16 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever (2024)

FAQs

How to get protein in pasta without meat? ›

Some of the best sources in the plant world include beans, legumes, lentils, soy like tofu or edamame, seeds and nuts and some whole grains like quinoa. Certain vegetables also contain small amounts of protein like zucchini, kale and collards (think leafy greens).

Vegetables: I add over 1 ½ pounds of veggies to this pasta recipe and love a combination of zucchini, yellow squash, jarred roasted red peppers, and spinach. Other veggies work, like peas, corn, cauliflower, and cabbage.

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

Tomato Paste

This umami-rich paste can transform into a makeshift tomato sauce when mixed with water. Here's how: Sauté tomato paste in olive oil with minced garlic, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Add water, roughly following a ratio of 1:1, tomato paste to water, and mix well.

What does it mean when a sauce breaks? A broken sauce is generally caused by the separation of sauces into two components: a watery liquid and an oily film on top. This happens when there's too much fat or liquid in the mixture.

Cook your pasta to just before al dente.

Because pasta continues to cook after it's drained, remove it from the stovetop just before reaching the al dente stage. This is super important for thin pastas like angel hair and for pastas that will be baked with a sauce like lasagna.

What adds spice to pasta? ›

Some common spices that pair well with pasta include garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, and black pepper.

One of the easiest (and most obvious) ways to add some protein to your go-to pasta dish is to throw some meat in the mix. Both ground turkey and ground beef can be used to make some flavorful meatballs, as evidenced by this baked spaghetti dish and this meal that gives turkey a chance to shine, respectively.

Any one of the following plant foods can be added to make a pasta dish a complete protein: Legumes (with the exception of soy) such as peas, and beans, including those that are dried, processed or baked.

The ideal protein to have with pasta will vary depending on your dietary requirements and preferences. You can top your preferred pasta with chicken or sausage if you'd rather eat a meat-based protein. Similarly, you may consider pairing fish, shrimp, seeds, or nuts with your pasta for a non-meat protein option.

Whole soy foods, such as edamame, tofu, tempeh, soy milk and soy nuts, are great sources of lean protein. Unlike most vegetarian proteins, soy is a complete protein, providing all the essential amino acids for optimal use by your body.