Description
This creamy garlic pasta combines tender shiitake mushrooms and burst grape tomatoes in a rich, velvety vegan sauce made with vegan butter, cream cheese, and Parmesan. Perfectly cooked linguine is tossed in this flavorful sauce and finished with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil for an easy, comforting meal that cooks in just 22 minutes.
Ingredients
Produce
- ½ pound Shiitake mushrooms (cleaned, sliced and stems removed)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes (assorted colors, similarly sized)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced or finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped basil
Pasta
- 8 ounces linguine or tagliatelle pasta
Dairy Alternatives
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 2-3 tablespoons vegan cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons vegan Parmesan cheese (grated)
Pantry
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¾ cup reserved pasta water (from cooking the pasta)
- ½ tablespoon olive oil (preferably high quality)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the linguine or tagliatelle according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¾ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat vegan butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic, grape tomatoes, and sliced shiitake mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-6 minutes until mushrooms soften and tomatoes start to wilt and slightly burst. Gently press the tomatoes with a wooden spoon or spatula to release juices. Reduce heat to medium-low, then season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: Stir in the vegan cream cheese, vegan Parmesan, and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Mix gently but thoroughly until the cheeses melt and combine into a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pan, then pour in the remaining ¼ cup of reserved pasta water. Stir continuously to coat the pasta evenly and allow the sauce to thicken as it soaks up the water.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the sauce and add additional sea salt or black pepper as needed to suit your preference.
- Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat. Top the pasta with freshly chopped basil and drizzle high-quality olive oil over the top. Serve immediately with extra vegan Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy your creamy garlic pasta!
Notes
- Reserve pasta water carefully to help create a smooth and silky sauce.
- Using high-quality olive oil enhances the final flavor.
- Feel free to substitute linguine or tagliatelle with any pasta shape you like.
- For added depth, consider sautéing mushrooms separately before combining with the other ingredients.
- This recipe is fully vegan and can be customized with other vegetables or herbs to suit your taste.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
