Vegetarian Vegan Cheesy Baked Ziti

Total time1 hr 20 min

Prep time25 min

Cook time55 min

This baked ziti layers al dente pasta with a rich, garlicky tomato sauce and a creamy, tangy cashew blend that melts into every bite. Nutritional yeast and lemon juice give that cashew cream a savory, tangy depth that plays beautifully against the sweet-simmered tomato base loaded with onion, garlic, and a touch of oregano and basil. Baked under foil until bubbling, then finished uncovered for a golden, molten top, it comes out of the oven looking every bit like the classic comfort-food casserole it's channeling. Torn fresh basil scattered over the top adds a bright, herbal finish right before serving. Since there's no meat, poultry, or fish anywhere in this dish, it's a naturally solid choice for a vegetarian table, and it reheats well for easy leftovers all week long.

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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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