Easy Vegan Tomato and Garlic Pasta with Vegan Lemon Parmesan Cheese for a super fast dinner that is loaded with flavor!
EASY TOMATO AND GARLIC PASTA
Don’t you just love ridiculously, easy and fast dinners? I know I do. Don’t let the simplicity of this recipe fool you, it is packed with flavor, feels gourmet, but is so so easy and fast to make. And really, who doesn’t love tomatoes and pasta?
It’s amazing how delicious simple ingredients like fire-roasted tomatoes, lots of fresh garlic, salty briney capers and fresh basil taste EPIC together! Then, to top it with my Vegan Lemon Parmesan that I just posted and created to go on top of this pasta, the whole dish is so so so yummy. I’m so serious, go make this now.
By the way, are you seriously drooling over that unbelievable toast with all that melted cheese on top? Yup, thought so. That is the Best Vegan Mozzarella cheese recipe out there! We’ve also put it on pizza and it’s divine. And there is no weird ingredients or added starches. It’s absolutely to die for and my family is obsessed.
My hubby and daughter absolutely LOVED this for dinner last night…especially this vegan lemon parmesan cheese. Oh boy, it’s a game-changer. It really adds a wonderful punch of flavor, thanks to strong pop of lemon flavor, not typical of a parmesan cheese.
HOW TO MAKE EASY TOMATO PASTA
First, gather these easy 8 ingredients:
- rigatoni pasta
- fire-roasted tomatoes
- fresh garlic
- fresh basil
- capers
- blanched almond flour
- dried oregano
- fresh lemon juice
Make the pasta according to the package directions and don’t forget to salt the water.
While the pasta is cooking, make the lemon parmesan cheese so it will be ready as soon as the pasta and sauce are done, as it comes together super fast. Add the almond flour, dried oregano and salt to a small bowl and whisk well. Add the lemon juice and use a fork (not a spoon) to press and mixture for a couple of minutes until all of the almond flour is coated evenly. It will clump a bit so use your fingertips to rub the mixture between your hands into a fine meal.
Spread the parmesan out onto a pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 5 minutes until the edges are turning golden brown. Make sure to set a timer or else it may burn, watch closely.
Make the tomato sauce by adding 3 tablespoons water to a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn.
Add the cans of fire-roasted tomatoes to a food processor or blender and puree into an applesauce consistency. Add the tomatoes to the pan of garlic, with the capers and red pepper flakes. Heat through a couple of minutes.
Pour desired amounts of tomato sauce over pasta and toss with fresh basil and parmesan cheese!
Does that not look freaking fabulous or what? My mouth is seriously watering. I hope you all love this easy vegan tomato pasta dish as much as we did!
OTHER VEGAN PASTA DINNERS TO TRY:
- Vegan Stuffed Ricotta Shells With Spinach
- Vegan Lemon, Garlic and Thyme Pasta
- Best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce
- Vegan Pimento Cream Sauce
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave feedback below and share your pic on Instagram or Facebook and tag me @thevegan8 #thevegan8!
Easy Tomato and Garlic Pasta with Vegan Lemon Parmesan
Ingredients
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- two 15oz cans fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon (15g) minced fresh garlic
- 2 tablespoons (22g) drained capers
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, but oh so good)
- 1/2 cup (12g) loosely filled chiffonade fresh basil leaves
VEGAN LEMON PARMESAN CHEESE
- 1 cup (112g) blanched almond flour (see NOTE at bottom for nut-free)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 tablespoon (15g) fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Make the pasta according to the package directions and don't forget to salt the water.
- While the pasta is cooking, make the lemon parmesan cheese, so it will be ready as soon as the pasta and sauce are done, as it comes together super fast. Add the almond flour, dried oregano and salt to a small bowl and whisk well. Add the lemon juice and use a fork (not a spoon) to press and mixture for a couple of minutes or so until all of the almond flour is coated evenly. It will seem too dry at first, but be patient and keep working it. It will clump a bit so use your fingertips to rub the mixture between your hands into a fine meal.
- Spread the parmesan out onto a pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 5 minutes until the edges are turning golden brown. Make sure to set a timer or else it may burn, watch closely.
- Make the tomato sauce by adding 3 tablespoons water to a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Watch closely so it doesn't burn.
- Add the cans of fire-roasted tomatoes to a food processor or blender and puree into an applesauce consistency so it's not longer chunky, but don't fully process into a liquid. Add the tomatoes to the pan of garlic, with the capers and red pepper flakes. Stir a couple of minutes just to heat through. Remove from the heat.
- Pour desired amounts of tomato sauce over pasta and toss with fresh basil and parmesan cheese! Add extra capers and red pepper flakes if desired.
Big hit at our house. Made exactly as written and it came out great. Don’t skip the lemon Parmesan- it’s excellent!
SO awesome!!
Yum, just like Pasta Puttanesca without the anchovy & olives. I am a lover of the olive, so added a few kalamata’s. The parmesan recipe is excellent.
G’Day, I can’t find fire roasted tomatoes down here in Australia so wonder if I can substitute a tin of diced tomatoes and add some liquid smoke ??
Cheers
Sandy
Yes, you can just purée those tomatoes the same way. No need to add liquid smoke. I don’t think it’s necessary since the flavor may be too strong here.
Made this tonight and everything about it was outstanding! Love the “Parmesan cheese”!!
Every recipe I have made of yours has been wonderfu! 😊 thanks so much!!
Yay! Really glad to hear that Tonya! Thank you so much for making it and so happy to hear you have loved every recipe you’ve made so far!!
Looks delish girl! Love the spin on regular parm. And big congrats on your meal collaboration. I know it will be a hit!
Your Pasta looks amazing! Especially with the vegane parmesan on top 🙂 Such a great combo!
Happy Sunday!
This was amazing! I have a bit of coconut flour in my pantry. Could I sub it for the almond flour?
Thanks.
Yay! So happy you loved this! As far as the Parmesan, no, coconut flour wouldn’t work here. It’s much much drier and more absorbent, as well as having a different flavor and burns easily. The almond flour is perfect here for the Parmesan!
We loved it. My husband says it’s a keeper. And we also had a friend over and he said it was fantastic. We also used the Parmesan cheese on top of crunchy bread which was topped with roasted garlic butter- no oil. Thank you so much for a new pasta recipe that is so easy to make.
I don’t see the NOTE for a nut-free parmesan.
Is it in another page?
Yes click the link to the Parmesan recipe at the beginning of the post and it’s on that recipe.
Is the cheesy bread on a different page? Having guests over this weekend and would love to make the pasta with the bread for a complete meal. Thanks!
Hi Trish, yes, it’s mentioned in the top of the post!
I was wondering what type of pasta dish to make this week – and here it is! Looks amazingly good, can’t wait to tryt it!
Wonderful Cyd, I hope you love it!!
Is there another way to get that cheese recipe? I looked at the site and they sent me a sample menu but it has a lot of oil/butter and processed ingredients and don’t really want that in my diet. Thanks!
Hi Colleen! The recipe is exclusively featured in my meal plan. My whole collection of 22 recipes is oil-free. There is no butter in their vegan meal plans. If you try the free trial, you get immediate access to my full collection, which includes the cheese pasta dish. As far as oil used in their vegan recipes, some of them are easily subbed by cooking the veggies in broth or water (in the ones calling for sautéing in oil). Of course some recipes will not work, but each week is a new set and you can always cancel before the free trial period if you like.