Heavenly Red Curry Noodles Recipe

Irresistibly Creamy 5-Ingredient Vegan Pasta You’ll Love

Creamy pasta dreams come alive with simple vegan ingredients that transform ordinary meals into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Plant-based cooking can be incredibly luxurious and satisfying without complex techniques or hard-to-find components.

Minimalist recipes prove that delicious meals don’t require endless shopping lists or complicated preparation methods.

Vegan cuisine continues to evolve, showcasing how creative plant-based alternatives can replace traditional dairy and egg-based ingredients.

Comfort food gets a healthy makeover through innovative cooking approaches that prioritize flavor, nutrition, and simplicity.

Home cooks and food enthusiasts can easily master this delightful pasta dish with a few strategic ingredients and minimal kitchen skills.

Why 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta Is A Game-Changer

Why 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta Is A Game-Changer
  • Quick Weeknight Hero: Whip up this delicious vegan pasta in under 20 minutes, perfect for busy individuals craving a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • Effortless Cooking: Requires only 5 ingredients and basic cooking skills, making it accessible for beginners and seasoned home cooks who want a simple yet delicious dinner option.
  • Flavor-Packed Performance: Combines vegan bacon and cream cheese to create a creamy, rich sauce that delivers maximum taste with minimal ingredients, proving plant-based meals can be incredibly indulgent.
  • Budget-Friendly Delight: Uses affordable, readily available ingredients that don’t compromise on taste, helping you save money while enjoying a restaurant-quality meal at home.

What You’ll Need For 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta

Main Ingredients:

Pasta Base:
  • Spaghetti: Classic pasta choice for smooth, creamy dish, whole wheat options work great for extra nutrition.
Protein Alternative:
  • Vegan Bacon: Adds smoky flavor and texture, plant-based protein alternative with crispy texture.
Sauce Components:
  • Vegan Cream Cheese: Creates rich, creamy base with smooth consistency, soft spreadable varieties work best.
Flavor Enhancers:
  • Garlic: Provides deep, aromatic base flavor, fresh cloves recommended for best taste.
  • Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and elevating overall dish flavor.
Cooking Liquid:
  • Olive Oil: Helps sauté ingredients and create smooth sauce base, extra virgin recommended.
  • Pasta Water: Helps create silky sauce texture, starchy liquid from pasta cooking.
Finishing Touches:
  • Herbs: Optional garnish for added freshness and visual appeal, fresh herbs preferable to dried.

How To Prepare 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta

How To Prepare 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta

Step 1: Boil Pasta Perfectly

Fill a large pot with water and add salt. Bring water to a rolling boil. Drop spaghetti into the bubbling water and cook until the pasta reaches a tender yet firm texture, typically 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Sizzle Aromatic Base

Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over gentle heat. Add these ingredients:
  • Vegan bacon pieces
  • Minced garlic

Gently cook until the ingredients release a fragrant aroma and the bacon turns slightly crispy.

Step 3: Create Silky Sauce

Pour vegan cream cheese into the skillet. Add pasta water gradually while whisking continuously. Keep stirring until the mixture transforms into a smooth, creamy consistency.

Step 4: Marry Pasta and Sauce

Drain the cooked pasta, reserving a small amount of cooking water. Transfer pasta directly into the waiting sauce. Toss and twirl until every strand gets luxuriously coated with the velvety sauce.

Step 5: Elevate and Serve

Season with freshly ground black pepper and chopped herbs. Give a final gentle stir. Transfer to serving plates immediately while piping hot. Savor the rich, comforting flavors of this plant-based delight.

Tips For Creamy 5-Ingredient Vegan Pasta Success

  • Boost Pasta Water Flavor: Salt the water generously before adding pasta to enhance the overall taste of your dish.
  • Perfectly Smooth Sauce: Gradually add pasta water while stirring the vegan cream cheese to prevent lumps and create a silky texture.
  • Control Sauce Consistency: Reserve extra pasta water to adjust the sauce thickness if it becomes too thick or dry during cooking.
  • Maximize Vegan Bacon Crispiness: Fry vegan bacon on low-medium heat to ensure it gets crispy without burning.
  • Quick Serving Strategy: Toss pasta in sauce immediately after draining to prevent sticking and ensure even coating with creamy sauce.

How To Store 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cool the dish completely before sealing to prevent moisture buildup.
  • Microwave Reheat: Sprinkle a few drops of water over the pasta to prevent drying. Warm in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.
  • Stovetop Refresh: Revive cold pasta in a skillet with a splash of plant-based milk or water. Gently stir over medium-low heat until warmed through and creamy.
  • Avoid Freezing: This vegan creamy pasta doesn’t freeze well due to the cream cheese’s texture, which can separate and become grainy when thawed.

