This creamy tomato pasta has the best of both worlds. It's packed with juicy spicy and tangy flavors from the classic tomato puttanesca, but made lusciously creamy, and high protein, with the addition of tofu cream. It's quick, easy and perfect for when you're craving a creamy bowl of pasta.
Pasta puttanesca is one of my all time favourite pasta dishes. It's easy to make and packed with flavor, from the chili, tomatoes, capers and olives. Sometimes though, I crave a creamy dreamy pasta, but also want the added bonus of some healthy plant-protein, which is when I make this deceptively simple but very delicious Creamy Tomato Pasta Puttanesca. Best of all- this recipe is ready in under 30 minutes, making it a great quick and healthy comfort food dinner.
If you love the idea of a creamy pasta sauce that's dairy free and high protein, check out my no-cook Creamy Tofu Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes or my favourite pasta for mid-summer Creamy Zucchini Pasta with Lemon Basil Sauce. Both which make use of silken tofu to create a silky creamy pasta sauce, just like in this recipe.
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🍅Ingredients
Here are the everyday ingredients you'll need for this healthy but indulgent tasting creamy tomato pasta recipe!
- Silken Tofu: When blended this creates a silky creamy sauce to replace heavy cream. Bonus: it's high protein and also dairy free.
- Nutritional Yeast: Use this in place of parmesan cheese. It's savory and nutty and great blended into the creamy sauce.
- Garlic: Fresh cloves of garlic are an essential ingredient in pasta puttanesca. I like to add four or five cloves garlic, but you can also choose to use jarred garlic instead.
- Cherry tomatoes OR a can of tomatoes : choose fresh or canned tomatoes, either work well.
- Tomato Paste: a big blob of tomato paste helps with the rich tomato flavor.
- Chili flakes or Red Pepper Flakes for a fiery kick! Go as spicy as you dare!
- Fresh or dried oregano: I used fresh oregano as I have some growing in my garden, however dried oregano is also perfect.
- Capers: Essential for the briny, salty flavor that defines pasta puttanesca.
- Pitted Olives: I like to use pitted kalamata olives, but you can choose your favourite.
- A splash of wine: I usually splash in some white wine, however you can choose red wine or just a splash of white wine or AC vinegar.
- Olive oil: Good extra virgin olive oil for the authentic Italian flavor it brings.
- Pasta: I like to use a longer textured pasta as the sauce clings to the pasta, however any shape such as penne, rigatoni or spaghetti will also be delicious.
- Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper to taste.
See recipe card for quantities and nutrition information.
👩🍳Instructions
Follow along with these step-by-step photos for the perfect creamy tomato pasta sauce.
- In a blender, combine the silken tofu with nutritional yeast and a pinch of salt. Blend until creamy and smooth.
- Put a pan on to boil for the pasta. Cook pasta according to packet instructions until al dente.
3. Into a large frying pan, sauté the garlic until softened. Add the tomato paste and cook down for a few minutes then add in the tomatoes.
4. Add the olives, capers, seasonings and the wine. Cook over medium heat until the tomatoes have burst and the sauce is getting saucy.
5. Add the tofu cream to the tomato sauce and gently stir.
6. By now the pasta should be cooked. Drain and reserve a a cup of pasta water. Toss the pasta into the sauce along with a splash of pasta water until all the pasta is coated with the sauce.
Serve with chopped fresh parsley.
Hint: Put the water for the pasta on to boil as you start prepping the sauce. A standard (not gluten-free) pasta will cook in just under the time it takes to cook the sauce.
🌶️Substitutions & Variations
Here are some easy ways to customise this Creamy Puttanesca Pasta to your own tastes!
- Gluten-free - simply swap regular pasta for your favourite gluten-free pasta or other type of pasta.
- Different Tomatoes - if you need to use regular tomatoes, or even tomato passata you can use them in place of the canned or cherry tomatoes.
- Extra Protein:- bump up the protein by adding vegan chicken strips, sprinkling over some Vegan Tofu Bacon Bits.
- Other vegetables: Add in some mushrooms, yellow onion or chopped red bell peppers to boost your veggies!
