A creamy vegan pasta alfredo made with silken tofu instead of dairy — light, luscious, and packed with spring vegetables. Asparagus, sweet peas, yellow squash, and sun-dried tomatoes make every bite colorful and satisfying.
10ouncesslender asparagustough ends snapped off, cut into 1½-inch pieces
1cupfrozen green peasor fresh shelled peas
1mediumyellow summer squashquartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
⅓cupsun-dried tomatoessliced (oil-packed or rehydrated)
¼cupfresh parsley or basilminced or thinly sliced
Silken Tofu Alfredo Sauce
12.3ouncepackage firm silken tofudrained
2tablespoonsfresh lemon juiceabout ½ lemon
salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
Instructions
Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water.
While the pasta cooks, combine the silken tofu and lemon juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large, wide skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden — do not let it brown. Add the asparagus, peas, squash, sun-dried tomatoes, and ¼ cup water. Cover and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the vegetables are just tender-crisp.
Pour the silken tofu sauce over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through. If the sauce seems thick, stir in a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it.
Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss well to combine everything. Stir in the fresh parsley or basil. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Silken tofu: Firm silken tofu (such as Mori-Nu) blends into a perfectly smooth, dairy-free cream sauce. Do not substitute regular firm tofu — it won't blend smoothly. Soft silken tofu works too and gives a slightly thinner sauce.Asparagus prep: Use slender asparagus spears — they're tender throughout and don't need peeling. If using thicker spears, peel the lower third of each stalk with a vegetable peeler.Make it gluten-free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta. Brown rice pasta or chickpea pasta both hold up well with this sauce.Add protein: Stir in a drained can of white beans or a handful of shelled edamame with the vegetables for extra plant-based protein.