Ingredients
For the Pasta Dough
- 200g silken tofu
- 350g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
For the Sauce
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 150g store-bought plant-based pesto
- 150g peas
For Serving
- 1 tbsp cottage cheese or vegan burrata
- Optional: chopped chillies or preferred toppings
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, silken tofu, and salt. Stir with chopsticks until a rough dough forms. Then knead with your palm in the bowl, adding more flour if the dough sticks to your hands, to create a workable dough.
- Knead the dough: Dust a clean surface with flour and place the dough on it. Knead for about 5 minutes until the dough becomes medium-hard and smooth.
- Rest the dough: Cover the dough with cling film and refrigerate while preparing the sauce to allow it to firm up.
- Cook the sauce ingredients: Heat a frying pan on low heat and drizzle with vegetable oil. Add the finely chopped shallots and fry for a few minutes until fragrant and translucent. Next, add the peas and plant-based pesto, stirring to combine and gently warming through.
- Boil water: Bring a large pan of water to a rolling boil on the stovetop.
- Cut the pasta: Retrieve the chilled dough and, using scissors, gently cut the dough into bite-sized pieces by pressing and snipping directly into the dough. Continue until all the dough is cut.
- Cook the pasta: Add the tofu pasta pieces into the boiling water. Cook for approximately 2 minutes until tender. Drain the pasta, reserving a mug of pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked tofu pasta to the frying pan with the pesto-pea sauce. Pour in a few spoonfuls of the reserved pasta water and stir gently to create a glossy, well-coated sauce.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and top with a tablespoon of cottage cheese or vegan burrata. Optionally, add chopped chillies or any toppings of your choice for extra flavor and texture.
Notes
- The silken tofu in the dough adds moisture and softness, so ensure the dough is not too sticky by adjusting flour as needed.
- Using scissors to cut the pasta dough is a unique and quick alternative to rolling and cutting traditional pasta shapes.
- Keep some pasta water reserved to help emulsify and loosen the pesto sauce for a glossy finish.
- You can substitute the pesto with homemade pesto or any other sauce of choice.
- For a vegan option, use vegan burrata or omit the cheese topping entirely.
- Adding chopped chillies provides a nice spicy kick but is optional.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Fusion
- Diet: Vegetarian
