Healthy Italian Vegetarian Recipes

Carbonara, traditionally bathed in eggs, gets a vegan makeover using roasted and pureed butternut squash instead to make it ultra-creamy. A topping of ground almonds, garlic and sage gives it texture and an herby, savory flavor in place of the cheese and bacon.

This gluten-free pizza crust is packed with protein, thanks to creamy Neufchâtel (reduced-fat cream cheese), mozzarella cheese and almond flour. We like our almond pizza crusts topped with veggies to round out the meal, but feel free to use your favorite toppings.

Classic eggplant Parmesan is filled with cheese, but this vegan version combines nondairy mozzarella cheese with nutritional yeast for a dairy-free cheesy substitute. For the breading, use egg replacer, which you can find in natural-foods stores and the special-diet section of large supermarkets.

Silken tofu seasoned with cheesy-tasting nutritional yeast makes a flavorful vegan substitute for ricotta and Parmesan. Whole-wheat noodles and lots of veggies make this version healthier than a typical lasagna.

A multicooker is the perfect vessel for making homemade tomato sauce. You can sauté to develop flavor with the aromatic ingredients, then cook everything under pressure to infuse the tomatoes with garlic, onion, oregano and a splash of red wine. If the tomatoes are sweet on their own, you may not need the optional teaspoon of sugar. Taste before adding.

Nutritional yeast gives this vegan pesto a cheesy flavor, while cashews make it creamy. For a nuttier flavor, use dry-roasted cashews or toast them yourself in the oven before processing. Smear this simple spread on sandwiches, toss with warm pasta, or use it as dip for crudités.

Zucchini noodles, or "zoodles," are a gluten-free, low-calorie substitute for traditional pasta in this easy and fresh vegan dinner. For best results, toss the zucchini pasta with the basil pesto sauce and serve right away.

Shredded zucchini, eggs and cheese combine in this easy recipe for low-carb cheesy breadsticks like you would get from the pizzeria, but healthier! Dip this gluten-free appetizer in marinara or pico de gallo for even more flavor.

Use any herbs you have on hand (or surplus herbs growing in your garden) in this easy and flavorful pesto recipe. While pestos made from single herbs can be wonderful all on their own, it is also fun to play around with combinations of two or more. Some of our favorites are tarragon, chervil and parsley or mint and cilantro.

Italian seasoning is easy to make homemade: just combine a few classic Italian dried herbs--like oregano and basil--and you're on your way to sprinkling flavor on anything you cook. It's not just for Italian food! It works just as well sprinkled into scrambled eggs as it does in pasta sauce.

A creamy pesto sauce turns this simple pasta salad into a delightful dinner. Adding broccoli to the pasta cooking water just before the pasta is done is a convenient way to briefly cook it so that it turns a vivid shade of green and softens slightly.

We've taken the key ingredients of the popular caprese salad--tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil--and piled them into portobello mushroom caps to make a delicious and satisfying vegetarian main dish.

In this vegetable side dish, the Italian sauce agrodolce translates to sour ("agro") and sweet ("dolce"). Pro tip: It's as delicious on grilled summer vegetables as it is on bitter greens and roasted winter squash. Here, grilled eggplant acts like a sponge, soaking in that addictive sweet-sour sauce as it rests. No baby eggplant? No problem. Cut large eggplant into 1/4-inch-thick slices.

Traditional macaroni and cheese is transformed by adding mushrooms, spinach, and tomato sauce. And it's ready in just 20 minutes!

Skip the store-bought dinner rolls and serve this focaccia at your next gathering. A basic homemade dough recipe is transformed into a delicious Italian flatbread with the addition of lemon peel, walnuts, and herbs.

You won't believe how quick and easy it is to make this healthy pizza. Thanks to a two-ingredient dough that combines self-rising flour and Greek yogurt, there is no need for a rise time. Just roll, top and bake, and you'll have a delicious dinner on the table in under half an hour.

Whole-wheat flour, cornmeal, and flax seed meal make this tender, thin crust distinctive.

This frittata is made with cheddar cheese and zucchini and is quick and easy to prepare. With just 115 calories per serving, this is a guilt free meal.

These homemade chips have lots of Parmesan cheese baked on top so there's no need for high-calorie dip.

Reinvent this recipe every time you make it by varying the cheese and the herb. Try feta with oregano or dill, or queso fresco with cumin or red pepper flakes.