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Vegan Baked Ziti

The Urben Life Verified

Theurbenlife.com

Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Vegan Baked Ziti

1 lb ziti pasta

1 lb mushroomssliced

1 yellow oniondiced

3 cloves garlicminced

5 cups fresh spinachroughly chopped

2 cans crushed tomatoes

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

1 cup vegan ricotta cheese

1 cup raw cashews

¾ cup water

1 tsp salt

½ tsp garlic powder

If making homemade cashew ricotta, start by placing cashews in a small pot. Cover with water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse then transfer to a food processor with fresh water, salt, and garlic powder. Blend until smooth and creamy, set aside.

Preheat oven to 375F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook al dente, according to package direction. Once cooked, reserve 1 cup of cooking water, then drain.

As the pasta cooks, warm about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, until they release their liquid. Add onion and garlic, saute for about 5 minutes, until onions are translucent and garlic is fragrant. Add spinach and cook for about 5 minutes, until wilted. Remove from heat.

Transfer the cooked pasta to the skillet with the mushroom sauce and stir well to combine. Add ¼ cup of reserved pasta water at a time to loosen the sauce.

Spread about half of the mixture in a 9x13 baking dish. Layer with half of the vegan ricotta cheese, then with remaining pasta and sauce. Top with remaining vegan ricotta.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve warm.

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Soak Cashews Properly 💧
Soak raw cashews in hot water for at least 15 minutes before blending to achieve a silky-smooth ricotta texture that rivals dairy cheese.
Caramelize Mushrooms First 🍄
Cook mushrooms low and slow over medium heat without stirring for the first 5 minutes to develop deep umami flavors and create a rich, savory foundation.
Reserve Pasta Water Strategically 💦
Save 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining and use it to loosen the tomato sauce, creating a creamy coating that prevents the baked ziti from drying out.
Layer Assembly Matters 📚
Create layers starting with sauce on the bottom, then pasta-ricotta mixture, then spinach to prevent spinach from becoming overly dense while ensuring even heat distribution during baking.
Rest Before Serving ⏱️
Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven so the layers set and hold together beautifully when plating, preventing a soupy presentation.