Plant-based sausage pasta with homemade red pepper pesto

It’s pasta night, upgraded! Creamy, comforting and totally delicious — this plant-based version of a hearty sausage pesto pasta is one of our weeknight dinner heroes. Homemade red pepper pesto, sautéed mushrooms, sweet corn and our winning meat-free Classic Sizzler sausages, create a pasta dish that feels indulgent but is that much better for you. It’s a crowd-pleaser that comes together in under an hour.

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

Pasta

  • 6 Fry’s Classic Sizzlers, defrosted and sliced
  • 2 red peppers
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ½ cup (125ml) roasted cashew nuts
  • ¼ cup (60ml) olive oil
  • ¼ cup (60ml) nutritional yeast
  • 2 Tbsp (30ml) lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp (30ml) olive oil (for sautéing)
  • 250g mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 can corn kernels
  • 350g tagliatelle, cooked
  • Fresh basil, to serve

Method

Roast the Peppers

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Cut red peppers in half, remove seeds and stems, and place cut side down on a baking tray with garlic.
  2. Roast for 25–30 minutes until skins are charred. Transfer to a bowl, cover and steam for 10 minutes, peel skins and let cool.

Make the Red Pepper Pesto

  1. Blend roasted peppers, garlic, cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, 60ml olive oil, salt and pepper until smooth or slightly chunky.

Cook the Veg & Sizzlers

  1. Heat remaining oil in a pan on high. Sauté mushrooms for 8 minutes, seasoning halfway.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add Fry’s Sizzlers, onions and corn. Cook for 6–8 minutes.

Combine

  1. Add red pepper pesto plus a splash of pasta water for creaminess. Stir to coat everything.

To Serve

  1. Serve hot over tagliatelle and top with fresh basil.

What are good high-protein plant-based ingredients to add to pasta?

High-protein plant-based additions like legumes, tofu, tempeh and plant-based sausages can turn a simple pasta dish into a nutritionally balanced meal. Products such as Fry’s Classic Sizzlers offer convenient, flavour-rich protein that cooks quickly and pairs beautifully with sauces like pesto or tomato bases. In this recipe, the Sizzlers bring a satisfying bite and complete the pasta both nutritionally and texturally.

How can I make creamy pasta sauces without dairy?

It’s easier than you think. Blending roasted vegetables (like red peppers), nuts (such as cashews), olive oil and nutritional yeast creates rich, velvety sauces without cream or cheese. This technique is not only plant-based but also adds fibre, healthy fats and vitamins. The roasted red pepper pesto in this dish is a perfect example of a naturally creamy, dairy-free sauce that tastes indulgent.

What plant-based ingredients help boost flavour in meat-free pasta dishes?

Simple additions like caramelised onions, roasted vegetables, mushrooms, garlic, herbs and umami-boosting ingredients such as nutritional yeast, miso paste or soy sauce amplify flavour in plant-based pasta dishes. Pairing these with plant-based proteins — like Fry’s Sizzlers — creates layered, savoury depth and meaty textures without needing meat or dairy. Fresh basil, lemon juice and black pepper also brighten the final dish.

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