4 Fork-Twirling Pasta Recipes for a Delicious Meatless Monday
On nights when you’re just not feeling inspired by the contents of your kitchen cupboard, how easy is it to just say, “Let’s have pasta?” But while pasta is certainly a quick and easy dish to whip up, it can also be the base of a delicious and wholesome Meatless Monday meal. Each of these pasta recipes boasts fresh ingredients and a unique flavor profile, all the while remaining easy and quick to throw together for a weeknight dinner.
Everyone will eat their greens when they’re tossed with lemon, garlic, pine nuts, and chili flakes. This spaghetti dish combines almost equal parts of tender collard greens and thin spaghetti with a light, flavorful sauce that comes together in just one pan. Parmesan cheese is a lovely umami addition to this recipe, but a vegan version of the recipe is just as delicious without.
For a fall recipe that’s filled with flavor, put this butternut squash pasta on your Meatless Monday menu. Roasted butternut squash is pureed with nutmeg, garlic, onion, and Parmesan to create a rich, creamy sauce that coats whole-wheat pasta perfectly. It boasts a velvety, unctuous mouthfeel with hardly any fat.
This pasta recipe is a bit more complicated, but trust us – it’s well worth the time and effort to make. The pasta itself is made with a heaping helping of pumpkin puree (use store-bought or make your own) for orange-hued pasta that’s rich in flavor, not to mention nutrients. Top it with your favorite pesto sauce, or simply serve it with brown butter and sage.
Thought carbonara was a no-go for Meatless Monday? Think again. This shiitake carbonara is one of our favorite vegan pasta recipes. It starts with a cashew and almond milk base, to which lemon juice, tamari, and maple syrup are added. The umami from the shiitake mushrooms stands in for more traditional guanciale, for a finished dish that’s as savory and special as the original. Just be sure to get your cashews soaking first thing in the morning so that the sauce comes together perfectly.
Related on Organic Authority
Is Pasta Healthy or Is it an Endangered Species? (Plus a Recipe!)
Meatless Monday Roundup: 4 Gourmet Pasta Recipes
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