Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year because my parents and I lived in the south of Spain and the rest of my family in the north, so we spent the holidays with them. Besides, my birthday is on January 1st, so it was (and is) a great time for me!
I love to eat, I really do, so this is another reason to enjoy Christmas time because all the delicious food it’s available and this is one of my favorite recipes, I always make this at least once during the holidays. When I wasn’t vegan, this was my favorite recipe and is really easy to make a vegan version. It’s a dish I’ve found in some Italian restaurants in Spain and they call it “lombo al pepe”. It’s made with pork loin, pasta and a creamy peppercorn sauce made with cooking cream. I’ve used seitan instead of the pork, extra virgin oil (I don’t know if they use oil or butter) and vegetable cooking cream. It tastes even better, I promise!
This is not a super healthy and light recipe, I know that, but it tastes so good you can’t die without trying it at least once in your life, seriously. You know I usually follow a low fat diet, but as I make this once in a while (literally once or twice a year) it’s not a big deal. If you make this recipe, please let me know, I love knowing from you so much!
Tips:
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and other meat substitutes like tofu or tempeh.
- Potatoes can also be a great side for this dish instead of the pasta. Just bake, steam or boil them until they’re soft.
- The traditional recipe is made with peppercorns, but I usually only add ground black pepper because it’s easier to eat and enjoy the dish. Just add ground black pepper to taste, but not the whole 2 tablespoons, it would be too much pepper.
Pasta with Peppercorn Sauce and Seitan
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- 2-4 1x
- Main Dish
- Italian
- Vegan
Servings 2-4 1x
This is one of the most delicious dishes I’ve ever tried. I know it’s not a super healthy and light recipe, but it’s totally worth it!
Ingredients
- 7 oz pasta of your choice (200 g)
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 10 oz sliced seitan (300 g)
For the sauce
- 2 tbsp peppercorns
- 1/4 cup white wine or cognac (65 ml)
- 1/4 cup vegetable broth (65 ml)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup vegetable cooking cream (250 g), see notes for a healthier and homemade alternative
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the seitan over medium-high heat until is golden brown on both sides. Set aside the seitan for later.
- Cook the peppercorns and the wine in the frying pan over high heat for about 1 or 2 minutes or until the alcohol evaporates.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, stir and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
- Add the seitan and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Finally, remove the frying pan from the heat, add the pasta, stir and serve.
Notes
- If you can’t find the vegetable cooking cream, you could blend 2/3 cup of cashews with 1/3 cup water until well combined. Don’t forget to soak the cashews overnight with water at room temperature or with hot water for at least 1 hour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 564
- Sugar: 4.7 g
- Sodium: 769.7 mg
- Fat: 31.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 14.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 44.5 g
- Fiber: 3.3 g
- Protein: 25.3 g
- Cholesterol: 81.5 mg
You do not explain what ‘vegetable cooking cream’ is. What is it?
Hi Marc! It’s a plant-based cream for cooking. You could blend some cashews with water and add some salt if you can’t find it. Hope it helps!
That looks delicious! However, I would substitute the cream for cashew cream, and leave out the oil. For a healthier alternative.
Hi Karen! Thanks a lot 🙂 Yes, it’s a great alternative. Happy New Year!!!
Id also like to know what Vegetable cooking cream is, havnt heard of it or seen it anywhere here. Do you have a recipe for it or ?
Hi Maureen! It’s a common ingredient here in Spain and I think it is in other European countries as well, but maybe not in America… It’s a vegetable or vegan version of cooking cream. If you can’t find it, you could try to add more oil, some plant milk and also some thickener like cornstarch to make a homemade version. You could also blend overnight soaked cashews with some milk. Hope it works!
Enjoy your recipes very much! I live in NYC and I’m not sure what vegetable cooking cream is-haven’t seen it on the shelves here. Any suggestions for a substitute or make your own recipe? Thanks!
Hi Amy! Thanks 😀 It’s a common ingredient here in Spain and I think it is in other European countries as well, but maybe not in America… It’s a vegetable or vegan version of cooking cream. If you can’t find it, you could try to add more oil, some plant milk and also some thickener like cornstarch to make a homemade version. You could also blend overnight soaked cashews with some milk. Hope it works!
This sounds like a recipe I could easily be addicted to. I have recently started making seitan and now I’m trying to collect more recipes to use it. I also was stumped by cooking cream. I haven’t heard of it.
Love your blog!
Hi Mary! Thanks a lot, you’re so kind 🙂 It’s a common ingredient here in Spain and I think it is in other European countries, but maybe not in America… It’s a vegetable or vegan version of cooking cream. If you can’t find it, you could try to add more oil, some plant milk and also some thickener like cornstarch to make a homemade version. You could also blend overnight soaked cashews with some milk. Hope it works!
This looks delicious. Can you tell us more sbout the Vegatable Cooking Cream? I don’t know what it is. Thanks
You can use coconut milk full cream or Oatly cream , or Alpro cream .
★★★★★
Hi Jan! Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂
Hi Peter! It’s a common ingredient here in Spain and I think it is in other European countries, but maybe not in America… It’s a vegetable or vegan version of cooking cream. If you can’t find it, you could try to add more oil, some plant milk and also some thickener like cornstarch to make a homemade version. You could also blend overnight soaked cashews with some milk. Hope it works!