Red Pepper Pasta

Sometimes, a little comfort food is all we need to satisfy our cravings. Red pepper pasta provides a light smoky flavor with subtle sweetness, bathed over pasta noodles.  Simple in execution and with minimal ingredients, this red pepper pasta recipe is one of my favorite meals under 20 minutes from start to finish.

Although roasted peppers are easy to prepare in the oven or directly on a grill, I found oil-free roasted red peppers in a jar. With seven simple ingredients, you can transform ordinary noodles into a savory meal. 

• Onion
• Roasted Red Peppers (fresh or jarred in water)
• Carrots
• Shallot
• Garlic
• Vegetable Broth
• Pasta of Choice (Whole-grain or gluten-free)

Fresh roasted red peppers on the grill, oven, or gas stovetop...

Roasting on a Grill:

• One method I often use in the summer is roasting over an open flame of the gas grill. Not only does this cooking method produces a great smoky flavor.
• Be sure, however, to have an oven mitt handy.
• Place peppers on the open grill over a medium flame.
• Then, let them roast for 15-20 minutes, using tongs to give them a quarter turn every few minutes, until the peppers are charred, soft, and collapsing.

Roasted in the Oven:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay peppers on their sides on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper on a baking pan.
• Put the baking sheet in the oven and allow peppers to roast for 20 minutes. 
• Remove baking sheet. Using tongs, give the peppers a half turn, then place back in the oven for another 20 minutes.
• Check to make sure peppers have fully roasted. The skin should be charred and soft, and the peppers should look slightly collapsed. If they don't look ready, let them roast for a few more minutes. When they're done, remove the baking sheet from the oven.

Roasted on the Gas Stovetop:

• When I only need to roast one or two peppers, I used this method.
• Although it's messier than the oven method, this cooking method produces a very smoky, rich flavor. 
• To roast directly on a gas stovetop, cover the heating element parts with aluminum foil to protect them from spills. 
• Next, turn the gas stovetop flame to medium.
• Place pepper on the grate directly over the gas flame's top and allow it to roast for 20-25 minutes.
• Use a pair of tongs to give the pepper a quarter turn every 4-5 minutes.
• If the pepper still feels somewhat firm, let it continue to roast for a few more minutes until it softens.
• Remove pepper from the stovetop. 

Steaming the roasted red peppers to remove the skin

Regardless of the method used to roast the red peppers, once the peppers are removed from the heat source, they need to be steamed to remove their skins easily.

• This process will help to peel the tough skin from them more easily. 

Even though it's called red pepper pasta sauce, the sauce is a combination of exquisite flavors that enhances the roasted red peppers. 

Cooking the Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Sauce

Once the garlic, shallot, and onion are sauteed over medium heat in a skillet and the onions are translucent, add the chopped roasted red peppers and carrots. 

Then, allow the red peppers and carrots to saute a few minutes with the onion, garlic, and shallot mixture.

Next, add the vegetable broth and reduce the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 20 minutes. 

While making the pasta, allow the red pepper mixture to cool slightly before blending the sauce in a high-speed blender until smooth. 

Cook the pasta following the package directions, and drain, reserving 1/4 of the pasta water to add back into the pasta with the red pepper sauce. 

After the pasta is drained, return it to the pan or a bowl, add the reserved pasta water and red pepper sauce, and toss. 

For an added element of deliciousness, add Vegan Parmesan Cheese and chopped fresh parsley. Although optional, these two ingredients bring the dish together. 

Looking for quick, healthy vegan pasta recipes? Check it out

• One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
• Easy One-Pot Meals
• Creamy Tomato Pasta
• Pumpkin Rigatoni
• Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo
• Vegan Goulash
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad
• Fajita Pasta
• Lemon Pasta
• Bruschetta Pasta

Yield: 4 servings

Red Pepper Pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

Savory, creamy red pepper pasta is comfort food made simple. With only 7 simple ingredients, roasted red pepper pasta is a quick and easy delicious pasta the whole family will enjoy.

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Ingredients

Red Pepper Pasta Sauce

• 1/2 medium white onion, diced
• 1 cup Roasted Red Peppers (fresh or jarred in water)
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 1 shallot, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3/4 cups Organic Vegetable Broth
• 8 ounces Pasta of Choice (Whole-grain or gluten-free)

Garnish (optional)

• Vegan parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

Red Pepper Pasta Sauce

1. Roasted a red pepper following the blog post directions, or use jarred roasted red peppers in water.
2. In a skillet, over medium heat, cook garlic, onions, and shallots until the onions are translucent.
3. Add chopped roasted red peppers and carrots.
4. Allow cooking with the garlic, shallot, and onion mixture for a few minutes before adding the vegetable broth.
5. Once the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat to medium-low.
6. Cook, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes uncovered.
7. Transfer the red pepper mixture into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth.
8. Set aside.

Cooking the pasta

1. Choose the shape and pasta you prefer. I used whole-grain Rigatoni pasta, but any pasta works well, including gluten-free pasta.
2. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
3. Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/4 cup pasta water to add back into the pasta after draining.
4. Pour drained pasta into a bowl or back in the pan, add the reserved pasta water and the red pepper sauce.
5. Toss to combine and stir.

Garnish (optional)

1. Sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese
2. Add fresh, chopped parsley.
   

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Botticelli 12oz Fire Roasted Red Peppers (Pack of 2) - Ready-to-Use Sweet & Tender Red Roasted Peppers in a Jar for Sandwiches, Salad, Pizza & Any Recipes
• 
  Anthony's Premium Nutritional Yeast Flakes, 1lb, Fortified, Gluten Free, Non GMO, Vegan
• 
  Raw Cashews, 1 Pound – Deluxe Whole Nuts, Unsalted, Unroasted Fancy Snack, Size W-320, Kosher, Vegan, Bulk, A good source of Magnesium, Phosphorus, Copper & Manganese
• 
  NutriBullet Pro 900 Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer, 9-piece Set

Nutrition Information

Yield

4 servings

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 139Total Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 1mgSodium 164mgCarbohydrates 26gFiber 3gSugar 4gProtein 5g

Nutrition facts may not be 100% accurate.

Did you make this recipe?

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Kathy Carmichael

Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me