Vegetarian Recipes

Vegan Cacio e Pepe with Smoky Balsamic Chickpea tofu

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Vegan Cacio e Pepe with Smoky Balsamic Chickpea tofu. Spaghetti is tossed with pepper and vegan parm and then topped generously with smoky chickpea tofu bacony bits for a wonderful weeknight meal. Vegan Recipe, Soy-free, Can be Gluten-free.

This Cacio e pepe is a fabulous pasta dish with flavors which feel like you spent hours making it but it is super quick to put together! Mix up the vegan parmesan, crisp up some chickpea tofu with smoky flavors, make the spaghetti and mix with loads of freshly ground black pepper and herbs and done. You can use store bought vegan parm to speed it up even more.

This Black pepper parmesan spaghetti pasta is flexible, has no soy, can be made without nuts(see recipe notes). Lets make this!

Ingredients for Vegan Cacio e Pepe with Smoky Chickpea Tofu Bits

The Smoky Chickpea Tofu needs chickpea tofu, garlic powder, smoked paprika, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and salt or liquid aminos or soy sauce. You can add a few drops of liquid for extra smokyness.
The Vegan Parmesan is mix of almond flour, nutritional yeast, garlic, salt, lime zest, lime juice, brine from pickles or pickled jalapeno. You can use other vegan parm, to make nut-free, use a mix of pumpkin seeds and breadcrumbs.
The Pasta has Spaghetti, garlic, loads of freshly ground black pepper, red pepper flakes and fresh herbs.

How to make Vegan Cacio e pepe with Step Photos

Make the smoky chickpea tofu bacony bits by cooking all the ingredients together until the mixtures starts to dry up. Taste and adjust if needed.

Mix the ingredients for the vegan parmesan. Add more lime juice if needed to make a mixture which has fat crumbs.

Saute the garlic, then add in black pepper, pepper flakes and broth, then mix in the spaghetti. Then mix in some parm and some of the smoky chickpea tofu. Cover and rest for a few minutes, then top with more chickpea tofu, black pepper and herbs to serve.

Can I make this Cacio e Pepe gluten-free?

Yes, use gluten-free spagheti or other pasta of choice. Cook according to instructiton on package. Add more pasta water if the pasta dries out too much during sauteing.

Can I make this without Nuts?

To make the parm mixture without almonds, use other nuts such as cashews, macadamia, walnuts or for Nut-free, use mix of 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds blended into a coarse meal and 2 tbsp breadcrumbs.

Vegan Cacio e Pepe

Vegan Cacio e Pepe with Smoky Balsamic Chickpea tofu. Spaghetti is tossed with pepper and vegan parm and the topped generously with smoky chickpea tofu bacony bits for a wonderful weeknight meal. Vegan Recipe, Soy-free, Can be Gluten-free

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time35 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: blackpepper parmesan spaghetti, cacio e pepe

Servings: 3

Calories: 552kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

For the Balsamic Roasted Chickpea Tofu:

3/4 cup (186 g) finely chopped chickpea tofu or pressed and chopped firm tofu
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp maple syrup , or use sugar/sweetener of choice
1/4 tsp salt or 1 tsp soy sauce/liquid aminos for soyfree

Pasta:

8 oz Spaghetti
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves of garlic , finely chopped
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes , divided , use less for less heat
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (use less for less heat)
1/3 cup (37.33 g) vegan parm (recipe below) or use other store bought parm
1/2 cup (118.29 ml) pasta water
1/2 to 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
chopped parsley or basil or othr herbs for garnish

Vegan Parm:

1/3 cup (37.33 g) almond flour , (or a mix of 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds blended into a coarse meal and 2 tbsp breadcrumbs for nut-free)
1 tsp nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp lime juice
1/2 tsp lime or lemon zest
1/2 tsp brine from pickle jar or pickled jalapeno, or use 1/4 tsp white vinegar

Instructions

Cook the spaghetti according to instructions on the package and set aside
Make the Smoky Chickpea Tofu: Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. When hot, Add the chickpea tofu (or pressed and chopped firm tofu). Mix for a few seconds. add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. cook until the sauce thickens. Taste carefully and adjust flavor with more salt, vinegar or maple. and a few drops of liquid smoke for extra smokyness. (This topping is optional, there is tons of flavor in the pasta + vegan parm!)
Make the Parm: Mix everything under parm until it resembles fat crumbs. Press and mix a couple of times. Taste and adjust salt and zest.
Pasta: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium low heat. Add garlic and cook for half a minute. Add the black pepper and half the pepper flakes and cook until the garlic is golden
Add half of the parm and pasta water and bring to a good simmer. Add the spaghetti and toss to coat.
Sprinkle in rest of the parm, half the smoky tofu, black pepper, remaining pepper flakes and parsley and toss lightly and serve. Top each bowl with more smoky chickpea tofu.

Store: Refrigerate for upto 2 days. The pasta absorbs moisture on sitting so Reheat with some water or broth.

Notes

Nut-free: Use a mix of 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds blended into a coarse meal and 2 tbsp breadcrumbs.

