Tempeh Sausage Pasta hits all the right notes for a hearty and satisfying dish. From a culinary perspective, tempeh makes a wonderful meat substitute because of its fulfilling and meat-like texture, which makes it a must-have in your diet for those days when you are craving something savory with a bit of bite. Also, this Tempeh Sausage Pasta is incredibly easy to prepare with — wait for it — just one pot (for making the pasta), one pan (for making the entire dish), and minimal time!
Yields4 ServingsPrep Time15 minsCook Time15 minsTotal Time30 mins
Ingredients
8ozorganic, whole grain pasta (or legume pasta, cooked)
Tempeh Sausage
2tspfennel seeds
8ozorganic tempeh (crumbled using a grater or finely chopped)
1cupwater
½tspgarlic powder
1 ½tspdried oregano
1tspsmoked paprika
½tsponion powder
1tspfresh sage (minced)
½tspred pepper flakes (optional)
2tbsporganic tamari (reduced-sodium, or coconut aminos)
1 ½tspworcestershire sauce (vegan)
1tbspmaple syrup (or date paste, link in Chef’s Notes)
Other Ingredients
16ozorganic red pasta sauce (of your choice)
2cupsorganic spinach (chopped)
2tbspparsley (minced)
Directions
1
Make your pasta per instructions and set aside.
2
Make the Tempeh Sausage: Heat a large stovetop pan over medium heat. Add the fennel seeds and let cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
3
Add the tempeh to the pan along with the water. Increase heat to medium-high and let cook until all of the water is absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 3–5 minutes.
4
Meanwhile, mix the garlic powder, oregano, paprika, onion powder, sage, and red pepper flakes, if using, in a small bowl and set aside.
5
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the spices and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
6
Add the tamari, Worcestershire sauce, and maple syrup to the same small bowl and whisk to combine. Then add them to the tempeh and cook for 3–5 minutes until the tempeh is browned. Add 1–2 tablespoons of water, if needed, to deglaze the pan.
7
Add the pasta, pasta sauce, spinach, and parsley to the tempeh. Stir to combine and warm through until the spinach is tender.
8
Top your Tempeh Sausage Pasta with crushed red pepper flakes or your favorite plant-based parmesan.
Chef's Notes
Substitutions Use another leafy green in place of spinach.
Substitute basil for parsley.
Flour-free Use zucchini or sweet potato noodles in place of whole grain or legume noodles.
Types of tempeh Chickpea, organic soy, or hemp-based tempeh all work well.
Whole food sweetener Use date paste in place of maple syrup.
Prep Ahead Make the tempeh sausage ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before making this recipe.
Storage Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Ingredients
8ozorganic, whole grain pasta (or legume pasta, cooked)
Tempeh Sausage
2tspfennel seeds
8ozorganic tempeh (crumbled using a grater or finely chopped)
1cupwater
½tspgarlic powder
1 ½tspdried oregano
1tspsmoked paprika
½tsponion powder
1tspfresh sage (minced)
½tspred pepper flakes (optional)
2tbsporganic tamari (reduced-sodium, or coconut aminos)
1 ½tspworcestershire sauce (vegan)
1tbspmaple syrup (or date paste, link in Chef’s Notes)
Other Ingredients
16ozorganic red pasta sauce (of your choice)
2cupsorganic spinach (chopped)
2tbspparsley (minced)
Directions
1
Make your pasta per instructions and set aside.
2
Make the Tempeh Sausage: Heat a large stovetop pan over medium heat. Add the fennel seeds and let cook until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.
3
Add the tempeh to the pan along with the water. Increase heat to medium-high and let cook until all of the water is absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 3–5 minutes.
4
Meanwhile, mix the garlic powder, oregano, paprika, onion powder, sage, and red pepper flakes, if using, in a small bowl and set aside.
5
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the spices and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
6
Add the tamari, Worcestershire sauce, and maple syrup to the same small bowl and whisk to combine. Then add them to the tempeh and cook for 3–5 minutes until the tempeh is browned. Add 1–2 tablespoons of water, if needed, to deglaze the pan.
7
Add the pasta, pasta sauce, spinach, and parsley to the tempeh. Stir to combine and warm through until the spinach is tender.
8
Top your Tempeh Sausage Pasta with crushed red pepper flakes or your favorite plant-based parmesan.
