Vegan Whipped Tomato & Feta Penne Pasta (No Bake)
Today we are making a Vegan Whipped Tomato & Feta Penne Pasta (No Bake)! Now, this recipe was inspired by the popular TikTok baked feta pasta! In this recipe, we make the feta sauce at home, it’s a taste explosion that not only mirrors the TikTok trend but also adds a ton more flavor. The best part? It’s a no-bake wonder, making it the perfect solution for those busy days when you crave something extraordinary without the fuss.
Let’s talk about the star players in this dish – ripe, juicy tomatoes and a vegan feta that’s so creamy, you won’t believe it’s plant-based. We’re taking these ingredients and whipping them into a luscious, savory sauce that coats every inch of al dente penne pasta. The magic happens in the blender, so no need to break a sweat with the oven. The result? Tangy lemon, rich feta goodness, savory olive brine and the perfect hint of tomato with basil. It’s like a culinary orchestra playing a melody of satisfaction.
Just 30 Minutes Needed
So this dish is quite easy. It’s blitzing the sauce ingredients (which is a separate recipe on the blog, linked below) in a blender until creamy. Then mixing a dollop of Greek feta and a swirl of perfectly cooked penne with some cherry tomatoes! Throw in a handful of fresh basil for that extra pop of freshness, and voila! You’ve got yourself a dinner-worthy dish that’s ready in a flash.
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Whipped Tomato & Feta Penne Pasta
Creamy Dreaminess: Who says vegan pasta can’t be creamy and just as good as the dairy-based versions? This feta pasta dish defies expectations with its luscious, whipped texture. The homemade vegan version of the famous recipe adds a velvety touch that rivals traditional dairy-based sauces! In the time it takes to scroll through your favorite social media feed, you could be savoring a plate of this deliciousness. It’s the kind of recipe that fits seamlessly into a busy lifestyle without sacrificing flavor.
Social Media Viral: Tiktok’s Feta Baked Pasta was all the rage a while ago, where you would dump a block of feta cheese, grape tomatoes, some greens and pasta in a dish and bake it. The first time I heard about this dish, my mind jumped to the thought – what if I made a version where we use wholesome ingredients, not needing to get a specific block of vegan feta cheese?
This recipe is very similar to the popular trend, but we make the feta cheese at home so you don’t have to go out looking for more gourmet vegan food items. Plus, making the feta at home from tofu is less processed and higher in protein than a vegan store-bought feta cheese would be. You don’t have to turn on the oven to make this one – it’s all one blender and one pot to boil the pasta in! This delicious sauce has a ton of flavor, from the white wine vinegar, to the olive brine and lemon zest – you won’t want to miss out!
Substitutions
Pasta: This recipe uses penne pasta, but you can really opt for your favorite pasta shape. You can also use a gluten-free pasta of choice (I love Banza brand of gluten-free, high-protein chickpea pasta)!
Tofu: Opt for extra-firm tofu for the best results. It has the right texture and consistency to mimic the creaminess of traditional feta cheese. Before using it, make sure to press the tofu to remove excess moisture. This will help achieve the desired creamy texture.
GMO soy crops are grown using artificial fertilizers and pesticides, so I avoid them if I can. However, I usually find the main tofu brands available in my local supermarket are already non-GMO, such as Soyganic and Sunrise!
Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil works best here, but virgin olive oil is the next best substitute. Other oils don’t have the same flavor, so I do not recommend to substitute.
Lemon Juice: For best results, squeeze juice from a fresh lemon as opposed to pre-bottled juice, which has a more acidic taste. You’ll need a fresh lemon for the lemon zest as well.
Olive Brine: This is the extra water leftover in a glass jar of Kalamata olives.
White Wine Vinegar: Try red wine vinegar instead. The difference in these flavors are that white wine vinegar has a lighter flavor. Red wine vinegar has a more fruity and robust flavor.
Vegan Whipped Tomato & Feta Penne Pasta Recipe Notes
- Cook your penne pasta to al dente perfection. No one likes mushy pasta, and with the creamy sauce, you’ll want that perfect bite to complement the textures.
- Fresh basil is a game-changer here. It adds a burst of freshness and a hint of sweetness to balance out the savory notes. Tear it into small pieces just before serving to ensure you get the full aromatic experience.
- Kick up the spice a notch by adding some red pepper flakes on top when serving!
- Try adding in some red peppers cut into thin strips, or some fresh parsley or other fresh herbs to change it up.
- Use this Whipped Feta Dip recipe that the recipe card asks for.
More Great Recipes You’ll Love
Coconut Milk Fettuccine Alfredo
Little Caesars Crazy Breadsticks
If you make this Vegan Whipped Tomato & Feta Penne Pasta, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Vegan Whipped Tomato & Feta Penne Pasta (No Bake)
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large Sieve
- High-speed blender or food processor
Ingredients
- ½ Whipped Feta Dip recipe linked under Recipe Notes above
- 2 cups dry penne pasta
- pink salt add as needed
- black pepper add as needed
- fresh cherry tomatoes add as needed
- fresh basil cut into thin strips, for serving
- 1 tbsp pasta water reserved
Instructions
- Blend together all ingredients from the Whipped Feta Dip recipe (linked under Recipe Notes) in a blender until a sauce forms. You may have to stop the blender and scrape down the sides as needed, to help it blend.
- Fill a large pot with water and add in a few pinches of salt. Allow it to come to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Cook the penne pasta to al dente according to the instructions on the pasta package.
- Once cooked, drain the water through a sieve, reserving 1 tbsp of the pasta water in a small bowl. Set the pasta and the water aside.
- Pour the vegan feta cheese sauce from a blender into a large bowl. Add in the hot pasta water and cooked pasta.
- Stir to combine everything.
- Mix in the fresh tomatoes and basil with the pasta.
- Add pasta into serving plates and enjoy!
Notes
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Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
