Creamy Spinach Tofu Shells

These Creamy Spinach Tofu Shells are a one-pot dinner that everyone will love. The secret to getting that super creamy sauce? TOFU! I know it might sound weird, but it not only makes a really yummy sauce, it also sneaks in 40 grams of extra protein! This is the pasta recipe I plan to make for my son – once he’s old enough to eat real food 😉 The flavors are comforting and the sneaky veggies & protein make it healthier. Win-win!

Here’s what you need

Ingredients

• medium shells – or another short pasta
• broth – I used vegan chicken broth
• firm tofu
• garlic
• olive oil
• non-dairy milk
• vegan mozzarella – I used Trader Joe’s
• onion powder
• dried parsley
• smoked paprika
• salt & pepper
• frozen spinach – thawed & drained
• lemon zest & juice
• fresh basil

Equipment

• stock pot
• food processor or blender

Steps

Step 1: Prep the Tofu Sauce

The first thing we want to do is take this basic block of tofu and turn it into a creamy sauce.

And to do that we are going to add the tofu to a food processor or blender with some olive oil and fresh garlic.

Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. We aren’t seasoning the sauce yet, so don’t base your opinions on it by how it tastes now. It will be combined with more seasonings to taste amazing!

Step 2: Make the Pasta

When it comes to choosing a pasta, you want to use something that is short and hearty. If you use a pasta that is too delicate it will end up breaking with all of the stirring that is required.

Add the pasta to a stock pot with broth and bring to a boil. The pasta won’t be fully submerged, so you will want to mix it frequently.

Once the pasta has cooked for 8 minutes, add the tofu, milk, mozzarella, dry seasonings and spinach to the pot with the pasta – don’t drain the pasta before adding everything to it! Continue to stir, stir, stir for 5-ish minutes, or until the pasta is cooked through and the sauce has thickened up.

Step 3: Finish & Serve

To finish off the pasta, add in some lemon zest, lemon juice and fresh basil. Give it one last stir and taste it. Now is the time to add more salt & pepper as needed. Scoop the pasta into bowls and top it with some more pepper.

This pasta is so creamy and comforting, but also doesn’t weigh you down. It is the perfect recipe when you are craving comfort food, but lightened up.

This is one your whole family will love! Let me know if your kids like this one so I can add it to the future list for my kid!

Tips & Tricks

For leftovers: the sauce will thicken even more as it sits in the fridge. I like to add some more non-dairy milk when reheating to loosen it up.

You could also swap the frozen spinach with some chopped broccoli.