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vegan baked ziti with gluten-free bread
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Gluten-Free Vegan Baked Ziti

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course

Equipment

  • ceramic or glass baking dish (9x13 or something similar)
  • large skillet
  • large sauce pan

Ingredients

  • 1 heaping cup raw walnuts (soaked in water for 5-10 minutes)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about ½ cup)
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon each of basil and oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup marinara sauce (I used Whole Foods organic marinara pasta sauce) + a few extra tablespoons for topping
  • 8 oz box legume-based ziti or penne pasta
  • 1 cup vegan parmesan cheese (I used Follow Your Heart) or sub with vegan mozzarella and/or ricotta
  • optional topping; fresh parsley or cilantro

Instructions

  • Prep: First grease a baking dish with avocado oil or vegan butter.
    Next, add walnuts to a bowl and cover with water.
    Add water to a sauce pan, place over high heat, add a pinch of salt & bring to a boil.
    Finally, while you wait for water to boil, chop an onion and mince the garlic cloves.
  • To make the pasta: Once the water is boiling, add pasta and cook for 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat, rinse & drain.
    *preheat oven to 415℉
  • To make the walnut sauce: As the pasta cooks, prepare the walnut sauce.
    Warm a skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil, diced onion and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until the onion is translucent and soft.
    While the onion cooks, rinse and drain the soaked walnuts. Add to a food processor and blend until a coarse texture is achieved (5-10 seconds).
    Add the pulsed walnuts and minced garlic. Drizzle another tablespoon of oil over the ingredients, then sprinkle with oregano, basil, and minced garlic. Stir to combine while allowing to cook for a minute or so. Finally, add ½ cup marinara sauce and stir again. Remove from heat.
  • Assemble & bake: Add about ½ of the cooked pasta to a baking dish, top with ½ of the walnut sauce and a few tablespoons of marinara sauce. Smooth over the pasta with a spatula then sprinkle with ½ cup of parmesan cheese. Top with the rest of the pasta, the rest of the walnut sauce, & a final layer of parmesan cheese. To finish, sprinkle with a bit of oregano and garlic granules.
    Place onto the middle rack and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden. Remove and top with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley (optional).