Great Sides For 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta

  • Elevate Pasta Pairing with Crisp White Wine: A chilled Sauvignon Blanc complements the creamy vegan sauce, cutting through its richness with bright, zesty notes that refresh the palate.
  • Boost Flavor with Herbal Side Salad: Toss a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, adding peppery greens that contrast the pasta’s smooth texture and enhance the dish’s overall brightness.
  • Complement Dish with Roasted Vegetables: Serve charred Brussels sprouts or asparagus alongside the pasta, providing a caramelized, slightly bitter element that balances the creamy sauce’s richness.
  • Enhance Meal with Crusty Garlic Bread: Prepare a toasted baguette rubbed with garlic and olive oil, offering a crunchy texture that perfectly soaks up the vegan cream sauce and adds a satisfying crunch.

Tweak Your 5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta

  • Gluten-Free Pasta Option: Replace regular spaghetti with gluten-free pasta made from rice, corn, or chickpea flour to accommodate gluten sensitivities.
  • Nut-Free Cream Cheese Alternative: Swap vegan cream cheese with silken tofu blended until smooth for those with nut allergies.
  • Low-Carb Vegetable Noodle Version: Substitute pasta with spiralized zucchini or butternut squash noodles for a lighter, low-carb alternative.
  • Protein-Packed Variation: Add crumbled tempeh or roasted chickpeas to boost protein content and provide extra texture and nutrition.

5-Ingredient Vegan Creamy Pasta Questions Answered

  • What makes this pasta vegan?

The recipe uses vegan bacon and vegan cream cheese instead of traditional dairy and meat products, ensuring the dish is completely plant-based while maintaining rich, creamy flavors.

  • Can I substitute the vegan bacon?

Yes, you can replace vegan bacon with other plant-based protein alternatives like tempeh, tofu crumbles, or mushroom bacon to maintain a similar texture and smoky flavor profile.

  • How do I prevent the sauce from becoming too thick?

Reserve extra pasta water and gradually add it while stirring to help control the sauce’s consistency and keep it smooth and creamy.

  • Is this recipe gluten-free?

Not automatically. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and ensure your vegan bacon and cream cheese are certified gluten-free.

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Heavenly Red Curry Noodles Recipe

Heavenly Red Curry Noodles Recipe


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4.9 from 28 reviews

  • Total Time: 12 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x

Description

Creamy 5-Ingredient Vegan Pasta elevates simple ingredients into a luxurious Mediterranean-inspired dish. Silky noodles dance with rich cashew sauce, delivering pure comfort without complex preparation.


Ingredients

Scale

Pasta Base:

  • 200 grams (7.05 ounces) spaghetti

Main Protein and Flavor:

  • 3 rashers vegan bacon, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Creamy and Seasoning Components:

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 120 grams (4.23 ounces) vegan cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley (or fresh basil)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare a generously salted water bath in a substantial pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge the spaghetti and cook until it reaches a tender yet firm consistency, typically 8-10 minutes.
  2. Simultaneously, warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over gentle heat. Introduce diced vegan bacon and minced garlic, sautéing until the aromas become pronounced and the bacon develops a slight crispness.
  3. Transform the pan’s contents by incorporating vegan cream cheese and a ladleful of starchy pasta water. Whisk continuously, creating a silky, uniform sauce that clings seductively to the pasta strands.
  4. Carefully drain the cooked spaghetti, reserving a touch of cooking liquid. Transfer the pasta directly into the creamy sauce, using tongs to ensure each strand becomes lavishly coated with the velvety mixture.
  5. Elevate the dish’s flavor profile by seasoning with freshly ground black pepper, a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of aromatic herbs. Gently fold to distribute the seasonings evenly, then plate immediately to preserve the sauce’s luxurious texture and warmth.

Notes

  • Choose gluten-free pasta like chickpea or brown rice varieties to make the dish celiac-friendly.
  • Use nutritional yeast instead of vegan cream cheese for a lighter, lower-fat alternative that still provides rich, cheesy flavor.
  • Swap bacon with crispy roasted chickpeas or smoked tofu for added protein and crunch without compromising the creamy texture.
  • Reserve extra pasta water to adjust sauce consistency, ensuring a sil
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5-7 minutes
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Sautéing
  • Cuisine: Vegan

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2
  • Calories: 400
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 15g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 55g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 10g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson

Founder & Culinary Director

Expertise

Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine

Education

Southwestern Oregon Community College

  • Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
  • Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.

Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care. 

After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.

Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.

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