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Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

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The ultimate fall comfort food, these vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed shells are cheesy, creamy, chewy, and garlicky. Made with a homemade vegan ricotta spread, pumpkin, and the best garlic bรฉchamel sauce, you'll never put your fork down!
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 1 hour 5 minutes
Total 1 hour 15 minutes
5 from 139 votes

These pumpkin ricotta stuffed shells are the ULTIMATE comfort food for fall: cheesy, creamy, chewy, and garlicky all at once. A must-make during the colder months and a guaranteed way to blow everyone away at your holiday table!

	Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Why youโ€™ll love these Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Fall comfort food: Giant pasta shells get stuffed in a cheesy pumpkin filling, topped with a creamy white sauce, and then baked in the oven. Itโ€™s the epitome of comfort food for cold weather and pumpkin season!

Texture, texture, texture! The contrast of the chewy baked shells with the creamy filling and sauce is so good you wonโ€™t be able to put your fork down! This is one of my favorite secret tofu recipes – most people would never suspect it’s an ingredient!

Crowd pleasing holiday dish. I have made this for two Thanksgiving dinners, one Christmas dinner, and one fall dinner party, and this dish is always a hit. It usually gets the โ€œI canโ€™t believe this is veganโ€ line, and according to many of you, the results are the exact same in your homes :)

Surprisingly easy. Despite this being a crowd pleasing and impressive dish fancy enough for the holidays, itโ€™s actually quite easy to assemble and make. If you watch the video down below or on Youtube, youโ€™ll be able to see that itโ€™s really easy and doesnโ€™t require any special cooking skills.

Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

Watch! How to make Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells.

Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells | brilliant vegan recipe ๐Ÿ‚
Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells | brilliant vegan recipe ๐Ÿ‚

Ingredients + Methods for this Recipe

Jumbo Pasta Shells

You can find jumbo pasta shells at many grocery stores (though not all). Iโ€™ve found them at Whole Foods, Vons, and Ralphs, as well as stores like Target and Walmart. The large shell size, in combination with the decadent filling and sauce, mean that just a few shells will satisfy your cravings!

Cook the shells in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. When the shells are done cooking, drain them and toss them with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking and drying out.

Pumpkin Ricotta Filling

This filling is so tasty yet so easy to make and comes together in less than 10 minutes. It starts with my homemade vegan tofu ricotta cheese. I use a variation of this cheeze in a number of my recipes, from lasagna to savory tarts.

The tofu ricotta requires extra firm tofu, nutritional yeast, and a few dried herbs and seasonings to achieve the traditional texture of traditional ricotta. The nice thing about it is you donโ€™t have to press the tofu – you just need to pat dry excess water before crumbling it up. The other nice thing is that the food processor does all the work for you. All you do is add the ingredients to a food processor and pulse repeatedly until slightly smooth but still a little chunky.

Traditional ricotta is fairly bland in taste, but my vegan version is so flavorful that youโ€™ll want to eat it on its own! (many readers do just this).

Then, the tofu ricotta gets folded into a pumpkin filling, which features canned pumpkin purรฉe, freshly grated nutmeg, salt, pepper, and vegan parmesan cheese for that extra cheesy goodness. The pumpkin and nutmeg bring a slightly sweet and slightly earthy flair that is irresistible! The slightly sweet yet spicy aroma of freshly grated nutmeg will truly delight your taste buds, so please donโ€™t skip this step!

Looking for tips on how to make tofu taste AMAZING? Check out my comprehensive guide to cooking tofu.ย 

stuffed shells in pan, unbaked.

Garlic Bรฉchamel Sauce

The final component of this delicious dish is the creamy garlic white sauce. Iโ€™ve made my fair share of plant-based white sauces, and this recipe is by far my favorite. Itโ€™s so creamy and flavorful that you can eat it by the spoon. You know a dish is going to be amazing when you can eat two of the components by the spoon.

Start off by cooking some onions in extra virgin olive oil until nicely softened and lightly browned, then add the garlic until very fragrant. The cooked onions and garlic are what take this sauce from an ordinary Bรฉchamel sauce to an extremely flavorful, garlicky Bรฉchamel sauce. After they are done cooking, youโ€™ll add all-purpose flour and stir to incorporate, similar to making a roux.

And then to make this white sauce super creamy without using dairy-based milk or cream, I use canned โ€œliteโ€ coconut milk. Itโ€™s creamy enough to make this sauce luxurious and decadent, but light enough that the sauce wonโ€™t turn out too heavy or thick. The flour will help thicken the sauce very quickly, and it should take just 2 minutes.

Transfer the sauce to a blender, add salt and pepper, and blend until smooth and creamy! Keep in mind that if you taste this sauce before blending, it will taste quite coconutty. But, once you add the salt and pepper and blend it up in a blender until creamy, I promise it loses that coconut taste!

unbaked stuffed shells in pan.

