Creamy Gochujang Pasta with Tempeh
This Creamy Gochujang Pasta is a Korean-inspired fusion dish packed with umami flavor and just the right amount of heat. The smooth, creamy gochujang sauce coats every bite of pasta, while crispy tempeh pieces add a satisfying crunch and protein boost. Ready in about 30 minutes, it’s a spicy, comforting pasta dish you’ll want to make again and again.
Servings 4
Calories 628kcal
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dried pasta I like linguini
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil or other neutral oil
- 8 ounces tempeh cut into small cubes.
- 1 Tablespoon light soy sauce
- ¼ cup red onion finely minced
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2-3 Tablespoons gochujang paste
- 1 Tablespoon honey or other liquid sweetener
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup pasta water
- 1 medium lime juiced
- salt and pepper
- 2-3 cups baby spinach
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt it well, and add the pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente (about 10 minutes).
- Important! Before draining the pasta, be sure to scoop out 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Drain the pasta and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add the avocado oil, and then the tempeh cubes. Sauté until golden brown.
- Add the soy sauce and stir to combine.
- Transfer the tempeh to a bowl, and return the pan to the heat.
- Add the minced red onion to the pan and sauté until translucent—about 2-3 minutes. You may need to add a little more avocado oil to the pan at this point—tempeh is thirsty and soaks up a lot of oil!
- Add the crushed garlic and sauté for a minute more.
- Add the gochujang paste, and sauté for a minute, then add the heavy cream, honey, and lime juice.
- Add the drained pasta to the pan, and stir to combine with the sauce. Add a bit of pasta water, a couple of tablespoons at a time, until the sauce coats the noodles well.
- Add the baby spinach, and the tempeh cubes. Stir to combine, until the spinach is wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Serve!
Notes
- Nutrition values are an estimate only
- Leftovers will last for 3-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge
Nutrition
Calories: 628kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 290mg | Potassium: 597mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 2087IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 3mg