Description
This Creamy Vegan Fajita Pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish combining tender pasta with sautéed vegetables, a rich coconut milk-based fajita sauce, and fresh baby spinach. Perfect for a quick and satisfying plant-based meal ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 300 g (10.5 oz) pasta
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 large red pepper, sliced
- 200 g (7 oz) chestnut mushrooms, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 100 g (3.5 oz) baby spinach, roughly shredded
Sauces & Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 tablespoons fajita seasoning mix
- 1 x 400 ml (13.5 fl oz) can coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the package instructions specify. Reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Sauté Onions and Peppers: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and red pepper, sautéing for 5-6 minutes until they soften.
- Cook Mushrooms: Add the sliced chestnut mushrooms to the pan and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until all the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are slightly browned, intensifying their flavor.
- Add Garlic and Seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant. Then add the tomato paste and fajita seasoning mix, stirring thoroughly to combine all the flavors.
- Create Coconut Sauce: Pour in the coconut milk and stir well. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Wilt Spinach: Add the baby spinach to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes until the spinach wilts and integrates into the sauce.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pan, tossing it well with the creamy fajita sauce. If using, stir in the nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. Season to taste and serve immediately.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
- Nutritional yeast is optional but adds a cheesy depth to the dish.
- This recipe is perfect for meal prep and can be reheated gently on the stovetop.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make the dish gluten-free.
- Adjust fajita seasoning quantity according to your spice tolerance.
