Did you know that Spaghettios with Meatballs contain NO meat?  The only thing that would stop a vegetarian from eating those things (besides chemicals, if you’re not into those), would be the ‘beef flavoring’.  I used to love me a can of Spaghettios with Meatballs but, y’know—ew.  I feel betrayed.

This recipe was inspired by the original ingredient list, taken word for word, minus the scary bits, then translated into healthier versions.  I was going for that sauce that tastes nothing like the usual spaghetti with tomato sauce, but instead sweeter, smoother, and more like the 1980’s.  There are no "meatballs" in here, for simplicity’s sake, but I will suggest that, if you own a copy, the meatball recipe from the Veganomicon would be perfect.  Just make them small. 

Nutritional yeast, if you choose to use it, can be found in your local health food store.  It is B-12-filled alternative to cheese.  Also try it with fresh lemon juice and sea salt on your steamed broccoli. 

Note:  The pasta type is left up to you, but none of this works without an appropriately spagettio-esque shape.  For this reason, I had to use refined flour pasta (something called Ditalini that is vaguely ‘O’-shaped)…and will continue to do so until the world evolves to the point where whole grain pastas dominate the market-place and come in every imaginable style and shape. 

Prep Time:  5 Minutes
Cooking Time:  15 Minutes
Yield:  About 4 Servings
Ingredients:
½ Lb. Small Pasta (see note)
6 oz. Tomato Paste
1 Cup Vegetable Stock
1 Tsp Onion Powder
1 Tsp Garlic Powder
2-1/2 Tbsp Agave Nectar or Honey
¼ Cup Nutritional Yeast (optional)

Directions:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Drop in pasta and cook until soft, then drain and set aside.  In a saucepan, combine tomato paste, vegetable stock, onion powder, garlic powder, and sweetener.  Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and, stirring occasionally, cook for about 5 minutes or until heated through and well-combined.  Stir in nutritional yeast, if desired, then combine with cooked pasta in a large bowl.  Stir well to combine.  Serve.