Vegan Cajun Pasta - Simple & Creamy

Close up on a creamy vegan cajun pasta dish garnished with red pepper flakes. The bowl is on a beige hand towel.

5 from 1 vote

Vegan Cajun Pasta - Simple & Creamy

This vegan cajun pasta dish is so creamy, has an amazing smoky flavor profile and is packed with crunchy red peppers and onions. The zesty and savory cajun spices bring so much flavor to the rich-in-protein silky tofu sauce. It is a quick and easy recipe that comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy week nights!

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Total Time30

Course: Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine: American, Cajun-inspired

Keyword: dairy-free, egg-free, healthy, nut-free, tofu, Vegan, vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 467kcal

Author: Jessica Laroche

Equipment

Blender

Ingredients

For the sauce

8 oz firm tofu drained (I use half of a 454g. (16oz) package)
1 ¼ cup vegan plain milk unsweetened, choose nut-free if necessary
1 ½ tbsp nutritional yeast
3 tsp cajun seasoning
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cornstarch

For the pasta

12 oz short pasta of your choice cooked al dente
1 sweet onion (vidalia type), or red onion sliced
2 large peppers (red, yellow or orange) sliced
3 large cloves of garlic crushed
14 oz canned diced tomatoes fire roasted, see notes

Instructions

Cook the pasta

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and then, cook the pasta al dente. Drain well.

Blend the cajun creamy sauce

In a blender, combine the tofu, vegan milk, nutritional yeast, cajun blend, salt and cornstarch. Blend until very smooth. Set aside.

Cook the vegetables

In a large pan, cook the onion and pepper over medium-high heat stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Use a little oil if desired.
Then, add the garlic and a good pinch of salt, stir for 30-60 seconds, then add the can of tomatoes. Cook uncovered for about 7 minutes or until most of the water from the tomatoes is evaporated and the vegetables are cooked to your taste (keep them crunchy!).

Combine and serve

Add the blended cajun tofu sauce and cooked pasta (al dente!) to the pan and stir. Cook for a few minutes or until warmed up and the sauce has thickened up a bit. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

I use the brown rice fusilli from Jovial
Do not overcook the pasta, they will keep cooking a little after transferring to the saucy pan.
Do not overcook the vegetables, keeping them crunchy helps bring a pleasant contrasting texture with the rich sauce.
You can make your own Cajun spice mix, but I use the store-bought Cajun seasoning blend from Frontier.
If you do not have fire roasted canned tomatoes, then you can add a pinch of smoked paprika to add a hint of smoky flavor.
Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

Nutrition