Coconut Milk Pasta Sauce Recipe – Creamy & Savory

Coconut milk pasta sauce is super easy to make and a vegan, healthy recipe for pasta lovers, and it’s ready in just 15 minutes. It’s creamy, flavorful, and a perfect sauce for pasta, grilled vegetables, and chicken.

It’s a simple recipe that’s ready in very less time and does not require any special ingredients. You can easily make it with the ingredients you have at home.

Pasta is the best comfort food around, and I love saucy, creamy pasta. I personally don’t follow a vegan lifestyle, but my friends who do, feel like there isn’t much you can do when it comes to making vegan pasta.

But that is completely wrong! With simple ingredients like coconut milk, you can make an amazing curry or sauce for your pasta. You can even use it to make vegan mac and cheese, or soups.

For this dish, I have used the full-fat version of the coconut milk as its creamier and has more flavor. You can also use the light version but for that, you will have to cook the sauce for longer to achieve the thickness.

If you don’t wish to keep the dish vegan, you can add Parmesan or cheddar cheese for a creamy thick pasta sauce. For a more filling dish, you can even add grilled chicken pieces or bacon. It’s definitely not vegetarian, but it’s very delicious.

With a few ingredients like coconut milk, garlic, basil, tomatoes, and olive oil, you have the perfect comfort food ready in minutes.

You can serve pasta with garlic bread, or a light salad. I like it and serve it with roasted brussels sprout, broccoli, and a side of mashed potatoes. If you want more flavor, you can also opt for roasted or grilled vegetables like zucchini, smoked poblano peppers, onions, and carrots.

Key Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta of your choice
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can of chopped tomatoes
• 1 can of coconut milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• Fresh basil and oregano
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Variations

• If you don’t have fresh tomatoes, you can use store-bought tomato puree or tomato paste.
• If you don’t want vegan pasta, feel free to add chopped bacon.
• You can skip the tomatoes, and just make a simple white pasta sauce with tofu cheese or any other vegan cheese option.
• If you want the pasta to be more filling, add broccoli and mushrooms with garlic and stir fry before adding tomatoes.

Chef Notes

1. You can use any pasta you have for this recipe. I have used penne pasta. It also works with whole wheat or spelt pasta.
2. If you don’t have fresh basil, you can use dried oregano, or Italian seasoning to bring out the flavor of coconut milk.
3. If your sauce is thin, there are different ways to thicken the sauce. You can use a roux or cornstarch to achieve your desired consistency.
4. Be careful with salt in the sauce as your pasta will be salty as well, so you can start by adding a little, and check to make it to your taste.
5. You can store the leftover coconut milk sauce in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Make sure it’s stored in an airtight container.

How do you make coconut milk sauce thicker?

You can coconut milk sauce either by simmering the sauce on medium heat for more time. This will ensure that the sauce retains its flavor.

You can also add a cornstarch slurry as a thickening agent, but it will affect the flavor of the sauce, and you might need to increase the seasoning.

However, if you’re short on time, just make a slurry by mixing cornstarch into a few tablespoons of water and adding it to the mixture. You can also check out my separate blog on ways to thicken the sauce for more options.

Does Coconut Milk Curdle When Cooking?

Yes, if you cook coconut milk too long at high temperatures, it will start to curdle. This is why when you are making this recipe, it’s recommended to cook the sauce at medium flame so it stays in its natural consistency.

Also, make sure to stir constantly while cooking. As a rule of thumb, you can simmer coconut milk for 30-40 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1

Calories: 638kcal	Carbohydrates: 80g
Protein: 16g	Fat: 29g
Sugar: 4g	Sodium: 109g

Conclusion

Making a coconut milk pasta sauce is a delicious and dairy-free alternative to traditional creamy pasta sauces. This creamy and flavorful coconut milk pasta sauce recipe is not only delicious but also versatile. You can customize it by adding your favorite vegetables, protein (such as shrimp, chicken, or tofu), or extra spices to suit your taste preferences.