Creamy Tomato Beyond Meatball Pasta with Violife Feta
Savory plant-based meatballs and tender wheat penne coated in a garlic tomato sauce with melted Violife feta. Rich, comforting, and packed with plant protein for a fast weeknight dinner.
Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Enily + Lila
Enily created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
A steadier afternoon
Give your day a solid food foundation
Being properly fed cannot solve a hard day, but a substantial meal can remove hunger and an energy dip from the list of things you are juggling.
Notice: mood + energy later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Store leftover portions in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 9 steps complete
Next: Bring a small pot of salted water…
- 01
Bring a small pot of salted water…
Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add whole-wheat penne to the boiling water…
Add whole-wheat penne to the boiling water and cook for 9 to 11 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
Look for: al dente, then drain and set aside
Tap card to mark done - 03
Heat olive oil in a skillet over…
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Add Beyond meatballs to the hot skillet…
Add Beyond meatballs to the hot skillet and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally until golden brown on all sides and heated through.
Look for: golden brown on all sides and heated through
Tap card to mark done - 05
Peel and mince garlic clove
Peel and mince garlic clove, then add it to the skillet with the meatballs and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Look for: fragrant
Tap card to mark done - 06
Pour tomato sauce into the skillet
Pour tomato sauce into the skillet, turn heat down to medium-low, and simmer for 3 minutes until warmed through.
Look for: warmed through
Tap card to mark done - 07
Stir fresh baby spinach into the sauce…
Stir fresh baby spinach into the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes until gently wilted.
Look for: gently wilted
Tap card to mark done - 08
Crumble Violife feta cheese over the sauce…
Crumble Violife feta cheese over the sauce and fold in cooked penne, stirring gently for 1 minute until cheese softens into a creamy sauce.
Look for: cheese softens into a creamy sauce
Tap card to mark done - 09
Transfer to a bowl and serve warm
Transfer to a bowl and serve warm.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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