Preparation Steps

• To rehydrate the tomatoes, boil ¾ cup of water in a small pot, and remove from heat. Add the tomatoes and cover for 15 minutes. Drain the tomatoes, but save the soaking water.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the soy milk, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, lemon, and salt until smooth. Set aside.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until just shy of al dente (according to package instructions).
• Start cooking the sauce when there are 5-6 minutes left on the pasta cook time. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and tomatoes. Sauté until garlic is fragrant and slightly golden. 1-2 minutes.
• Add the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper. Sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the soaking water to deglaze the pan. Gently simmer for 1-2 minutes.
• Whisk the sauce in the bowl again and add it to the pan. Cook until it thickens slightly for about 2-4 minutes. Stir often and lower the heat if needed. If the pasta isn't finished, just lower the heat on the sauce or remove it for a minute. Taste for seasoning and add more if needed.
• When the pasta is done, reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain. Add pasta to the skillet and stir to coat. Add just a ¼ cup of pasta water and cook down until creamy and pasta is coated, about 1-2 minutes (add remaining pasta water if needed). Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Remove from heat, then sprinkle with basil and fresh-cracked pepper. Serve with vegan parmesan if desired. Enjoy!