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Vegan Stuffed Shells With Spinach Ricotta

These vegan stuffed shells with tofu spinach ricotta and a homemade tomato sauce are perfect for a comforting dinner! Make them using simple, wholesome ingredients for a meal you won't believe is entirely dairy-free.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 460 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian , Vegan

Ingredients

The pasta shells
  • 10 oz conchiglie (around 15 large shells)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (or vegan butter) to grease the baking dish
The tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 can canned tomatoes (14 oz can)
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp salt
The tofu ricotta
  • 10 oz extra firm tofu
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Tahini
  • ⅓ cup plant based milk

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook the conchiglie: Cook the pasta shells for around 2-3 minutes less than the packaging instructions. Drain and rinse when done.
  2. Preheat the oven: Lightly grease a rectangular baking dish with olive oil or vegan butter, and preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 F.
  3. Make the tomato sauce: Heat some olive oil in a frying pan or saucepan over a medium-high heat. Now add onion, garlic and tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Next, add canned tomatoes, dried oregano and salt, and cook for a further 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
  4. Make the tofu ricotta: Add extra firm tofu, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, tahini and plant based milk to a blender or food processor and blend on a low speed for a few seconds.
  5. Add spinach: Transfer the ‘ricotta’ to a frying pan over a medium heat together with the spinach. Stir for a couple of minutes, until the spinach wilts, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
  6. Assemble the pasta shells: Add a layer of the tomato sauce to the baking dish. Next, add around 1-2 tbsp to the ricotta to each pasta shell and arrange them in an even layer above the tomato sauce. If you wish, you can add some more tomato sauce on top.
  7. Bake the shells: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, until crispy and golden. 

Notes

  • Recipe tips for best results
  • Instructions for storage and freezing
  • Make sure not to overcook the pasta shells. It’s really important that they are al dente, because this will make sure that they don’t fall apart when you add the filling. 
  • Use extra firm tofu for the best crumbly texture. 
  • Either fresh or frozen spinach works well.
  • If you want to, you can use store-bought vegan ricotta, and a store-bought tomato/marinara sauce.
  • You can add other vegetables of your choice to the tomato sauce.
  • In order to save time, you can make the tofu ricotta while the onion and garlic for the tomato sauce are cooking.
  • You can add either grated vegan cheese, or homemade vegan parmesan on top of the pasta shells either before baking, or when you’re ready to serve.
  • You can keep these vegan stuffed shells in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 1-minute intervals, until warmed through. Or you can reheat in a baking dish in the oven for around 10 minutes. 
  • You can freeze the pasta shells before baking. Cover and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, allow to thaw fully in the fridge for around 8 hours, then bake at 180 degrees C/350 F for 30 minutes. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 460kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 70g (23%) Protein 19g (38%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Sodium 569mg (24%) Potassium 801mg (23%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 368IU (7%) Vitamin C 15mg (17%) Calcium 137mg (14%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 460

% Daily Value*

Calories 460kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 70g 23%
Protein 19g 38%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Sodium 569mg 24%
Potassium 801mg 17%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 368IU 7%
Vitamin C 15mg 17%
Calcium 137mg 14%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.