Cheesy Tempeh Pasta (Vegan)

This creamy, cheesy tempeh pasta sauce made with sweet potato is restaurant-worthy and will satisfy all your cravings. Add sautéed mushrooms for extra deliciousness.

Is there anything better than a comforting bowl of creamy pasta? I think not. And this Cheesy Tempeh Pasta might be my favourite recipe yet!

The vegan cheese sauce is made with none other than steamed sweet potato blended with creamy coconut milk and nutritional yeast for a deliciously savoury flavour. Sounds strange but it's delicious, I promise.

I then add sautéed tempeh and mushrooms to the mix for extra protein and flavour, mix the whole lot with freshly cooked pasta et voila! My favourite healthy pasta dish.

More easy pasta & Italian recipes

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS VEGAN PASTA RECIPE

Healthy comfort food. It's the perfect recipe for chilly fall weather - like vegan mac and cheese but healthier.

Easy pasta sauce recipe. There's no fancy equipment needed here - just a blender and pan.

Vegan and gluten free. The cheese sauce is made with sweet potato and nutritional yeast, so no dairy!

High in protein. Tempeh and mushrooms added for an extra dose of plant protein.

Packed with veggies. Contains both sweet potato AND mushrooms.

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Sweet Potato - You can use steamed (peeled) butternut squash instead here, but please note the flavour will change slightly as squash isn't as sweet. I would use roughly half a small butternut squash instead of the sweet potato.

Pasta - You don't have to use gluten free pasta if you aren't sensitive to gluten, regular will work fine in this recipe.

Coconut Milk - I strongly recommend using coconut milk in this cheesy tempeh pasta. Almond, oat or soy milk won't give this dish the same creaminess (although you could try using oat or soy cream instead). It's also important to use full fat coconut milk to make this sauce as thick as possible. My favourite brand is Wholefoods 365.

Alcohol-free - You can omit the white wine if preferred. It adds a really nice flavour to the sauce but isn't essential. You might just need to add a little water instead to thin the sauce out.

Liquid Smoke - If you don't have any liquid smoke, add a generous pinch of smoked paprika instead to get a similar flavour.

Tempeh - You are welcome to use tofu instead if that's what you have, but be aware the taste won't be the same, as tempeh is naturally much more savoury than tofu (which is very bland without seasoning).

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5 from 8 votes

Cheesy Tempeh Pasta with (Vegan)

This creamy, cheesy tempeh pasta sauce made with sweet potato is restaurant-worthy and will satisfy all your cravings. Add sautéed mushrooms for extra deliciousness.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: gluten-free, healthy, Italian, vegan, vegetarian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: 2 people

Author: Elizabeth Emery

Special Equipment

• Blender

Ingredients

• 1 medium-large sweet potato, unpeeled and cut into ½-inch chunks
• ½ cup full fat coconut milk
• 1½ tablespoon olive or avocado oil
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 3 sprigs marjoram, leaves only (can also use thyme or oregano)
• ⅓ cup white wine
• 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• Salt and pepper
• 3 cups uncooked gluten free pasta
• 6 cremini or chestnut mushrooms, sliced thinly
• ½ a 240g pack tempeh, chopped into ½-inch pieces

To Serve

• Chili flakes
• Extra marjoram leaves

Instructions

• Prepare all ingredients as directed above.
• Steam sweet potato for 10-15 minutes until tender, then drain and blend in a high speed blender with coconut milk until completely smooth. Set aside.
• Add ½ tbsp olive oil to a large skillet and sauté garlic and marjoram for 1 minute until fragrant.
• Add sweet potato and coconut milk, white wine, nutritional yeast, liquid smoke and salt & pepper to taste. Simmer mixture for 15-20 minutes until fragrant and thick. (If sauce is ready before next steps are complete, turn down to low and keep stirring occasionally to avoid burning. If mixture becomes too thick add a little water.)
• While sauce is cooking, bring a large pan of water to a boil and add pasta. Cook uncovered as per package instructions, then rinse and drain. Set aside.
• Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet and add mushrooms and tempeh. Sauté for 10 minutes - stirring frequently – until tempeh is golden. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add mushrooms/tempeh to sweet potato sauce. Add pasta and gently stir to combine.
• Serve in large bowls decorated with marjoram leaves, chili flakes and extra pepper. Enjoy!

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Notes

Recipe Substitutions

Sweet Potato - You can use steamed (peeled) butternut squash instead here, but please note the flavour will change slightly, as butternut squash isn't as sweet. I would use roughly half a small butternut squash instead of the the sweet potato.

Pasta - You don't have to use gluten free pasta if you don't want to and aren't sensitive to gluten, regular will work fine in this recipe.

Coconut Milk - There is no substitution for the coconut milk. Regular almond, oat or soy milk won't give this dish the same creaminess as coconut. It's also important to use full fat coconut milk to make this sauce as creamy as possible.

No Alcohol - Your'e welcome to omit the white wine if preferred. It adds a really nice flavour to the sauce but isn't essential! You might just need to add a little water instead to thin the sauce out.

Liquid Smoke - If you don't have any liquid smoke, add a generous pinch of smoked paprika instead to get a similar smokiness.

Tempeh - You are welcome to use tofu instead if that's what you have, but please be aware the taste won't be the same as tempeh has a much more savoury taste than tofu (which is very bland without much seasoning).

If you’ve tried this tempeh pasta recipe, please leave a comment or tip for others below. I'd love to know how you’ve made it your own!

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