Description
This Pumpkin Pasta Sauce is a creamy, comforting vegan sauce made with pumpkin puree, tomato sauce, and warm spices. It’s easy to prepare on the stovetop and pairs perfectly with your favorite pasta for a hearty and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (omit if you don’t like heat)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup coconut cream or unsweetened vegan creamer
Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta of choice
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook your pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain it in a colander and set it aside while you prepare the sauce.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until it becomes fragrant but not browned.
- Add Spices: Add the dried sage, oregano, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and salt to the skillet. Stir well and cook for 1 minute to toast the spices and release their flavors.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in the tomato sauce and pumpkin puree into the skillet. Stir everything together and let the sauce simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in the coconut cream or your choice of vegan creamer to add creaminess. Taste the sauce and add more salt if needed.
- Toss Pasta & Serve: Stir the cooked pasta into the sauce until well coated. Optionally, mix in a few handfuls of baby spinach in the last minutes of simmering to wilt it before serving.
Notes
- Consider sprinkling vegan parmesan cheese or pepitas on top for extra flavor and texture.
- For added protein, serve alongside vegan chicken, marinated tempeh, tofu, or other plant-based proteins.
- Use gluten free pasta to make this dish gluten free.
- You can omit the coconut cream for a lighter sauce or substitute it with cashew cream, full-fat coconut milk, unsweetened non-dairy milk like almond or cashew, or plain vegan yogurt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1.5 cups pasta with sauce)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
