Description
Comforting and packed with flavor, these tofu ricotta stuffed shells with spinach are a great vegan meal option for both weekends and weeknights. This vegan pasta recipe pairs homemade tofu ricotta with jumbo pasta shells, spinach, and store-bought marinara sauce. Once baked, these vegan stuffed shells can be enjoyed alone or paired with a simple side salad.
Ingredients
for the tofu ricotta:
- 1 16–ounce block extra firm tofu, drained
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice, from 1-2 lemons
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 tablesoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
for the stuffed shells:
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 25-ounce jar marinara sauce
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Handful parsley or fresh basil, optional for garnish
Instructions
Make the ricotta first. Crumble the tofu into a food processor or blender. Add all of the remaining ingredients. Pulse several times (don’t hit blend!) to bring everything together. You want a texture like traditional ricotta (a bit grainy) rather than a completely smooth one. Set the tofu ricotta aside.
Bring a large pot of water to boil and preheat the oven to 425. Once the water is boiling, add a couple of large pinches of salt along with all of the baby spinach. Cook the spinach for 30-60 seconds, then remove it with a skimmer and place it in a colander to drain. Allow the water to return to a boil then add the jumbo shells. While the shells cook, gently squeeze excess moisture from the spinach then give it a rough chop. Mix it into the tofu ricotta. Cook the shells for 9-10 minutes (or the indicated pre-bake time on the package). Drain the shells then drizzle them with a bit of olive oil to keep them from sticking together.
Spoon the marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Spread it around into a roughly even layer. Once the shells have cooled enough to be handled, stuff each with some of the tofu ricotta and spinach mixture then nestle into the marinara sauce. You should have enough ricotta for all 20 shells. Sprinkle parmesan over the top of the shells. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes until everything is warmed through and the marinara is bubbling. Serve with a sprinkle of chopped parsley or basil if desired.
Leftovers can be covered and kept in the fridge. Enjoy within 4-5 days. Re-heat in the microwave, air fryer, or oven. Instructions for each method can be found in the post.
Notes
- Tofu size varies depending on the brand. Aim for one that is 14-16 ounces to ensure you have enough ricotta to fill all of the shells.
- You should use most if not all of the tofu ricotta and spinach mixture. Leftovers can be enjoyed on toast!
- Jumbo shells might vary in size by brand. Before boiling, lay them out in your baking dish to get an idea of how many will fit. I used Barilla brand jumbo shells and 20 was the perfect amount.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Category: main