Updated 04/18/2020

Hey loves, stopping by with a quick vegan pasta dish or meatless dinner dish. Either name will work for this recipe. You will love it. It is a simple, quick, & to the point recipe.

Thanks to self-quarantine for this recipe. Since we are in self-quarantine, it would be beneficial to make the best of it. Let’s do things where we will come out on the other side healthier and better. Do you agree?

So, I usually like my pasta with zoodles or spaghetti squash but my husband has been cooking pasta a lot lately. He does not use zoodles or spaghetti squash lol.

He also like to use meat alternatives such as vegan sausage or beefless ground.

It’s kind of hard to resist his pasta and he cooks it differently most times. He is full of surprises and each one does not disappoint.

Anyways, I had to get a handle on this pasta thing because I am not trying to gain 10plus lbs doing this self-quarantine. I don’t deprive myself but pasta is a eat in moderation type of food.

You know, those pasta calories can add up pretty quickly. No, I am not having that. I love babe and his pasta but this not going to happen. Ok lol.

Hence, the reason for this recipe. If you are looking for a meatless pasta dish packed with protein, this is for you.  If you are looking for a lighter vegan pasta dish, this is for you. It is like a win win for everyone.

You don’t have to stop eating your favorite dishes. You just have to recreate them in ways to make them healthier.

You can buy chickpea, wheat, brown rice, or lentil pasta.

I have been loving  red lentil pasta lately.  Red lentil pasta is high in protein and taste good.  It is high in fiber. It has lesser carbohydrates than wheat pasta. It is also gluten free.

So, I used gluten-free red lentil penne pasta. It did not disappoint.

I got some oil free pasta sauce instead of regular pasta sauce. Little things like this makes a difference.

Tip: You can also use tomato sauce in the place of pasta sauce with this recipe

There are mock meats you can use. I even got a pasta recipe on here with beans and quinoa. Check it out here.

Related Reading: Yummy Vegan Pasta with a Twist (No Mock Meat or Regular Pasta)

Since I was trying to keep this dish light, I chose mushrooms instead of mock meat, beans or quinoa.

Mushrooms are still a win. They have a meaty texture. They are high in vitamin D. During this time, we need this around these parts. I got some colored bell peppers. They have a good amount of vitamin C in them. Hey, we need that too.

Fun fact: Colored bell peppers have more Vitamin C in them than Oranges

Related Reading: Vegan Portobello Mushroom Quinoa Salad

I gots to have garlic. Yes to garlic. It adds flavor to food. It provides a ton of benefits to the body.

On that note, give me all the garlic. I may have gone overboard with garlic in this recipe. It helps boost your immune system.

In our household, we are all about boosting the immune system. So, under the circumstances. Overboard is okay in my book.

Before I go any further, let me talk a little more about garlic for a second. If you are wanting to boost your immune system naturally, look into the benefits of garlic.

According to Leech (2018) on Healthline, they provide some benefits such as:
Garlic includes medicinal properties

Garlic is high in nutrients and low in calories

Garlic can help with certain sickness & ease the common cold

Garlic can help decrease blood pressure

Garlic helps improve cholesterol levels

Garlic contains antioxidants

Garlic may help detoxify heavy metals in the body

Garlic may help with bone health

When you get some time, take a look at the article on Healthline regarding the proven benefits of garlic.

Garlic is a major staple in our household. It has been for years. I eat it raw. Give me a couple of cloves a day. Yes, sometimes I have the scent of garlic coming out of my pores lol. The benefits outweigh it though.

Now let’s get to this meatless recipe

You do not see this cheese and jalapeño in the picture because I took the picture in a hurry.  I was hungry and ready to eat lol.

Viola! Dinner is served

My family approved. Yay!!!

I still love my pasta made with zoodles or spaghetti squash. I also love my husband pasta dishes but this recipe hits the spot when I want a lighter pasta dish using pasta.

It is always good to have a variations of ways to enjoy your fav meals.

Another way to make it lighter is to decrease the amount of pasta and increase the amount of veggies such as broccoli, kale, carrots and so on.

You can use nutritional yeast instead of vegan cheese. That is what I usually use to make my pasta dishes.  The goal of this recipe was to make it like my family like as light and healthy as possible.  Remember what I said about recreating your favorite dishes to make them healthier.

The vegan cheese used in this recipe in light and soy free.

Remember, pasta is not an everyday type of meal. It is an eat in moderation type of food.

As always, feel free to adjust ingredients to your liking. I look at recipes as a starting point or for inspiration.  You can omit and add whatever you like. We all have different taste buds. 

Are you needing some more meatless dinner ideas? Check these posts out.

Vegan King Prawns (Shrimps) with Cheesy Grits

Vegan Stuffed Chili Quinoa Baked Sweet Potato

Vegan Chickpea Egg Salad

Yummy Vegan Nachos with Black Rice, Black Lentils, & Black Quinoa (my husband’s fav)

Be safe.

Until Next Time

Source:

Leech, J. (2018). 11 Proven Health Benefits of Garlic. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic#section1