- Extra Spicy: Add in cayenne pepper, spicy smoked paprika, Aleppo chilli flakes or even a dash of hot sauce to make this extra spicy!
- Add in extra greens by stirring in some fresh spinach leaves just before serving.
- More herbs: Sprinkle over fresh basil or parsley to serve.
🔪Equipment
To make this dish you'll need a high-speed blender to blend the tofu cream, a good sharp knife and a large skillet or frying pan to make the pasta sauce, plus a saucepan or pot to boil the pasta. The best bit is this recipe comes together all on the stovetop!
🫙Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I don't suggest freezing this recipe as cooked pasta isn't great when frozen and reheated.
Top tip
Mix in the creamy tofu just before serving and gently heat. Make sure to add a little of the pasta water to the dish to help the sauce properly coat the pasta!
More Pasta Recipes!
Looking for other easy pasta recipes? Try these
More Tofu Recipes!
If you're looking for some more creative ways to use tofu, check out these recipes:
📖 Recipe
Creamy Tomato Pasta Puttanesca (Dairy Free)
Equipment
- 1 large skillet or pan
- 1 Knife
- 1 Blender
Ingredients Note:
For accuracy, I measure all ingredients in metric as standard, then convert and test the recipe for American cup measurements etc.
(Heads up Aussie and UK readers- your measurements in cups are sometimes different, so please use metric or check you have the correct cup and spoon type!!)
Ingredients
- 180 g (3/7 lb) pasta (of choice)
- 290 g (1 ¼ cups) silken tofu
- 15 g (3 tablespoon) nutritional yeast
- 5 cloves (1 ⅞ tablespoon) garlic (finely vhopped)
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) olive oil
- 15 g (1 tablespoon) tomato puree
- 160 g (1 cups) cherry tomatoes (chopped in half.)
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) fresh or dried oregano
- 70 g (½ cup) pitted olives
- 30 g (⅙ cup) capers
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) chili powder (or to taste)
- 30 ml (⅛ cup) white wine (or a tablespoon of apple cider vineger)
- sea salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) fresh parsley (to serve)
Instructions
- Boil water for the pasta in a large pan. Add salt once it is boiling.
- In a blender combine the nutritional yeast and silken tofu. Blitz until creamy and smooth (you can add a little water if you need to)290 g silken tofu, 15 g nutritional yeast
- Finely chop the garlic and cut the tomatoes in half. Chop the olives in slices.
- Put the pasta on to boil according to packet directions.180 g pasta
- To a large skillet or frying pan add olive oil. Gently saute the garlic until softened.5 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Add the tablespoon of tomato puree/paste and let it cook. Add the chili flakes15 g tomato puree, 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Add the chopped cherry tomatoes and the oregano and allow them to cook down.160 g cherry tomatoes, 1 teaspoon fresh or dried oregano
- Add the capers, olives and white wine. Allow to simmer.70 g pitted olives, 30 g capers, 30 ml white wine
- Taste and add seasoning as needed.sea salt to taste
- Drain the pasta and reserve a little pasta water.
- Pour the creamy tofu mixture into the tomato sauce mixture. Mix to combine.
- Mix in the drained pasta to the pasta sauce. Add a little pasta water and gently mix.
- Serve immediately in bowls with fresh parsley sprinkled over the top.1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Notes
- Gluten-free - simply swap regular pasta for your favourite gluten-free pasta or other type of pasta.
- Different Tomatoes - if you need to use regular tomatoes, or even tomato passata you can use them in place of the canned or cherry tomatoes.
- Extra Protein:- bump up the protein by adding vegan chicken strips, sprinkling over some Vegan Tofu Bacon Bits.
- Other vegetables: Add in some mushrooms, yellow onion or chopped red bell peppers to boost your veggies!
- Extra Spicy: Add in cayenne pepper, spicy smoked paprika, Aleppo chilli flakes or even a dash of hot sauce to make this extra spicy!
- Add in extra greens by stirring in some fresh spinach leaves just before serving.
- More herbs: Sprinkle over fresh basil or parsley to serve.
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