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Sometimes I struggle to create a new recipe. Not only with the recipe itself, but with my motivation to make it, photograph it, and publish it. Other times, like with this Penne Pasta with Vegan Cilantro Cream Sauce, the recipe just happens. I had some vegan cream cheese on hand, I didn’t have basil, but I did have cilantro, I had some asparagus that I needed to use. And voila! Penne Pasta with Vegan Cilantro Cream Sauce was born!
While cilantro is frequently thought of as an herb that goes great with Asian or Mexican food, it makes for a great change from basil or oregano with Italian food too. I understand that some people seem to have, um, strong feelings about the taste of cilantro, so if you’re one of those, feel free to use basil instead.
This Penne Pasta with Vegan Cilantro Cream Sauce is also quick and easy to prepare. You can make the sauce while the pasta is cooking and have dinner on the table in about a half-hour.
Penne Pasta with Vegan Cilantro Cream Sauce
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces vegan chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup green onions, chopped
- 6-8 stalks asparagus, cut into 2 inch pieces.
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 4 ounces vegetable broth
- 4 ounces vegan cream cheese
- salt/pepper
- Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium frying pan. Brown the vegan chicken lightly on each side. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove from pan. Cut into one inch pieces.
- In the same pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium low heat. Add garlic and green onions and cook for about one minute until garlic is soft but not brown.
- Add the tomatoes and cook for two more minutes.
- Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, return the vegan chicken to the pan and add the asparagus and cilantro.
- Stri in the vegan cream cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens.
- Put the hot pasta in a bowl and pour the Cilantro Cream Sauce on top, stirring lightly to mix.
- Garnish with more cilantro.
While this Penne Pasta with Vegan Cilantro Cream Sauce is not gluten-free, it is easy to prepare it that way by using gluten-free pasta or zoodles and using a vegan chicken that does not contain gluten.
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
All About Running with Janell
The Running Coaches’ Corner with Marc and Me!
The Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim
I love cilantro in all my sauces as well. I bet the vegan chicken gives this a nice heartier feel. Thanks for linking up today!
I don’t know why I’m surprised when it tastes so good in a pasta sauce. I love cilantro in all my Mexican food.
I’m one of those people that hate cilantro so I would use the basil – thanks for the recommendation on the substitution!
I find it hard to believe but I know there are cilantro-haters out there! 🙂
Pasta is always a good idea!!
I haven’t had the Beyond Chicken in awhile as I wasn’t into it while I was pregnant but I have a lot of it in the freezer and was just thinking I need to use it.
Thank you for linking up with us and sharing!
I used Gardein for this. I was going to suggest Beyond Chicken for gluten-free but discovered they aren’t currently making it! They said they are reformulating. Too bad, I always loved it.
Thank you for yet another vegan recipe I can serve the meat lovers at my house! Looks delish and I’ll make it both ways..with cilantro or basil!