Is Pasta Vegan? Part 5: Stuffed Pasta, Gnocchi & Cavatelli

🍠🌿 Welcome to the ultimate guide to vegan stuffed pastas, pillowy gnocchi, and rustic cavatelli! This installment proves that no eggs or dairy are needed for these Italian classics. Plus, we’ll cover freezing hacks, sauce pairings, and label-decoding tips for store-bought versions.

SEO Keyword Focus: “Is Pasta Vegan”

1. Vegan Stuffed Pasta: Ravioli & Tortellini

Are Stuffed Pastas Vegan?

🚨 99% of fresh stuffed pasta contains eggs—but homemade vegan versions are easy!

Sun-Dried Tomato & Cashew Ricotta Ravioli 🍅🧀

Flavor Profile: Creamy, tangy, with umami depth

Ingredients

• Pasta Dough:
  • 2 cups “00” flour
  • ½ cup beet puree (for color + moisture)
• Filling:
  • 1 cup cashew ricotta (soaked cashews + lemon + nooch)
  • ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, minced

Step-by-Step

1. Make dough: Knead flour + beet puree 10 mins. Rest 30 mins.
2. Roll thin: Use pasta machine to setting #6.
3. Fill & Seal: Pipe filling every 2 inches, brush edges with aquafaba, top with second sheet. Cut with ravioli wheel.

Pro Tip: Freeze on trays before boiling to prevent bursting.

Source: The Vegan Pasta Handbook by Linda Ly

2. Pillowy Potato Gnocchi 🥔✨

Flavor Profile: Fluffy, buttery, with crisp edges

Ingredients

• 2 lbs russet potatoes (baked, not boiled!)
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp salt

Step-by-Step

1. Rice potatoes: Press baked potatoes through a ricer; cool completely.
2. Knead: Gently mix with flour + nooch (don’t overwork!).
3. Shape: Roll into ropes, cut into 1-inch pieces. Press with fork for ridges.

Cooking Hack: Poach gnocchi in simmering (not boiling) water until they float.

Sauce Pairing: Sage-brown butter or marinara.

Source: The Vegan Italian Kitchen by Jackie Sobon

3. Rustic Cavatelli 🌀🌿

Flavor Profile: Chewy, nutty, perfect for thick sauces

Ingredients

• 2 cups semolina flour
• ½ cup aquafaba
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Step-by-Step

1. Mix: Form dough with flour, aquafaba, and oil. Rest 1 hour.
2. Shape: Roll into pencil-thick ropes, cut into ½-inch pieces. Press and drag with a cavatelli board (or fork tines).

Pro Tip: Toss with broccoli rabe and white beans for Pugliese-style.

Source: Pasta Grannies (Vegan adaptations)

4. Butternut Squash Tortellini 🎃🧅

Flavor Profile: Sweet, savory, with sage brown butter

Ingredients

• Dough: 2 cups flour + ½ cup squash puree
• Filling:
  • 1 cup roasted squash
  • 2 tbsp vegan butter
  • 1 tsp rubbed sage

Step-by-Step

1. Make dough: Knead squash puree into flour. Rest 30 mins.
2. Fill: Place 1 tsp filling on squares, fold into triangles, then wrap around finger to form rings.
3. Cook: 3 mins in boiling water.

Hack: Dust with cornmeal to prevent sticking.

Source: La Veganista by Nicole Just

Vegan Pasta Pro Tips

Freezing Guide

❄️ Stuffed pasta: Freeze in single layers on trays before bagging.
❄️ Gnocchi/Cavatelli: Freeze loose, then portion (lasts 3 months).

Sauce Pairings

• Ravioli: Lemon-caper butter
• Gnocchi: Creamy walnut pesto
• Cavatelli: Spicy ’nduja-style tomato sauce (use walnut miso paste)

Store-Bought Shortcuts

✔ Explore brands:

• Giovanni Rana (Some vegan ravioli)
• Trader Joe’s (Vegan kale gnocchi)

Always check for: Eggs, milk powder, butter.

Final Answer: Is Pasta Vegan?

✅ Yes—when you control the ingredients! These recipes replace eggs with:

• Vegetable purees (beet, squash)
• Aquafaba (for binding)
• Semolina + water (traditional Southern Italian style)

Label Tip: Even “vegan” brands may use shared equipment with eggs—check for allergen warnings.

Which stuffed pasta will you try first? Tag #VeganPastaMagic!

Sources Recap:

1. The Vegan Pasta Handbook (Stuffed pastas)
2. The Vegan Italian Kitchen (Gnocchi)
3. Pasta Grannies (Cavatelli techniques)
4. La Veganista (Gourmet fillings)

Missed Parts 1-4? Catch up on ramen hacks, lasagna secrets, and DIY noodles!