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“This recipe is amazing! I added two big portobello mushrooms, chopped, and did 1tsp less smoked paprika. It’s one of the best things I’ve cooked, even my carnivore husband said it was a do over.”
Inspired by the viral ‘Marry-Me Chicken Pasta,’ which has been going super viral this year, this plant-based high-protein version is a game-changer. Our Marry Me Pasta Meal Prep is creamy, flavorful, and satisfying! The combo of onions, bell pepper, and sundried tomato with creamy cashew sauce, butter beans, spices, and greens is absolutely delicious, and it’s become a staple in our home. It takes about 30 minutes to put together and reheats very well. Plus, it’s high in fiber, protein, and veggie-packed, making it a perfect lunch to keep us full and satisfied until dinner. I used store-bought red lentil pasta to make it high-protein (38 g per bowl). I’ve tried so many types of pulse pasta, and red lentil pasta definitely has my favorite texture. Lentils are also easier to digest than most beans, so if you’re still new to the bean life, it’s a great one to start with.
Why This Recipe Works
- High-Protein: This dish is packed with 38 grams of protein per bowl.
- Fiber packed: Packed with 18 grams of fiber per bowl to feed our microbiome.
- Flavorful: The combination of spices and herbs makes every bite a pleasure.
- Easy to Make: Simple, mostly pantry ingredients and straightforward steps make it quick and easy to prepare.
- Vegan: 100% plant-based, a meal for everyone to enjoy!
Ingredient Notes
- Lentil Pasta: A high-protein, iron-rich, and gluten-free alternative to regular pasta. I used store-bought red lentil pasta for this recipe.
- Cashews: Soaked for a mind-blowing dairy-free creamy sauce that’s rich in minerals and protein.
- Nutritional Yeast: Adds a cheesy flavor without the dairy. Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast, meaning it does not make the food rise. It does bring a surprising amount of protein, with most brands offering 2 to 4 g of protein per tablespoon. It’s also rich in B vitamins. Its umami, cheesy taste, and health benefits make it a fantastic addition to many savory meals.
- Soy Milk: A protein-packed plant-based milk alternative. It can be replaced by another neutral dairy-free milk, such as oat or almond milk.
- Butter beans: A great source of protein and fiber. The soft texture of the butter beans makes it a delicious replacement for chicken in this dish.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin by cooking the lentil pasta as per the packet instructions. Blend the cashews, nutritional yeast, and soy milk, setting it aside for later. Sauté the onions in olive oil for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Add bell pepper, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes, cooking them on reduced heat. Stir in the butter beans, tomato paste, and spices and let it simmer, stirring regularly. Add the cashew cream and cook for two minutes. Finish by adding the pasta, spinach, lemon juice, and parsley. Stir until the spinach wilts, and voila, your High-Protein Vegan Marry Me Pasta is ready!
Variations and Tips
- Veggies: For extra veggies, add mushrooms or zucchini. For an earthy flavor, add a mix of shiitake and portobello mushrooms.
- Spice It Up: If you love heat, consider adding a dash of cayenne pepper or a spoonful of chili flakes.
- Nut-Free: If you’re allergic to cashews, try using sunflower seeds for the creamy sauce.
- Soak Cashews: For a smoother sauce, soak the cashews overnight in cold water or at least for 30 minutes in boiling water. If you have a high-speed blender, such as the one I’m using in the video, it doesn’t matter as much, but it can make a big difference if using a less powerful blender.
- Reheating: When reheating, you may want to add a splash of plant-based milk to bring back the creamy consistency.
- Gluten-Free: This recipe uses red lentil pasta, which is gluten-free.
- Serving Suggestion: This pasta pairs wonderfully with a side of sauteed greens such as broccolini or a simple green salad.
Why You’ll Love This High Protein Vegan Marry Me Pasta
- Delicious
- Nutrient-rich
- Easy-to-make
- High-protein
- Meal-prep ready
High-Protein Vegan ‘Marry Me Pasta’ (Meal-Prep)
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) lentil pasta
Cashew Cream
- ¼ cup (32 g) cashews - raw
- ¼ cup (30 g) nutritional yeast
- 2 cups (470 ml) soy milk
Sauce Base
- 1 tsp (5 ml) olive oil
- 2 yellow onions - finely sliced
- 2 red bell peppers - thinly sliced
- 2 oz (60 g) sun-dried tomatoes - thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
- 1 ½ tbsp (25 g) tomato paste
- 1 ½ tsp (4 g) cajun spices
- 2 tsp (4 g) smoked paprika
- 1 ½ cups (280 g) cooked butter beans
- sea salt flakes - to taste
- freshly ground black pepper - to taste
Finishing
- 4 cups (120 g) baby spinach - roughly chopped
- ¼ cup (15 g) fresh parsley - finely chopped
- 1 ½ tbsp (23 ml) fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a heat-safe bowl, cover the cashews with boiling water and let them sit for 30 minutes to soften. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
- Prepare the cashew cream: In a blender, add the cashews, nutritional yeast, and soy milk, and blend until perfectly smooth.
