Courtesy of walderwellness.com
Perfect for a customizable weeknight dinner. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to eat more plants, or even if you’re a meat eater and just want to switch things up. You can use whatever veggies you have in the fridge that you can easily sauté on the stovetop: mushrooms, peppers, carrots, broccoli, zucchini.
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 225 g (about 8 oz) pasta of your choice
- 1 pack firm or extra-firm tofu (about 350 g / 12 oz).
You’ll want to use firm or extra firm tofu. Soft or silken tofu will not “crumble” the same way
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large bell pepper, cored and chopped (or other veggies you like)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 3 cups tomato sauce (such as marinara)
- ¼ cup parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional garnish: fresh basil, and/or parmesan or vegan cheese alternative
Instructions
1- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2- While water heats, drain the tofu and wrap it in paper towels. Gently press to remove excess moisture. In a large bowl, crumble the tofu with your hands into fine pieces.
3- In a large, deep skillet with oil sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
4- Add the chopped bell pepper (or other veggies you like) to the pan. Sauté for about 5 minutes until they start to soften.
5- Stir in the crumbled tofu, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.
6- Pour in the tomato sauce, then add the spinach and chopped parsley. Stir to combine, allowing the spinach to wilt and the sauce to heat through (about 3–5 minutes).
7- Add the drained pasta to the skillet, tossing gently to coat with the sauce. Remove from heat once everything is well mixed and hot.
8- Serve in bowls and garnish with fresh basil and a sprinkle of parmesan or vegan cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition facts per serving (1 bowl, ~360 g, ~12.5 oz):
Calories 389 kcal, Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Carbohydrates 58 g, Dietary Fiber 6 g, Sugars 11 g, Protein 18 g, Sodium 957 mg, Calcium 96 mg, Iron 5 mg, Potassium 1037 mg, Vitamin C 75 mg