What’d y’all think of those Meat-less Balls? Pretty tasty, right?
Well next time double the batch and save some for tonight’s dish—Gluten-Free, Vegan Pasta Alfredo with Meat-less Balls!
I love this one because it combines a couple of my favorite vegan recipes into one. Plus it’s pasta…so yeah!
Pasta is an ultimate comfort food. It always has been and will be. It’s there when you need it (or simply forgot to go to the store that week…) We always have at least two boxes of noodles in our pantry for days when we don’t feel like going all out on dinner or when a hearty bowl of noodles is what’s going to hit the spot.
Now pasta—whether it’s gluten-free, vegan or not—isn’t the lightest, healthiest dish. Pasta is a carb. Carbs are one of those items that’s neither good or bad. It’s simply best in moderation, and since it’s Saturday night we’re getting crazy in our little kitchen. :)
The first time I went strict vegetarian was my freshman year of high school. I cut out all meat including eggs, and made one of the biggest mistakes new vegetarians/vegans often make—I essentially swapped all my protein out with carbs. Instead of eating meat, I was eating things like cheesy vegetable lasagna, bean burritos, baked potatoes, etc. Thank goodness for high school metabolism and the several sports I played or I would have blown up like a blimp.
Eventually my doctor forced me to start eating meat a couple times a week because all my blood work was crazy. It’s important to research or consult a nutritionist when making a dietary lifestyle change to make sure you’re still getting the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals. I did end up meeting a nutritionist with my mom who helped me find a balance in my diet which included supplements to fill in the gaps.
If you’re giving Veganuary a go or a veggie diet for the first time, I hope you enjoy the benefits but definitely recommend doing a ton of research or meeting with someone if you plan on sticking with it long-term. The majority of people alter their lifestyle for health reasons so I just want to make sure you are actually being healthy with your choice, and I don’t want to see others make the same mistakes I did.
But in moderation, pasta is your friend. It’s delicious! My favorite pasta growing up was Fettuccine Alfredo. Anytime it was available it was what I was ordering. I especially ate a lot when we were traveling for travel soccer. Gotta load up on those carbs ya no?
When I found out I was lactose intolerant, cream sauces like my beloved Alfredo were gone, and 10+ years ago there just wasn’t the selection in store or recipes online to help me find a suitable alternative so I was stuck in a red, tomato-based sauce phase for several years. Thankfully someone discovered that cashews can make everything from pasta sauces to cheese alternatives!
Now when that pasta craving hits we can have a variation of whatever sauce we’re craving, and tonight we’re craving Alfredo! So here you go. Time to enjoy a big bowl of pasta tossed with our favorite Gluten-Free, Vegan Alfredo Sauce and some Gluten-Free, Vegan Meat-less Balls!
Happy Saturday!
Gluten-Free, Vegan Pasta Alfredo with Meat-less Balls
Ingredients
- @Studioist Gluten-Free, Vegan Meat-less Balls
- @Studioist Gluten-Free, Vegan Alfredo Sauce
- 4 quarts water
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1 lb gluten-free, vegan pasta
- Vegan parmesan, optional (like Follow Your Heart Parmesan Style Shredded Cheese Alternative)
Directions
- Prepare the meat-less balls according to recipe directions.
- Bring water and 1 tbsp salt to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add pasta and cook according to directions on packaging, stirring occasionally to separate pasta.
- While meatballs are baking and pasta cooking, prepare the Alfredo sauce according to recipe directions.
- Drain the pasta when al dente.
- Toss with Alfredo sauce and top with meat-less balls.
- Sprinkle additional vegan parmesan over the top (optional) and serve immediately.
