Vegan Pink Pasta with Roasted Garlic and Tofu Recipe
This vegan pink pasta features a creamy, vibrant pink sauce made with roasted garlic, onion, tofu, beetroot powder, and a blend of savory ingredients. Ready in under 20 minutes, it’s a quick, flavorful, and satisfying plant-based dinner that’s perfect for weeknights.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Vegan
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Pasta
- 340g pasta of choice (4 servings)
Pink Sauce
- 2 tsp beetroot powder (adjust for color intensity)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 head garlic (10-12 cloves), unpeeled
- 1 onion, cut in half or quarters
- 1/2 cup pasta water, divided
- 1 block medium firm tofu (around 450g)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp miso paste
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Roast the Aromatics: Drizzle olive oil over the unpeeled garlic bulbs and onion pieces. Air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 12-15 minutes until well roasted. Alternatively, roast in a preheated oven at 425°F (218°C) for 15-20 minutes. For stovetop option, dice onion and thinly slice garlic, then sauté in olive oil on medium-high heat until slightly browned.
- Cook the Pasta: While roasting, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the Pink Sauce: When cool enough to handle, peel the roasted garlic cloves. In a blender, combine peeled garlic, roasted onion, tofu, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, miso paste, beetroot powder, salt, and half of the reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth. Add more beetroot powder for a deeper pink color if desired.
- Combine and Heat: In a large pan or wok over medium-high heat, add the cooked pasta and blended sauce. Stir well to combine. Add the remaining pasta water as needed to thin the sauce to desired consistency. Warm the mixture just a few minutes, allowing flavors to meld and pasta to finish cooking.
- Season and Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately and enjoy your creamy vegan pink pasta.
Notes
- If you don’t have an air fryer or oven, sautéing the onion and garlic on the stove is a great alternative.
- Beetroot powder quantity can be adjusted to customize the pink hue of the sauce.
- Medium firm tofu works best for creaminess and consistency in the sauce.
- Reserve pasta water to help adjust sauce thickness and help it adhere to the pasta.
- This dish pairs well with fresh herbs like basil or parsley for garnish.
