Veggie Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Walnuts

This One Pan everything but the kitchen sink Veggie pasta has umami from Sundried tomatoes, and mushroom, texture from walnuts and loads of vegetables! All made in just 1 pan. Garnish with vegan parm and fresh basil for a comforting weeknight meal!

Is there anything more satisfying on the planet than a plate of penne pasta with a homemade sauce? This vegan veggie pasta recipe is pure Penne Pasta Pleasure.

A true pleasure to make and eat! This is an easy weeknight recipe that is super simple and made with readily available ingredients but tastes so good! I like to put plenty of meaty ingredients and vegetables in the sauce, which makes this hearty dish a bit healthier! It’s pretty much add whatever veggies you have and then cook everything in 1 pan! Make sure to cook the longer cooking veggies for a few minutes before adding sauce and pasta.

Along with the veggies, I added some chopped walnuts which act as a stand-in for veggie crumbles or vegan minced meat. The texture of the chopped nuts combined with their nutty taste makes this dish wonderfully satisfying.

All the tomatoes goodness from Sundried tomatoes and tomato paste and mushrooms give it that umami flavor. Make this comforting pasta tonight. It can be made without nuts and Glutenfree with Glutenfree pasta.

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Ingredients:

• olive oil is added to the sauteeing pan right at the beginning
• sauteed onion and garlic add a good base flavor to the sauce
• as for the veggies, I opt for a mix of zucchini, mushrooms, and bell pepper but you can mix it up
• chard or spinach for some added greens – you could add kale too
• Italian seasonings – always a winner
• balsamic vinegar adds some sweetness to the sauce and elevates the tomato flavor
• salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper add some heat
• tomato paste & chopped sun-dried tomatoes for umami
• chopped walnuts act as a stand-in for minced meat and make this feel super hearty
• broth is added to thin out the sauce and allow for enough liquid for the pasta to cook
• I like short pasta types such as penne or rigatoni for this pasta dish.
• red pepper flakes and vegan parmesan for garnish

Tips:

• To make this without nuts, just omit the walnuts. You can also add in 2 tablespoons of dried split red lentils instead of walnuts for some texture.
• Use a sturdy Glutenfree pasta to make it Glutenfree
• If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can use 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and a generous dash of rosemary, basil, marjoram and parsley.
• Different pasta types will obviously require different cooking times. Check at 18 minutes then continue until cooked to preference
• Other veggies you can add: chopped eggplant, carrots, yellow squash, artichoke hearts, celery, fennel

How make Vegan Veggie Pasta

Add oil to a large skillet over medium heat then add the onion and garlic and a pinch of salt and cook until the onion is golden.

Then add the zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, chard, tomatoes and mix well.

Cook for 3 minutes then add in all of the seasonings: Salt, pepper flakes, black pepper, tomato paste, and mix well.

Continue to cook until the mushrooms and zucchini have cooked down a little. The zucchini should be cooked up until al dente.
Then add in your sun-dried tomato and walnuts and mix well. Continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes.

Taste and adjust salt and flavor. Add in half of the basil and mix in.

Add in the uncooked pasta and 2 cups of water and mix really well. Then cover and cook for 18-20 minutes.

Stir well once in between. If the mixture is starting to stick at the bottom, reduce the heat to medium-low.

Then continue to cook until the penne is cooked to preference.

Taste and adjust salt and flavor then serve. Top with some vegan parmesan, pepper flakes, and the remaining basil.

Storage:

To store leftover pasta dished like this one that is already mixed with sauce, transfer the pasta to a Tupperware container or large Ziploc bag. Then, place it in the refrigerator and use within 2 to 3 days