One Pot Creamy Spinach Tomato Pasta
A rich, velvety one-pot pasta dish made with fresh tomatoes, spinach, and basil, all enveloped in a luscious vegan cream sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe is full of vibrant flavors and requires minimal cleanup.
Equipment
- Large pot with lid
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 6 medium tomatoes (about 780 g / 1 lb 11 oz), bottoms trimmed flat
- 1 small red onion (100 g / 3.5 oz), finely chopped
- 3-4 garlic cloves (12 g / 0.4 oz), minced
- 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (30 g / 1 oz)
- 1/3 cup vegan parmesan (or regular, 35 g / 1.2 oz)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup soy cream or regular cream (120 ml / 4 fl oz)
- 1/2 cup water (120 ml / 4 fl oz)
- 500 g pasta of choice (1 lb 2 oz)
- 2 cups fresh spinach (60 g / 2 oz)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves loosely packed (12 g / 0.4 oz)
- Extra parmesan and basil for serving
Instructions
- Arrange & Cook Tomatoes- Place whole tomatoes, trimmed-bottom side down, in a large pan. Add chopped onion and garlic to the center. Season with 1 tsp salt. Cover with a lid and cook over medium heat for 8–10 minutes, until tomatoes are soft and bottoms are lightly charred.
- Optional – Remove Skins- For a smoother sauce, carefully peel off the tomato skins after cooking and before adding the tomato paste.
- Make the Sauce- Add tomato paste, parmesan, Italian seasoning, and pepper to taste. Pour in cream and water. Blend everything into a smooth sauce (use an immersion blender in the pan or transfer to a blender). Adjust salt & pepper if needed.
- Thicken Sauce- Return to the pan (if blended separately) and simmer for 3–4 minutes to slightly thicken.
- Cook Pasta- While the sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente (8–12 minutes). Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Combine- Add cooked pasta to the sauce. Toss well. Add spinach and basil, stirring until spinach just wilts. If needed, add a splash of reserved pasta water for creaminess.
- Serve- Serve hot, topped with extra parmesan and fresh basil.
Nutrition
Calories: 600kcalCarbohydrates: 110gProtein: 23gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 335mgPotassium: 1028mgFiber: 8gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 3304IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 190mgIron: 3mg