cajun veggie pasta topped with chives on white plate
cajun veggie pasta topped with chives on white plate with fork

It’s been too long since I’ve made a new simple pasta! This Cajun pasta will quickly become a fave- the flavor is so delicious and the sauce is super creamy! It’s a nutrient dense meal with all the flavor and comfort I love in a dish.

The sauce for this pasta gets its silky-smooth texture from siggi’s plain skyr, or Icelandic yogurt. If you’ve been around here awhile, you know siggi’s is one of my absolute favorite additions to a pasta sauce! Their yogurt is made with only super simple ingredients, it adds a protein boost to the sauce, and creates the best texture. The plain flavor has zero added sugar, making it perfect for a creamy and savory dish. In fact, all of their flavors have more protein than sugar, which can be hard to come by for yogurt. I’m all about it!

cajun veggie pasta topped with chives on white plate with fork
cajun veggie pasta topped with chives on white plate with fork

This is the type of meal you can quickly whip up after a busy day. It’s ready in about 20 minutes, and it’s made with simple, wholesome ingredients that I always have on hand. I’m all for easy meals right now, since we’re still getting in the swing of our routine since returning from the honeymoon! The last month or so has been such a whirlwind with the holidays and the wedding (in the best way!), so I’m opting for the most simple yet nourishing meals.

The base of the sauce is just fire roasted tomatoes and siggi’s plain yogurt, plus a Cajun seasoning mix that is out of this world good! The pasta itself is loaded up with cauliflower and peppers for that veggie/fiber boost. Plus, I love to use a legume pasta here for a protein source combined with the protein from the yogurt. A legume pasta will also up the fiber content, making this a more filling dish. A perfect meal! Pro tip: serve this pasta over a bed of greens (spinach, kale, or arugula) for that extra nutrient boost.

Be sure to use smoked paprika, rather than regular paprika! This makes a huge difference in the flavor of the sauce, trust me!! You can also make this sauce as spicy as you’d like by playing with the level of cayenne you add. Start with a small dash and adjust form there (if you’re someone who loves a super spicy kick, you can go ahead and start with ¼ tsp of cayenne). The flavor of the Cajun sauce is seriously so delicious; even carnivores will devour this one!

cajun veggie pasta topped with chives on white plate with yogurt container

Another bonus to this meal is it makes really great leftovers! So you can prep for work lunches, or quick dinners for the next few days! Just toss in some extra tomato sauce, olive oil, or vegetable broth if you find the sauce needs some extra moisture for leftovers. I love to keep some veggie broth on hand for this exact purpose for leftover pasta dishes!

I can’t wait for you all to try this pasta. Enjoy and be sure to tag me on Instagram if you give this one a go! Xx

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Creamy Cajun Veggie Pasta

  • Author: Mia Zarlengo
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 46 servings 1x
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner

Description

Creamy Cajun vegetarian pasta! 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (8 oz) box of pasta of choice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • 1 cup of cauliflower, chopped into small florets
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 5 green onion, diced
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can of diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 (5.3 oz) container of siggi’s plain 0% (a little more than 1/2 cup
  • 34 tbsp pasta cooking water  

Cajun seasoning:

  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp sea salt, or to taste
  • Dash of cayenne, more to taste 

Instructions

1.     Start by making the pasta according to the directions on the box. Be sure to reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water just before straining!

2.     While the pasta is boiling, cook the cauliflower and bell pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium heat with the avocado oil. Sauté the veggies until soft and slightly browned, 5-7 minutes.

3.     While veggies are cooking, combine all of the seasonings in a small bowl. Set aside.

4.     Once the cauliflower and bell pepper are soft, stir in the green onion, then reduce heat to low. Stir in the tomatoes and the seasoning mix. Allow to heat on low for about 5 minutes, then stir in the yogurt and remove from heat. 

5.     Return the cooked pasta to it’s pot, and stir in the veggies/sauce. Slowly add the pasta water until desired consistency is reached; taste and adjust cayenne and/or salt levels. Serve and enjoy!

 


Gluten Free, Lunch + Dinner, Recipes, Vegetarian

Category:

Jan 21, 2020

Creamy Cajun Veggie Pasta

Did you make this recipe? Be sure to tag @gatherednutrition on INstagram so I can see what you made! Leaving a rating and review on the site is a huge help too!

  1. Lisa says:

    I made this tonight and it was unreal!!!

  2. Jordan Merlo says:

    Absolutely delicious!! We added chicken on top since hubs won’t eat anything without meat. Will 100% be making again 🙂

  3. Amber says:

    SO GOOD! Instead of yogurt, I blended an avocado with alternative milk for a yogurt consistency, and it was amazing!! Will definitely be saving for future meals.

  4. Alycia says:

    Great! Made it with chicken too — seasoned two breasts with Cajun blend first thing, and also added half a yellow onion and garlic to the veggie mixture. So good!

  5. Andrea says:

    Hm, this recipe came out rather bland for me. Also not quite enough protein/fat for my fellow vegetarians.

    • Mia Swinehart says:

      Hi Andrea! Sorry to hear that- this usually has lots of flavor- did you use smoked paprika? regular paprika will not yield the same flavor results. For more protein I recommend using a chickpea pasta which is usually what I use!

  6. Johnny says:

    I love this recipe, the only creamy pasta I’ve ever liked. Do you think it could be frozen?

  7. PJ says:

    Do you serve it hot or cold?

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Simple. Attainable. Gathered Nutrition.