Flavorful baked pasta with spicy vegan chorizo, vegetables, and creamy tomato sauce, perfect for a cozy plant-based dinner.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 12.3 oz dried rigatoni or penne
02 - Salt, for boiling water
→ Vegan Chorizo & Vegetables
03 - 8.8 oz vegan chorizo, sliced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 zucchini, diced
06 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Sauce
09 - 1.7 cups passata (strained tomatoes)
10 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes, adjust to taste
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Topping
16 - 2.1 oz vegan mozzarella, grated
17 - 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
18 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Set the oven to 400°F to preheat.
02 - Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the sliced vegan chorizo for 3 to 4 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside.
04 - In the same skillet, add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and zucchini. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened.
05 - Stir in passata, tomato paste, smoked paprika, chili flakes, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
06 - Add cooked pasta and vegan chorizo to the sauce. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
07 - Transfer mixture into a lightly oiled baking dish. Evenly sprinkle with vegan mozzarella and nutritional yeast.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until the topping is golden and bubbling.
09 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
