Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce (Vegan) (2024)

Published: Mar 6, 2024

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This Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce (Vegan) is a totally dairy-free pasta recipe made with coconut milk. The simple sauce comes together in minutes with pantry ingredients. With a crispy garlic panko topping, each bite is irresistible!

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💖Why we love creamy tomato pasta recipe?
🛒 What ingredients are in vegan creamy pasta?
What ingredients are in the crispy garlic breadcrumb topping?
Equipment you need to make this recipe:
🍽️ How to make creamy tomato pasta sauce?
What to serve with this recipe?
🫙 Leftover and Storing Vegan sauce pasta leftovers?
☑️ Lora's Tips
❓ FAQ'S
Some other pasta recipes you'll love:
📖 Recipe
Creamy Tomato Pasta Sauce (Vegan)

The recipe is completely vegan and you could use your favorite gluten-free pasta to make this totally vegan + gluten-free!

This is another delicious pasta dish (like this vegan pumpkin pasta with sage) that you can prepare for a special date or for the kids.

💖Why we love creamy tomato pasta recipe?

Delicious texture: The combination of creamy tomato sauce and crunchy garlic panko breadcrumbs adds a unique and delicious texture to the dish.
Incredibly versatile: You can use any type of pasta you have on hand, and adjust the amount of spice to your preference.
Creamy and luscious: The addition of coconut milk gives the sauce a subtle sweetness and richness that pairs perfectly with the tanginess of the tomatoes.
Quick and no-fuss: The garlic panko breadcrumbs can be made while the pasta and sauce are cooking, making this dish a quick and easy weeknight meal option.

🛒 What ingredients are in vegan creamy pasta?

Pasta: I used penne, but any short pasta shape will work fine. You could even use spaghetti or any long shape.
Extra-virgin olive oil: Used for cooking the garlic and making the breadcrumbs.
Garlic: Adds flavor to both the sauce and breadcrumbs. Use onions or shallots, if you prefer.
Tomato paste: Provides a rich, tangy taste to the creamy tomato pasta.
Coconut milk: Adds a creamy texture to the sauce.
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper: Seasoning for both the pasta and sauce.
Fresh herbs (optional): Can be added as a garnish for extra flavor and freshness. I used Italian parsley, use whatever you have on hand.
Hot pepper flakes (optional): Red pepper flakes add a hint of spice to the dish.
Panko breadcrumbs: Gives a crunchy, crispy texture to the garlic breadcrumbs.

What ingredients are in the crispy garlic breadcrumb topping?

The flavorful topping for the vegan tomato pasta comes together with just 3 ingredients:

Extra-virgin olive oil-the better quality oil you use, the more flavor the topping will have
Garlic-I have a jar of freshly minced garlic in my fridge (always!)
Breadcrumbs-use regular breadcrumbs or panko (I used panko)

Equipment you need to make this recipe:

Cutting board: I love bamaboo cutting boards, but use whatever type of board you have on hand.
Sharp knife: A nice and sharp knife is important to chop the ingredients correctly.
Large skillet: Any type of large skillet is what you need. I sometimes use my large cast iron skillet.
Wooden spoon: Just a simple wooden spoon is needed to stir all the sauce ingredients together.

🍽️ How to make creamy tomato pasta sauce?

Here are the steps to make this delicious easy vegan creamy sauce (full recipe below):

First thing is to gather the ingredients together.

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Heat the oil in a large skillet and add the garlic. It will only take a minute or less to get fragrant (longer if you’re using onion or shallot).
As soon as water boils, add in the pasta and time it for 1 minute less than the al dente cooking time (I used penne, use whatever short pasta you like).
Step 2: In the large skillet, add in the tomato paste and stir to combine with the garlic. Stir until the paste begins to darken. As soon as it's a dark red, add in the coconut milk and stir to combine. Add some pasta water to loosen it up.
Step 3: Check the seasoning, and add some salt (the pasta water is salty, so you may not need a lot). Keep stirring and let it simmer on a medium-low heat.

Step 4: Drain pasta just before it reaches al dente, (depends on which pasta brand you are using), drain it (reserve 1/2 cup pasta water)and dump the pasta immediately into the saute' pan with the sauce. Stir to combine and let it simmer 1 minute in the sauce.

Step 5: Prep the garlic breadcrumb topping. The topping is fast to make. I make it while the pasta and sauce is cooking. I used panko, but you could use breadcrumbs if you don't have panko. The crispy panko topping is ready in just a few minutes. Keep stirring it so it gets an even golden-dark brown color on all sides.

📃 NOTE: Recipe card with detailed instructions can be found below.Print it out for later!

You may find full or reduced fat coconut milk, and either one is perfect for the recipe. I used full fat and I always shake the can before opening it. You can find the coconut milk in a can in any market (in my markets, it's typically in the Asian section).

What to serve with this recipe?

This pasta recipe goes nicely with salad or is filling even on its own.

This pasta is total comfort food and it goes really nicely with any roasted vegetable, side dish, and even bread.

