Undercooked carrot is the main reason this sauce turns out grainy. Grating it finely speeds things up, but check that the pieces squash easily against the side of the pot before using the blender unless you want an angry toddler (I'm not the boss home).
Main DishesCreamy One-Pot Tofu Pasta with Hidden Vegetables
Carrots and zucchini blend into a smooth tomato sauce with silken tofu, while finely grated firm tofu gives the pasta a little bite. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so there is only one pot to wash.
Ingredients
Pasta and protein
Hidden-vegetable sauce
Seasoning
Preparation Steps
Prepare the vegetables and tofu
Grate the carrots and finely dice the zucchini and onion. Mince the garlic, then pat the firm tofu dry and grate it coarsely.
Soften the vegetables
Heat the olive oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and zucchini, and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring regularly, until the carrots are soft. Add the garlic for the last minute.
Blend the hidden-vegetable sauce
Stir in the tomato passata, paprika, dried oregano, salt and black pepper. Add the silken tofu, take the pan off the heat and carefully blend everything with an immersion blender until smooth.
Cook the pasta in the sauce
Stir in the dry whole wheat pasta, grated firm tofu, frozen peas and most of the water. Bring to a gentle boil, then simmer over medium-low heat with the lid slightly ajar, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente (around 15-20min). Add the remaining water as needed to keep the pasta from sticking.
Finish and serve
Turn off the heat once the pasta is tender and the sauce clings to it. Stir well, then serve while the sauce is still creamy.
Recipe insights
Get the carrots soft before blending
The grated tofu gives it some texture
Firm tofu disappears less completely than silken tofu. Grated into small shreds, it picks up the tomato sauce and feels closer to a fine mince than to tofu cubes. For the smoothest possible finish, grate it on the finer side of the grater.
Store and reheat without drying it out
The pasta keeps absorbing moisture after cooking, so leftovers will be much thicker. Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to three days, then reheat gently with a splash of water until the sauce loosens again.
Pay attention with the short boiling time
Pay attention when you're boiling the sauce, it should be brief and you should not forget it like I did, otherwise you're left with coal in a sauce and you have to remake it all over again....
Children friendly
For people who don’t have children (although it may also suit older people without teeth), the children loved it. The creamy texture was a hit, and they didn’t notice the vegetables at all!
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