Who has fond memories of the kid-friendly comfort food in a can called Alphagetti? Or perhaps it was Zoodles, or Spaghetti-O's for you. Or some other cute name to describe a simple pasta dish in a can. This recipe is inspired by the original canned pasta- but made vegan, healthier, and so much tastier too! Win!
Only 9 ingredients and 30 minutes to make your homemade vegan alphagetti. Perfect for a quick and easy lunch, whether it be while watching cartoons, to take to school, or to take to work. (Hey I don't judge, I'm a kid at heart myself).
When first testing this recipe I tried to make it a one-pot recipe, but I found cooking the alphabet pasta in the sauce didn't work super well, and the noodles kept sticking to the bottom of the pan no matter how often you stirred it. So instead I boil the pasta separately. But I discovered this means that you can make as much of the sauce as you like and freeze some for later. Then when you are ready to reheat the sauce, boil some fresh pasta at the same time for a perfectly fresh pot of vegan alphagetti!
To make vegan alphagetti: heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. When hot add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent and begins to brown, 3 - 5 minutes.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 - 25 minutes until the sauce has thickened and is flavourful.
*Optionally, you can use an immersion blender to combine the sauce so it's completely smooth, but I find that as long as the onion is chopped fine enough, this isn't necessary.
In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta and stir it into the tomato base. Serve hot or let cool and store in an air-tight container for 3 - 4 days in the fridge.
Vegan Alphagetti
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped or grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28 oz (796ml) can crushed tomatoes (3 ¼ cups)
- 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- 1 cup alphabet pasta (gluten-free if preferred)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. When hot add the onion and garlic and saute until the onion turns translucent and begins to brown, 3 - 5 minutes.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 - 25 minutes until the sauce has thickened and is flavourful. Optionally, you can use an immersion blender to combine the sauce so it's completely smooth, but I find that as long as the onion is chopped fine enough, this isn't necessary.
- In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta and stir it into the tomato base. Serve hot or let cool and store in an air-tight container for 3 - 4 days in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Véronique says
Good and easy, perfect for week nights! Next time I'll try adding some red lentils to the sauce
Jill says
This was so yummy! Thank you for this great recipe! I added a small can of spicy V-8, some frozen veggies and even some vegan meatballs that I diced up. Loved this!
Kale @ steakandkale.com says
I can't wait to try this recipe out with my kids! Thanks so much for sharing!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, I hope you enjoy it!
Laura R says
Mm Mm Mmmmm!
Thanks for this! Better than canned, yet, even tho I got in a rush and kinda burned my onion and garlic a bit, still reminiscent of coming home for lunch when I was in middle school 🙂
Easy enough to become a "go to"
Sam Turnbull says
Aww I love that, so nice that it brings back some memories 🙂
Sonia says
This was so fun to make, serve and eat! I was not served this as a child but my partner was and he was delighted with this comfort food. I added peas, I couldn't help myself.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! Wonderful! So thrilled you enjoyed it, Sonia 🙂
Helen says
I was a canned spaghetti kid. I love my pasta now with tons of veggies and beans and the actual pasta playing a supporting role. That being said, sometimes the there is a desire for a bowl of that smooth, simple, slightly sweet tomato sauce with the little pasta letters or rings. Comfort food to bring back a simpler time. Thank you Sam.
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Helen!! I hope you love the recipe 🙂
Sonya says
This sounds so yummy and healthy. If i can find it im gonna try the tiny ring pasta. Thanks for sharing your recipes you are blessed.
Mrs. D
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Mrs. D! I hope you love it 🙂
Cap'n Dave says
For those wondering, yes - white sugar CAN be vegan. Look for cane sugar that is labeled as organic, natural, raw, or unrefined. If they have any of this listed, they're vegan. If not? Then unless it's beet sugar (which is usually GMO), then it's been refined through bone char and is NOT vegan. There's also stevia if you're iffy (or diabetic).
Bookmarking this recipe - it sounds wonderful! Thanks, Sam!
Sarah M says
In Canada certain brands of refined white and brown sugar are vegan. Redpath brand is good and Lantic brand is bad.
Cap'n Dave says
Thanks, Sarah! I'd forgotten about Redpath. I used to get it when I lived in Ketchikan, Alaska, but that was a long time ago!
Sam Turnbull says
That's right, as far as I know using bone char in sugar isn't very common anywhere other than the states as far as I know. Always good to double check with the brand you are purchasing. I use Redpath here in Canada and they say on their site that it's vegan-friendly. A good tip is that organic sugar is always vegan. 🙂
Wendy says
Oh, thank you for posting this! I was sad when it got out-voted on Instagram and I thought it would never see the light of day. I used to love canned pasta, as strange as that may sound to some and was very sad to see that for some inexplicable reason it all seems to have cheese in it! (What purpose does undetectable cheese serve?) sheesh. Anyway I am going to make this after my next grocery day (I need to buy alphabet pasta). Thanks again!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Wendy!!! I hope you it 🙂