Vegan Nduja Pasta

July 31, 2023

Servings:

Difficulty:

average rating is 4 out of 5

This spicy paste replaces sausage with sun dried tomatoes to make an umami-filled summer pasta dish.

Helps to support heart health. Sun dried tomatoes are one of the richest sources of lycopene, a plant based compound that reduces inflammation and helps to manage cholesterol.
Packed with flavor. The spicy-umami combination from the chiles and sun dried tomatoes adds a unique dimension to tomato sauce without adding a significant amount of prep or cook time.
Requires minimal chopping. The paste is made in a blender and then added to a saucepan with the rest of the ingredients, making this an easy dinner to put together on a weeknight.

1 1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, drained

3 cloves garlic

2 thai red chilies

2 tsp paprika

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp miso paste

1 handful basil

2 14-oz cans tomatoes

1 bunch kale, optional

8 oz pasta

Salt, to taste

2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for cooking

PREP. Drain sun dried tomatoes. Peel garlic. Mince 2 cloves and leave 1 whole. Seed chilies, if desired. Remove basil from stalks but do not throw away stalks. Roughly chop kale. Finely chop basil stalks.
MAKE NDUJA PASTE. Add sun dried tomatoes, 1 clove garlic, chilies, 2 tbsp olive oil, paprika, vinegar, and miso to a small blender. Blend until smooth.
MAKE SAUCE. Heat a medium pan over medium heat. Add a drizzle of oil. Add remaining garlic and basil stems. Cook until garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and Nduja paste. Bring to boil. Reduce to simmer. Cook until sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in kale and basil leaves.
COOK PASTA. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Season with a generous pinch of salt. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water.
MIX. Add pasta to sauce along with splashes of water to loosen sauce.
SERVE. Divide into 4 bowls or plates. Top with vegan Parmesan, if desired.

How can I add more vegetables to pasta? Adding greens is an easy way to get more nutrients and fiber into pasta without significantly altering the flavor or increasing cooking time.
How can I make this pasta gluten free? Use a gluten free pasta such as one made from lentils or brown rice.