- Prepare the sauce: Add olive oil and onions to a large saucepan on medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes covered.
- Add the red bell pepper and sun-dried tomatoes, reduce the heat, and cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Add the garlic, tomato paste, cajun spices, smoked paprika, butter beans, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring regularly. Stir in the cashew cream and cook for a further 2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Assemble: Add the pasta, spinach, parsley, and lemon juice to the pot and stir until the spinach is just wilted. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
Notes
Video
Per Serving/Portion
FAQ
Is this dish vegan?
How is this Vegan Marry Me Pasta high-protein?
Is this recipe gluten-free?
Can I use almond milk instead of soy milk?
What can I use instead of cashews for the creamy sauce for a nut-free option?
Is nutritional yeast essential for this recipe?
Can I use other types of beans instead of butter beans?
How long does this dish keep in the fridge?
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Hi, I was interested in this recipe for lunch meal prep. Would this be good cold you think? Because you say you need to add some milk when heating it?
Thanks!
Hey Marian, this one will be better reheated. If you’re after some good cold pasta meal prep I would suggest those 👇
https://plantbaes.com/pasta-salad-meal-prep/
https://plantbaes.com/pistachio-pesto-pasta-salad-meal-prep/
https://plantbaes.com/romesco-pasta-salad-meal-prep/
Thanks!!
Hi, My cashew cream came out very runny. Is it meant to be less sauce like consistancy? 🙂
Hey Yoshita, it should be quite runny when you blend it, but will thicken once heated with the rest of the ingredients 🙂
Is this freezer friendly?
I have not tried, but I’m not sure this one would come out great after being frozen. I don’t usually recommend freezing pasta as I don’t love the texture once frozen and reheated.
I am gonna make this today. I am swapping baby spinach for watercress.! Lets see! Thank you plantabae!
Oh yum watercress would be awesome, let me know how you go 💚
Best teacher 🤩
Hi, can I use regular milk?
any neutral tasting milk will work 🙂
I just made this and it was delicious! I sub’d oatmilk and added some broccoli and green beans and my kids all asked for more!
So happy the kids loved it too! I love the addition of extra veggies 👏
This looks great! Can I use oat milk instead of soy? Is that neutral enough?
Thanks!
absolutely, although it will lower the protein content a bit 🙂
Hello! Can I change beans to Lentils or/and Chick peas?
Absolutely, any legumes will work great 🙂 hope you love it!
This recipe is amazing! I added two big portobello mushrooms, chopped, and did 1tsp less smoked paprika. It’s one of the best things I’ve cooked, even my carnivore husband said it was a do over.
Wow I’m so happy to hear that! Love the mushroom addition 😍
Can’t wait to try it! Do you have a link for the containers you use in this recipe and several other of your recipes? Thanks!
Hope you love it! The round and square containers are both from Ikea, 600ml size x
This looks GREAT. Does it matter if I use raw or roasted cashews?
Thank you! Yes, use raw cashews for this one, sunflower is also a good one 🙂
Can you use almond milk instead of soy? I try to avoid soy.
Absolutely, any neutral in taste dairy free milk will work well 🙂
I this looks great but my daughter is allergic to cashews. Is there another nut you would recommend?
Sunflower is a great alternative. It will work for most recipes calling for cashews 🙂
Just made this and it was delicious, my non vegan partner said it was the best vegan meal she’s ever had! Being pregnant I was after a easy and quick high protein meal.
I swapped out capsicum to mushrooms and zuchinni, and baby spinach for tuscan kale as it’s what I had in the fridge. Thanks plantbaes 🙂
Oh I’m so happy to hear that, thank you for sharing! Love the veggies swap you made, I bet it was delicious with mushrooms 🥰
Hey can we use coconut milk?
I personally don’t love the taste of coconut in pasta recipe, but if you don’t mind it you can 🙂 Oat milk would be my alternative of choice, or any dairy free milk, with a neutral taste 🙂