Today, we’re celebrating Vegan Baked Ziti Day! At least, I’m dubbing it this because we’re making this delicious vegan comfort food tonight. Just think, creamy cashew ricotta, a rich tomato sauce, and chewy ziti pasta, all baked to golden perfection. Does life get better than this?
Likely not! This classic baked pasta dish, Vegan Baked Ziti, comes together easily and is a hearty and comforting winter weeknight meal. Three main components come together to create this decadent casserole: tube-shaped pasta, hearty plant-based meat, and a homemade vegan cheese sauce
History of Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is a classic Italian dish that has been around for centuries. The dish is believed to have originated in Naples. It’s made with ziti pasta, which is a tubular pasta that is similar to penne. The pasta is cooked until al dente and then tossed with a tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. The dish is then baked in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Though Baked Ziti has evolved over time, the basic principle of layering pasta, sauce, and cheese has remained the same.
How to make Vegan Baked Ziti
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). To make the sauce, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, until fragrant. Stir in diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
To cook the vegan sausage, heat a separate skillet over medium heat. Add the crumbled vegan sausage and cook until browned. To make the cashew ricotta, drain the soaked cashews and rinse them under cold water. In a blender, combine the cashews, water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Cook the ziti according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the cooked ziti, sauce, cooked vegan sausage, cashew ricotta, vegan mozzarella cheese shreds, and parsley. Toss to coat evenly. Transfer the ziti mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Tips
- Use high-quality vegan cheese: The quality of your vegan cheese can make a big difference in the flavor of your ziti. Look for vegan cheese that is made with whole ingredients and that has a rich, creamy texture.
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Overcooked pasta will become mushy and won’t hold its shape in the ziti. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, but err on the side of undercooking it slightly.
- Let the ziti rest before serving: This will allow the flavors to meld and the ziti to set. Let the ziti rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Top with fresh herbs: A sprinkle of fresh herbs, such as parsley or basil, can add a pop of color and flavor to your ziti.
More Comfort Meals
Vegan Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 can 25-ounce marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup lemon
- A pinch of red pepper flakes optional
Ziti:
- 1 pound ziti noodles
- 1 package (12 ounces) vegan Italian sausage, crumbled
vegan cheese sauce:
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked in hot water for 30 minutes and drained
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Topping:
- ¼ cup vegan mozzarella cheese shreds optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Make the sauce: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 7-8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for one minute more, until fragrant.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the vegan sausage: In a separate skillet, cook the crumbled vegan sausage over medium heat until browned.
- Make the cashew ricotta: Drain the soaked cashews and rinse under cold water. In a blender, combine the cashews, water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the ziti: Cook the ziti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked ziti, sauce, cooked vegan sausage, cashew ricotta, vegan mozzarella cheese shreds, and parsley. Toss to coat evenly.
- Transfer the ziti mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
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