Nutrition is for 1 serve with regular flour spaghetti.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Cacio e Pepe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 552 Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 429mg19%

Potassium 448mg13%

Carbohydrates 75g25%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 9g10%

Protein 20g40%

Vitamin A 263IU5%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 66mg7%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Vegetarian Recipes

Easy Enchilada Sauce

Enchilada sauce is one of my very favorite things, ever. I love when it soaks into tortillas while baking and makes everything all tangy, spicy, and good. Mmmmm. 🤤 But when the selection at my local grocery store was less than impressive, I decided it was high time to try making some myself. This Easy Red Enchilada Sauce is a total game-changer, and now I can never go back to store-bought. It has ten times more flavor than anything I’ve ever had from a can and literally takes minutes to make. It’s a total winner.

red enchilada sauce dripping from a wooden spoon into a glass jar.

“INCREDIBLE! Super easy, made with common pantry staples, and way tastier than store bought.”

Sarah

Easy Enchilada Sauce Recipe

This EASY enchilada sauce is not an authentic recipe made with dried chile peppers that you’ll find in Texas or Mexico, but it’s a quick and easy version that anyone can whip up in their kitchen using basic pantry staples. But I promise, once you taste it, you won’t regret the shortcuts. It’s still bursting with flavor, and you’ll want to pour it over everything. However, if you want a made-from-scratch sauce with dried chiles in the mix, check out this Authentic Enchilada Sauce recipe from Isabel Eats.

close up of enchilada sauce dripping off a wooden spoon into a jar.

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Easy Red Enchilada Sauce

It only takes 10 minutes to make this super easy red enchilada sauce that is bursting with flavor.

Course Sauce

Cuisine Mexican, Southwest

Total Cost $1.32 recipe

Cook Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings ¼ cup each

Calories 53kcal

Author Beth Moncel

Ingredients

2 Tbsp cooking oil $0.08
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour $0.02
2 Tbsp chili powder $0.60
2 cups water $0.00
3 oz. tomato paste $0.47
1/2 tsp ground cumin $0.05
1/2 tsp garlic powder $0.05
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper $0.02
3/4 tsp salt or pepper to taste, $0.03

Instructions

Add the cooking oil, flour, and chili powder to a sauce pot. Turn the heat on to medium and whisk the ingredients together. Continue to whisk as the mixture begins to bubble. Whisk and cook the mixture for one minute once it begins bubbling.
After one minute, whisk in the water, tomato paste, cumin, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper until smooth. Allow the sauce to come up to a simmer. Once it reaches a simmer it will begin to thicken slightly.
Starting with a 1/2 teaspoon, add salt to taste. I used about 3/4 teaspoon total. The sauce is now ready to use!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Video

Notes

*The water can be replaced with either vegetable broth or chicken broth for more depth, just be sure to reduce the salt added at the end to compensate.

A Note on the Spice Level

The “chili powder” listed in this recipe is a store-bought mix of spices used to season chili. It is not straight chile powder, or pure ground chile peppers, which can be extremely spicy. The brand of chili powder I use is completely mild, but other brands can sometimes carry some heat. If you are using a spicy chili powder, simply reduce or eliminate the cayenne powder from this recipe to compensate. The heat level of this recipe, using McCormick’s chili powder, is medium spicy, like a medium salsa.

Nutrition

How to Make Enchilada Sauce Step-By-Step Photos

Toast the flour: Start by adding 2 Tbsp flour, 2 Tbsp chili powder, and 2 Tbsp oil to a pot. I use McCormick’s chili powder, which is not spicy, just flavorful, so don’t be frightened by the large quantity in the recipe. All of the heat comes from the cayenne pepper.

Whisk these ingredients together and allow them to come up to a bubble over medium heat, whisking the whole time. Whisk and cook for one minute. This will toast the flour and chili powder, adding to the flavor depth and making sure that the flour doesn’t taste like paste.

Add the wet ingredients: After one minute, add 3oz. tomato paste, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne, and whisk in 2 cups water (or broth).

Simmered enchilada sauce in the sauce pot.

Simmer: Let the sauce come up to a simmer and it will begin to thicken. Taste the sauce and add salt to your liking. Start with about 1/2 teaspoon and add more if needed. The salt will really help bring out the flavors. If you’re using broth in place of water, you might not need to add any at all.

And now you’re good to go! Drizzle this thick and flavorful enchilada sauce over all of your favorite foods and enjoy!

side view of a jar of enchilada sauce with a spoon.

How to Use Enchilada Sauce

Of course, the main thing you can make with this sauce is enchiladas! (Chicken enchiladas are a favorite). But I’m here to tell you that’s not the only thing you can make. Here are some other great ways I like to use my red enchilada sauce:

as a simmer sauce for meat (in a slow cooker or skillet)
as a rich sauce to smother burritos
combined with eggs and fried tortillas for Migas
combined with sour cream to make a creamy and spicy dip
as a replacement for taco sauce
a soup base (chicken enchilada soup or 30 minute posole)
to sauce up casseroles like Mexican lasagna, enchilada casserole, or taco stuffed shells

How to Store

Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, or portion out and freeze for up to 3 months. Let the sauce thaw overnight in the fridge (or, if you forget to set it out, run the freezer bag/container under hot water until it thaws!) Use it as directed in your chosen recipe.