Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta (2024)

Published: Jun 8, 2021 · by Megan · This post may contain affiliate links.

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This classic Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta is an absolute must-make when tomatoes are in season! This simple Summer pasta recipe contains just 10 ingredients, is easily made gluten-free, can be made in 30 minutes or less, and is packed with fresh tomato flavor!

Wondering what to do with all those cherry tomatoes? Make this burst cherry tomato pasta, of course!

I love pasta all year round, but come summertime I literally crave pasta filled with fresh in-season veggies. My Vegan Asparagus Chickpea Pasta and Vegan Lemon Butter Pasta have been longtime Summer favorites, but this pasta filled with fresh tomatoes, basil & vegan parmesan has truly become a new staple!

Ingredients:

Here's a quick recap of the simple ingredients you need for this vegan tomato pasta recipe:

Linguine pasta
- To keep it gluten-free, I like using Ancient Harvest Quinoa Linguine. However, any brand works!
Olive oil
Shallots
Garlic
Cherry or grape tomatoes
Lemon juice
Dried parsley
Chili flakes
Salt & pepper
Fresh basil
Pasta water (reserved from cooking the pasta)
Vegan parmesan (optional)

Steps to make tomato basil pasta

First, cook the pasta

This step is pretty simple, but make sure to cook pasta in extra salty boiling water for the best results! Also, make sure to reserve ⅓ cup of pasta water to use for the sauce before straining out the noodles.

Saute shallots & garlic

While the pasta is cooking, finely chop up the shallots & mince the garlic. Then, add it to a pan with the olive oil and cook for 2-3 minutes until the shallots begin to turn translucent.

Add in tomatoes & seasoning

Next, pour in those cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. Either works for this recipe, but you want to make sure to use small tomatoes so they have time to burst! Then, add in the lemon juice and seasoning including the dried parsley, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Use more chili flakes for a spicier dish and season with salt to your liking!

Cook until tomatoes burst

Once everything is added in you'll want to cook the tomatoes for about 12-15 minutes until they burst. If you have a few stubborn tomatoes that won't burst, just use a fork to gently puncture them and mix them into a sauce. The juices from the cherry tomatoes create the sauce for this recipe and add SO much flavor to this dish.

Add in pasta, pasta water, & fresh basil

Once the tomatoes have burst and turned into a flavorful vegan tomato sauce, add in the cooked linguine, reserved pasta water, and fresh chopped basil. Stir it all together and serve with optional vegan parmesan on top!

FAQ & Substitutions:

What brand of pasta has no eggs?

For this recipe, I used Ancient Harvest quinoa pasta with is gluten-free u0026 has no eggs. Most dried pasta do not have eggs in them though, so just check the ingredients list before purchasing. Fresh pasta does tend to have eggs in it, so that may be one to avoid for this recipe if you want to keep it vegan.

What vegan parmesan is best?

I LOVE Violife Vegan Parmesan, especially since you can grate it and it really looks u0026 tastes like real parmesan cheese. Other great options include Follow Your Heart or make your own with this Vegan Parmesan cheese recipe.

How do I store leftover pasta?

Leftovers can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. I recommend adding the vegan parmesan right before serving for the best leftover results!

Why add pasta water to the sauce?

Pasta water tends to be starchy u0026 salted and will help add some thickening power and flavor to the dish. Essentially this water helps glue the pasta to the simple sauce we are making.

Now that we have this delicious Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta recipe, who is ready for all the Summer BBQs and outdoor gatherings to come?! This is a staple for an easy weeknight dinner- and will make sure your tomatoes never go to waste. Enjoy!

-TSG