Cook the pasta in plenty of steadily boiling water until al dente, then drain.
Meanwhile, heat the Earth Balance or oil in a small skillet. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until both are golden. Remove from the heat and transfer to a food processor.
Add the tofu or beans, and nondairy milk to the food processor. Process until completely smooth and creamy. With beans, especially, let it run for a few minutes, to make sure they get nice and creamy.
Combine the pasta and sauce in a large serving bowl and toss together.
Season with pepper and taste to see if you’d like to add more salt. If the mixture needs to be moister, add a small amount of additional nondairy milk and toss again. The pasta will absorb some of the sauce as it stands, so make sure to moisten leftovers with additional nondairy milk.
Cover the pasta and prepare any of the toppings you'd like to serve with it. The other toppings can simply be placed in small bowls and passed around to embellish individual portions.