Broccoli and Tomato Pasta Bake

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2 min read
Summary

There are guaranteed to be no complaints with this creamy, cheesy and protein packed pasta bake. Broccoli and tomato are a great combination of texture, flavors and nutrients in this dish, but feel free to get creative and add other veggies that you know the whole family will love. After all, this recipe is likely going to be in heavy rotation.

Yields4 ServingsPrep Time30 minsCook Time25 minsTotal Time55 mins

Broccoli and Tomato Pasta Bake

Ingredients

 16 oz organic whole grain or legume pasta (rotini, shells, fusilli, or penne all work well)
Tofu Ricotta
 14 oz organic tofu, firm or extra firm, drained well and finely crumbled (See Chef’s Notes)
 2 tbsp tahini
 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
 ¼ cup shallots minced
 3 medium garlic cloves (minced)
 2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
 ½ tsp dried oregano
 3 dashes ground nutmeg
 ½ tsp salt (optional)
 ¼ tsp ground black pepper (optional)
 3 cups organic broccoli chopped into ½” florets
 2 cups organic tomatoes (diced)
Cashew Cheese
 2 cups vegetable broth (unsalted, preferably homemade)
 1 cup shallots (or onions, chopped)
 2 cups cashews (unsalted, soaked in water for 4–6 hours or overnight and drained)
 6 garlic cloves (fresh, minced)
 2 tsp onion powder
 2 pinches nutmeg
 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
 ¼ tsp salt (optional)
 ¼ tsp ground black pepper (optional)

Directions

1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and set aside a 9x13 baking pan or dish.

2

Cook the pasta per the directions and run under cold water to prevent sticking together. Set aside.

3

Make the tofu: In a bowl, add the crumbled tofu, tahini, nutritional yeast, shallots, garlic clove, and lemon juice and mix to combine. Then add the oregano, nutmeg, salt and pepper, if using, and mix.

4

Fold in the chopped broccoli and tomato, thoroughly combining all of the ingredients. Note: the tofu should still be in small crumbles, not mashed and the mixture should hold together well but should not be too wet (see Chef’s Notes). Set aside.

5

Make the Cashew Cheese: Heat a medium stovetop pan over medium-high heat. Add ½ cup vegetable broth (reserve the remaining 1 ½ cups for step 5) and the shallots. Cook until the shallots are translucent, about 3 minutes.

6

Add the cashews and garlic, stir, and cook for another 2 minutes.

7

Add the shallots, garlic, cashews, remaining 1 ½ cups vegetable broth, onion powder, nutmeg, nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper, if using, to a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend until creamy smooth.

8

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

9

Add the pasta, tofu ricotta, and cashew cheese to a 9x13-inch pan or glass dish. Stir until fully incorporated.

10

Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool and set for 10 minutes before serving.

Chef's Notes

Substitutions
Substitute yellow or white onions in place of shallots.

Use other veggies in place of the broccoli, like cauliflower, asparagus, or red bell peppers.

Making the tofu ricotta
To ensure the ricotta holds together well, make sure to drain the tofu by squeezing it several times to release as much water as possible. There’s no need to press it, though.

Gluten-free/Flour-free
Use legume noodles in place of traditional pasta.

Use zucchini noodles in place of pasta.

Nut-free
Use raw sunflower seeds in place of cashews.

Prep Ahead
Make the tofu ricotta ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator the day before making this recipe.

Make the cashew cheese ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days before making this recipe or freeze for up to one month.

Storage
Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 30 days.

Ingredients

 16 oz organic whole grain or legume pasta (rotini, shells, fusilli, or penne all work well)
Tofu Ricotta
 14 oz organic tofu, firm or extra firm, drained well and finely crumbled (See Chef’s Notes)
 2 tbsp tahini
 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
 ¼ cup shallots minced
 3 medium garlic cloves (minced)
 2 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
 ½ tsp dried oregano
 3 dashes ground nutmeg
 ½ tsp salt (optional)
 ¼ tsp ground black pepper (optional)
 3 cups organic broccoli chopped into ½” florets
 2 cups organic tomatoes (diced)
Cashew Cheese
 2 cups vegetable broth (unsalted, preferably homemade)
 1 cup shallots (or onions, chopped)
 2 cups cashews (unsalted, soaked in water for 4–6 hours or overnight and drained)
 6 garlic cloves (fresh, minced)
 2 tsp onion powder
 2 pinches nutmeg
 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
 ¼ tsp salt (optional)
 ¼ tsp ground black pepper (optional)

Directions

1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and set aside a 9x13 baking pan or dish.

2

Cook the pasta per the directions and run under cold water to prevent sticking together. Set aside.

3

Make the tofu: In a bowl, add the crumbled tofu, tahini, nutritional yeast, shallots, garlic clove, and lemon juice and mix to combine. Then add the oregano, nutmeg, salt and pepper, if using, and mix.

4

Fold in the chopped broccoli and tomato, thoroughly combining all of the ingredients. Note: the tofu should still be in small crumbles, not mashed and the mixture should hold together well but should not be too wet (see Chef’s Notes). Set aside.

5

Make the Cashew Cheese: Heat a medium stovetop pan over medium-high heat. Add ½ cup vegetable broth (reserve the remaining 1 ½ cups for step 5) and the shallots. Cook until the shallots are translucent, about 3 minutes.

6

Add the cashews and garlic, stir, and cook for another 2 minutes.

7

Add the shallots, garlic, cashews, remaining 1 ½ cups vegetable broth, onion powder, nutmeg, nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper, if using, to a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend until creamy smooth.

8

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

9

Add the pasta, tofu ricotta, and cashew cheese to a 9x13-inch pan or glass dish. Stir until fully incorporated.

10

Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool and set for 10 minutes before serving.

Broccoli and Tomato Pasta Bake