Dairy Free Vegan Cheesy Baked Ziti

Total time1 hr 20 min

Prep time25 min

Cook time55 min

This baked ziti layers tender pasta with a rich tomato sauce built from crushed tomatoes, sautéed onion, garlic, and warm oregano and basil, then gets ladled with a silky cashew cream blended smooth with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and garlic powder for that unmistakable savory tang. Every layer is stacked and baked until bubbling and golden at the edges, with a fresh scatter of torn basil finishing the dish right out of the oven. The result is a deeply comforting, cheesy-tasting casserole with none of the usual heaviness, and it holds up beautifully whether you're serving a crowd or stashing leftovers for the week. It's a dependable pick for a dairy free dinner rotation, delivering all the melty, saucy satisfaction of classic baked ziti without missing a beat.

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Ingredients

6 servings

For the pasta

1 lb dry ziti pasta
Barilla Ziti Pasta 16oz Banza Ziti Chickpea Pasta Miracle Noodle Ziti Style Plant Based Noodles - Low FODMAP Certified Private Selection Italian Ziti Pasta Signature SELECT Pasta Ziti - 16 OZ
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1 tbsp salt

For the cashew cream

1 cup raw cashews, soaked in cold water for at least 4 hours or in boiling water for 30 minutes, then drained
1 cup water
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt

For the tomato sauce

2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste

For assembly

1 ½ cups vegan cheese, shredded, divided

For serving

¼ cup fresh basil, torn (optional)

Instructions

1
Drain the soaked cashews and add them to a blender with 1 cup water, the nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Blend on high until completely smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
2
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tbsp salt. Cook the ziti for 2 minutes less than the package directions indicate — it should be quite firm, as it will finish cooking in the oven. Drain and set aside.

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