Creamy Vegan Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

This recipe was born the same way as most of mine are, I had a craving, this time for a creamy tomato-y pasta (sans cream of course).

This creamy plant-based pasta dish packs a punch of flavour and protein and is super easy to make.

You’ll need a food processor for this one.

Prep time 15mins Cooking Time 30mins

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

1 large red capsicum

2 garlic cloves

I brown onion

100g cashew nuts

1 heaped tbsp mixed herbs

220g jar of sun-dried tomatoes

Half a lemon

2 cups of oat milk (unsweetened)

3 tbsps tomato paste

1 bunch of basil

1 packet of penne pasta

3 tbsps olive oil

Salt & Pepper

METHOD

Step 1 Soak the cashews in boiling water for ten mins

Step 2 While the cashews are soaking cut the capsicum into thick strips, heat two tablespoons of olive oil over a high heat and cook the capsicum until crispy and charred on both sides, set aside

Step 3 Chop the onion, then peel, crush and chop the garlic into small pieces. Take half the sun-dried tomatoes from the jar and soak some of the oil away with a paper towel

Step 4 Heat the remaining oil in a large pan and add the onion and garlic, fry for a few mins until the onion is soft, then add the mixed herbs and tomato paste

Step 5 Add the capsicum and sun-dried tomatoes back into the pan and mix through

Step 6 Add the oat milk to the pan and bring to a simmer, then turn down the heat to let the sauce start to thicken a little, about 10mins is plenty

Step 7 Prepare the pasta to the instructions on the pack

Step 8 Drain the cashews and put them into the food processor, add the juice of half a lemon, then add all the contents of the pan to the blender

Step 9 Blend together, if the consistency is like a capsicum dip (you know the one) you can add more oat milk and continue to blend until it’s the thickness you like

Step 10 Pour the sauce back into the pan and simmer over a low heat

Step 11 Chop the remaining sun-dried tomatoes and add them to the sauce, then chop up a handful of basil and stir through

Step 12 Serve and enjoy! (and go back for seconds)