The ultimate comfort dish! This vegan baked pasta features layers of tender penne, a cashew ricotta cheese and a hearty, walnut Bolognese sauce. Prepare to be impressed!
There’s just something incredibly comforting about a great pasta dish and this vegan baked pasta will definitely impress. Layered with tons of flavour, texture and absolute deliciousness.
Just like my vegan lasagna and my lasagna stuffed portobellos, this recipe is inspired by my Italian background and will have you salivating. PS. For my fellow Italians, consider this a vegan version of your favourite Pasta Al Forno. 🙂
Why you’ll love this!
- It’s a great make-ahead meal. You can fully prepare and assemble this one 1-2 days ahead and bake when ready to eat.
- Freezer friendly! A perfect dish you can double up and freeze one for next time. Great on those days when you just don’t have the time to spend in the kitchen.
- Healthier than most baked pasta dishes. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t consider pasta a health food. However, this one has the nutritional benefit that nuts like cashews and walnuts have to offer. Plus, the healthy kind of fat, unlike your classic cheese ridden variety.
- Incredible flavour and texture! You get the comfort and tenderness of pasta, together with rich, cheesy cashew ricotta and a lovely crunch from your hearty, walnut bolognese sauce. We’re talking absolute perfection, here!
How to make it
(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)
Gather your ingredients.
Put a large pot of generously salted water to boil for cooking your pasta. While waiting for that to boil, prepare your cashew ricotta cheese.
Add the cashews, nutritional yeast, ricotta cheese seasonings and the water to your food processor. (photos 1-2)
Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Then set aside. (photo 3)
If your water is boiling, add the pasta, and then prepare your sauce. Combine the tomato sauce, crushed walnuts and the seasoning and mix well. Set aside. (photos 4-6)
By now your pasta should be cooked. Remember to undercook it by 2-3 minutes since it will cook more in the oven! Drain immediately and start assembling your vegan baked pasta dish.
Add a thin layer of bolognese sauce to the bottom of a 9″x13″ casserole dish. This is to prevent sticking. (photo 7)
Then add half of your drained pasta on top, followed by another thin layer of sauce. (photos 8-9)
Now, using half of your prepared cashew ricotta, drop spoonful’s over top your sauce layer. (photo 10)
Do you best to spread the cheese layer, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. (photo 11)
Then add the remaining half of your pasta and more sauce on top. (photo 12)
Followed by the remaining half of your ricotta cheese, spread again and finally, more sauce. (photos 13-14)
Optional: Sprinkle with vegan Parmesan cheese on top, if using. (photo 15)
Then bake for 20 minutes, uncovered, and remove from the oven. (photo 16)
Sprinkle your vegan baked pasta with fresh parsley and serve.
How long does it keep?
Leftovers keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. You may reheat in the oven, or deconstructed on stove top.
Or you may freeze this dish, before or after baking for up to 3 months. Note that frozen pasta will get softer in texture upon thawing and reheating.
What kind of pasta should I use?
You may use virtually any kind for your vegan baked pasta. I like pennoni pasta so more sauce and cheese can get inside.
But any short variety will do. Try penne, rotini, ziti or rigatoni, if that’s what you have on hand.
You may also use gluten free pasta if needed. Just remember to undercook by 2-3 minutes, no matter what you choose.
Can I make it nut free?
To make the vegan ricotta cheese, you may sub the cashews for sunflower seeds with similar results. Keep in mind, this will be a little less rich, but still very flavourful.
For the walnuts, you may omit, OR sub those for pepitas, again, with similar results.
Expert Tips
- Do not over cook your pasta. Remember that it will continue cooking in the oven, so it’s best to UNDERCOOK by 2-3 minutes.
- If you don’t have a strong food processor, soak your cashews before processing. The fastest way to do this is boil some water in a pot or kettle. Then soak the cashews in the hot water for 30 minutes. Drain and use as directed. This will soften them up, making them easier to process.
More vegan pasta dishes
- Vegan Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
- Pasta Aglio e Olio (Pasta w/ Garlic & Oil)
- Vegan Pasta e Fagioli
- Pasta Carbonara w/ Soy Curl Pancetta
If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.
Buon appetito
Rosa
Equipment
- 9×13 Casserole Dish (or similar)
Ingredients
- 1 lb pennoni or penne pasta gluten free if preferred
For the Cashew Ricotta
- 1.5 cups raw cashews
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 3/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 cup water
For the Bolognese Sauce
- 4 cups tomato sauce use your favourite kind
- 1 cup chopped walnuts small enough to resemble minced meat
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp parsley
Optional
- 1/3 cup vegan parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and grab a casserole dish that is 9"x13" or similar, and set aside. Then, fill a large pot with generously salted water and put it to boil.
- While waiting for your water to boil, make your cashew ricotta by adding all the ingredients to a food processor and processing until smooth. Stop to scrape down the sides, as needed. Then set aside.
- By now, your water should be boiling, so add your pasta to the pot and cook according to package directions, but UNDERCOOK by 2-3 minutes. Then drain immediately.
- While the pasta is cooking, prepare your sauce by adding the Bolognese ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Set aside.
- By now your pasta should be ready and you may begin assembling your vegan baked pasta dish.
- Add a thin layer of sauce to the bottom of your casserole dish, to prevent sticking. Then add half of your cooked pasta on top, another thin layer of sauce, and half of the ricotta cheese. Spread the cheese as best as you can, but it doesn't need to be perfect.
- Then add the remaining half of the pasta, another layer of sauce, and the remaining ricotta cheese. Spread the cheese, add another layer of sauce, and then sprinkle with the vegan Parmesan cheese, if using.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, and then remove from the oven. Serve with fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
- To make the vegan ricotta cheese, you may sub the cashews for sunflower seeds with similar results. Keep in mind, this will be a little less rich, but still very flavourful.
- For the walnuts, you may omit, OR sub those for pepitas, again, with similar results.
As a first year plant-based family, I was concerned about abandoning the old traditional favorite dishes. We used this recipe in place of our usual Italian Christmas dish and it is really good!! When the Italian husband goes back for more, you know its a hit!!
Thank you Sarah! I’m so thrilled to hear this! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a review. 🙂
Wow!!!! I’m making this for Christmas Day but wanted to try it ahead just in case and seriously my family was blown away!!! So much flavor and yumminess!!
Yay!! Thrilled to hear that Mary, thanks so much for the review.
Thank you for sending me your recipes on a regular basis. I love most of them.
Hope you have a very happy Christmas and may all your dreams and aspirations come true for you in 2021. All the best. R
Aww thanks very much Rob. Thrilled you’re enjoying my recipes. Merry Christmas to you as well. 🙂