Season gradually, tasting as you go to balance flavors well.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Creamy Pasta Primavera, plant-based pasta, vegan cheese sauce, spring vegetables, quick dinner, gluten free pasta, colorful pasta recipe