Creamy Vegan Jamaican Jerk Pasta

This creamy Jamaican Jerk Pasta is a super simple yet wildly flavorful pasta recipe. It’s loaded with sautéed veggies, signature Jamaican Jerk flair, and more. You’ll love this dairy-free, vibrant 1-pot pasta that is quick, unfussy, and perfect to enjoy either warm or cold. We love to serve this as a festive side dish or main entree alike!

Have you ever had something to eat at a place that left you in your feels?

Like boo, it seriously had you thinking about said dish hours later?! That was me a few weeks ago. You see, I happened to find myself in downtown Tampa to meet up with a friend for brunch. Aiming to avoid the downtown parking traffic, I ended up arriving a little too early so I wandered into some unfamiliar shops to kill some time.

Sometimes it’s a good thing to get lost and find new places because I stumbled into what I thought was a little food market but it led me to something else. At the back of the market, almost unseen, was this little vegan café with a real homey down-to-earth vibe.

I looked around and asked the clerk what was popular. Without thought, he quickly pointed to this creamy-looking noodle dish in their case. He said, “This vegan jerk pasta is quite a fan favorite but it has some heat.” And when he further explained the ingredients, mentioning jerk seasoning, I was sold…he didn’t know of my affinity for all things jerk, ha!

I found a little corner in the café, sat down, and went to town. With every lip-smack and bite, I just knew I had to re-create my own version of that vegan jerk pasta. As a result, here we are, friends.

Ingredients Needed For This Recipe

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

• Pasta: I use cavatappi pasta for this recipe because I love its coily shape that holds the light sauce and other ingredients very well. However, feel free to use any other short-cut pasta here.
• Olive oil: To sauté the veggies.
• Veggies: Onion, bell pepper, celery, and carrots.
• Garlic: Everything is better with a little garlic.
• Jamaican Jerk seasoning: The main star- Most grocery stores have dry Jamaican Jerk seasoning in the spice aisle. This will be the only seasoning used here since it is a well-rounded spice that contains a variety of flavors.
• Tomatoes: For more depth and texture, love the bite that they add.
• Coconut cream: It adds a touch of creaminess to the party (dairy-free, yay!).

How To Make Vegan Jerk Pasta:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Then generously salt the water and cook the pasta according to package directions, al dente. Once done, drain the pasta and set aside. Then return the pot to the stovetop.
2. In the same pot over medium-low heat, add the olive oil. When hot, add the onion, bell peppers, celery, and carrots. Stir the veggie mixture well to combine and sauté until somewhat tender and golden, about 5-6 minutes. Next, add the garlic and continue cooking until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
3. Lastly, add the cooked and drained pasta along with the Jamaican Jerk seasoning, tomatoes, and coconut cream and stir until well combined and the pasta is fully coated. Then remove from heat.
4. Serve the jerk pasta in bowls and garnish with fresh herbs for some added freshness. Dig in and enjoy ya life! 😛

A Few Notes On This Pasta Recipe:

One of the things I love about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can enjoy this dish either warm or cold (like a cold pasta salad type of situation). In addition, if keeping things strictly vegan isn’t your thing, you can also add your choice of protein- i.e grilled chicken, steak, salmon, or shrimp!

As I previously mentioned, I love jerk seasoning and the subtle heat it brings. Although jerk is typically a bit heat intensive, it balances well with the rest of the ingredients and against the creaminess of the coconut cream. If you’re sensitive to heat, you can add a tablespoon of jerk seasoning at a time and taste as you go for preference. The island flavors really do hit beautifully in this here colorful dish, y’all.

This Jamaican Jerk Pasta is vibrant, flavorful, and super easy. It’ll make for one epic side dish or main dish that hits. Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More Caribbean-forward eats:

• Caribbean Rum Cake
• Jamaican Beef Patties
• Red Peas Soup
• Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken Tacos
• Jamaican Rice & Peas
• Caribbean Cornmeal Porridge

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Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: Ashley McLaughlin