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A square serving of baked ziti on a white plate with a fork.

Pumpkin Baked Ziti

  • Author: Emma Taylor
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: One 9x13-inch dish 1x

Description

Creamy pumpkin puree and a savory tofu ricotta coat ziti pasta, baked under a crunchy pecan and breadcrumb topping.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 g) ziti or penne pasta
  • 1 (14-ounce / 397 g) package firm tofu, drained and pressed
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup (30 g) nutritional yeast
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves
  • 1 (15-ounce / 425 g) can pumpkin puree
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup (60 g) breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to package directions. Drain well.
  2. While the pasta cooks, make the tofu ricotta. In a food processor, combine the pressed tofu, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, and 1 whole garlic clove. Process until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
  3. Add the fresh sage leaves to the food processor and pulse 3-4 times, just until the sage is chopped and mixed in. Be careful not to over-blend.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the tofu ricotta mixture, pumpkin puree, 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly.
  5. Spread the pasta mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  6. In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs and chopped pecans. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the pasta.
  7. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  8. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is heated through.

Notes

  • Make sure to use 100% pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie mix, which contains added sugar and spices.
  • Pressing the tofu removes excess water, which is key to achieving a thick, ricotta-like consistency.
  • Cooking the pasta al dente (with a slight bite) prevents it from becoming mushy after baking.
  • If you don’t have a food processor, you can mash the tofu thoroughly with a potato masher and finely chop the garlic and sage before mixing.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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Find it online: https://wowcooks.com/pumpkin-baked-ziti/