Description
A comforting homemade version of classic Spaghettios made with a flavorful tomato sauce and tender small pasta rings. This recipe is quick to prepare in about 20 minutes and can be made vegan and dairy-free using plant-based milk and optional nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. Add protein with lentils or vegan meat crumbles for a nutritious, kid-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional, for cheesy flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional, to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk or cream
Pasta and Protein
- 1 cup small pasta rings (or ditalini)
- Optional: 1/2 cup cooked lentils or vegan meat crumbles for added protein
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened and translucent. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds to release its aroma without burning.
- Prepare Sauce Base: Stir in the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, nutritional yeast (if using), salt, sugar (optional), onion powder, and garlic powder. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Cook Pasta in Sauce: Add the small pasta rings to the pot and stir to combine evenly with the sauce. Let it simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce thickens, about 10-12 minutes.
- Add Creaminess: Stir in the unsweetened dairy-free milk or cream to the pot to make the sauce rich and creamy. Mix well to incorporate.
- Add Protein (Optional): If you are using cooked lentils or vegan meat crumbles, add them now and heat through evenly, ensuring they are well combined with the sauce and pasta.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste the Spaghettios and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm for a hearty, comforting meal.
Notes
- You can swap the dairy-free milk with regular cream or milk if you prefer a dairy version.
- Adding nutritional yeast gives a cheesy flavor without dairy, perfect for vegans.
- Using lentils or vegan crumbles boosts the protein content to make it more filling.
- Make sure to stir occasionally when cooking pasta to prevent sticking.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger batches and refrigerates well for leftovers.