Insalata mista >>> A very fast Italian salad with a really delicious dressing.
Panzanella Toscana >>> A very nice and easy to make Tuscan salad! Really flavorful.
Crusty bread >>> Nice crispy bread does go great with pasta!
Italian Cucumber Salad >>> A really fresh and easy salad made with cucumbers and tomatoes that are tossed in a homemade vinegar dressing.

🫙 Leftover and Storing Vegan sauce pasta leftovers?

To refrigerate: Once the pasta has cooled down completely, store any leftovers in an airtight container or a zipped lock freezer bag in the refrigerator. The pasta will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
To freeze: I do not recommend freezing this pasta (you could freeze the sauce separately for up to 2 months).

📃 Substitutions & Variations

Use different types of pasta: Try using rigatoni, farfalle, or something long like linguine, or spaghetti. You could even use a gluten-free option like rice or quinoa pasta.
Try fresh herbs: Add in some basil, fresh parsley, thyme, or oregano, to change the flavor profile of the dish.
Make it spicey: For some heat, add some red pepper flakes to the sauce or add a dash on top before serving.
To make it very creamy: To make the sauce extra creamy, stir in a little bit of vegan Greek yogurt right when the sauce is cooked.
Top with different vegan cheeses: Top with any of your favorite vegan shredded cheeses.
Make it gluten-free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta brand.

☑️ Lora's Tips

Use a high-quality pasta for best results, as it will hold up better in the sauce.
Make sure to reserve some of the pasta water before draining, as it helps to loosen up the sauce if needed.
If you're not a fan of coconut milk, you can substitute with heavy cream or half-and-half for a creamier texture, if you're not vegan/dairy-free.
If you're not vegan, for more protein-rich dish, you can add in cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu to the pasta and sauce before serving.
Experiment with different herbs and spices to customize the flavor of the dish. Some great options include basil, thyme, oregano, and smoked paprika.
For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta and substitute breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or nuts.
Don't skip toasting the breadcrumbs in garlic-infused oil, as it adds a delicious crunch and flavor to the dish.
If you prefer more sauce, double the amount of sauce ingredients and adjust seasoning accordingly.

❓ FAQ'S

What is creamy tomato sauce made of?

Creamy tomato sauce is a rich and velvety variation of traditional tomato sauce, achieved by blending the tangy taste of tomatoes with the smooth, luxurious texture of cream. The base typically consists of pureed tomatoes or tomato paste, garlic, onions, and herbs, simmered to perfection. The addition of heavy cream, or sometimes milk or half-and-half, transforms the sauce into a creamy delight, ideal for coating pasta and elevating dishes with its depth of flavor and creamy consistency.

Is store-bought tomato sauce vegan?

Store-bought tomato sauce can be vegan, but it's important to read the label carefully. Many brands offer tomato sauces that are made from purely plant-based ingredients like tomatoes, herbs, and spices. However, some varieties may include non-vegan additives such as cheese, meat flavorings, or cream.

Why add cream to sauce?

Adding cream to sauce is a culinary technique used to enhance its texture and flavor profile. Cream introduces a luxurious richness and silky smoothness. Also, the fat content in cream helps to mellow out acidity and sharpness in sauces, especially tomato-based ones.

How to make vegan creamy tomato sauce?

To make a quick vegan creamy tomato sauce, you can swap out the dairy cream for a plant-based alternative like coconut milk, cashew cream, or even silken tofu blended until smooth. Start with a base of sautéed garlic and onion, add crushed tomatoes and your choice of herbs, then stir in your vegan cream substitute to achieve that rich, velvety texture.

Is creamy garlic sauce vegan?

Creamy garlic sauce, as traditionally made, often contains dairy products like cream or butter, making it non-vegan. However, there are plenty of vegan versions available that use plant-based alternatives, such as cashew cream, almond milk, or vegan butter, that creates the rich, smooth texture and the flavorful depth of garlic.

Is it possible to make a creamy tomato sauce without cream?

Absolutely! You can achieve a creamy tomato sauce without using dairy cream by opting for alternatives like pureed cashews, coconut milk, or even a roux made from flour and olive oil.

What are breadcrumbs?

A number of different breads and crusts may be used to produce normal bread crumbs. They're prepared in a finer crumb than panko, and can be made at home with a food processor. When fried, they have the consistency of bread rather than panko's flaky and dry texture.

Which coconut milk should I use in a vegan sauce?

What is panko?

Panko originated in Japan and have long been used in Asian cuisine. Panko is a dry, crustless white bread that is flaked and then dried.

Panko bread crumbs have a drier and flakier texture than ordinary breadcrumbs, so they absorb less oil. Panko produces food that is lighter in texture and crunchier in taste

Some other pasta recipes you'll love:

Pumpkin and Turkey Pasta
Vegan Cheese Sauce Pasta
Antipasto Pasta Salad
Caramelized Shallot Pasta

Originally published April 2022 and updated for content March 2024.

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