To assemble the dish, pour about 1/2 cup of the Bรฉchamel sauce onto the bottom of a 13×9-inch (33×23 cm) rectangular pan (a 3 liter pan).

Stuff 1 to 2 tablespoons of the pumpkin ricotta filling into each jumbo shell. Arrange the stuffed shells on top of the sauce. Then drizzle the remaining sauce on top of the shells. Finally, scatter some chopped sage leaves on top for that earthy, woodsy perfect-for-fall flavor!

Bake in the oven at 350ยฐF (or 175ยฐC) for 25 minutes until the shells are lightly golden!

Tips for making this recipe

Cook the pasta in well-salted boiling water until just al dente.

I always recommend cooking pasta in well-salted water because thatโ€™s what will bring some flavor to the pasta. Obviously, the filling and sauce will have lots of flavor, but you want every little bite to be well seasoned, even the parts of the pasta that donโ€™t have filling.

Also, donโ€™t cook the shells past the al dente stage – they should still have a bit of bite to them. Since the stuffed shells will get baked in the oven for a bit, you definitely donโ€™t want them to be too soft, or else the end dish could be a bit mushy.

Use freshly grated nutmeg.

I know I sound like a bougie food snob channeling her inner Ina Garten when I say this, but freshly grated nutmeg really does make a big difference and adds so much more depth and intensity of flavor compared to pre-ground nutmeg. Plus, fresh nutmeg pods have an excellent shelf life when stored properly, about 3-4 years, so itโ€™s an inexpensive purchase compared to ground nutmeg, which will lose its potency much quicker.

Donโ€™t overbake the stuffed shells.

The shells will start to dry out if theyโ€™re baked too long, so keep an eye on them and use an oven thermometer if you have one!

Same goes for reheating.

Reheat leftover shells in a low oven, about 300ยบF/150ยบC for 15 to 20 minutes until warmed through. When reheated at 350ยบF/175ยบC, the edges of the shells dry out.

Serve as a main or a side dish.

Since this dish is so creamy and indulgent, I often serve it as a side dish for a crowd. But, itโ€™s also so delicious that many people prefer it as a main dish (my dinner party guests certainly do!). However you serve it, I guarantee that your guests will never know itโ€™s vegan and/or will be very pleased.

Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

How to make this recipe ahead of time

You can make pumpkin ricotta filling 1-3 days in advance. You can also make the garlic bรฉchamel sauce a day or two in advance.

Then, on the day of serving, you can (1) cook the shells, (2) stuff the shells with the pumpkin ricotta filling, and (3) bake the dish.

To save even more time on the big day, you can even stuff the cooked pasta shells in advance and store them in the fridge 1 day ahead of time. Then on the day of cooking, pour some bรฉchamel sauce on the bottom of the pan, arrange the shells on top, and bring to room temperature. Then bake as directed in the recipe card.

pumpkin shells on plate.

How to make homemade pumpkin puree

If you canโ€™t find canned pumpkin puree, you can make your own pumpkin puree using fresh pumpkin!

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF/205ยฐC.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Cut the pumpkin in half, from stem to end, using a rocking motion as you rotate the pumpkin. Youโ€™ll need a very sharp large knife. If itโ€™s still too difficult to cut, pop the whole pumpkin in the microwave for 1 minute. Try again, and if youโ€™re still not able to cut it, microwave for another 30 to 60 seconds.
  4. When youโ€™ve sliced the pumpkin, pull the halves apart – they should separate at the stem. Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and as much of the stringy bits you can.
  5. Lightly sprinkle the flesh with kosher salt. Place the pumpkin halves, cut side down, on the lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake pumpkin until the flesh is tender and the skin is pulling away from the flesh, 40-45 minutes (dependent on size).
  7. Once the pumpkin is cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh into a food processor and blend until very smooth, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  8. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 5 to 7 days, or you can freeze it for several months.

More Fantastic Pumpkin Recipes


Looking for the the gourmet upgrade from my 2023 YouTube video featuring an herb-infused garlic bรฉchamel sauce, caramelized leeks, and fried sage? Check out the second recipe card below!

pumpkin ricotta stuffed jumbo shells on a speckled white plate, garnished with cream sauce and fried sage.

If you give this Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells recipe a try, be sure to tag me on Instagram with your recreations and please comment with your feedback below!

Big Vegan Flavor

Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.

Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

5 from 139 votes
The ultimate fall comfort food, these vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed shells are cheesy, creamy, chewy, and garlicky. Made with a homemade vegan ricotta spread, pumpkin, and the best garlic bรฉchamel sauce, you'll never put your fork down!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired, New American
Diet Vegan
Serving size: 8

Ingredients

  • 26 to 30 jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Tofu Ricotta (recipe below)
  • 1 cup (240-250g) canned pumpkin purรฉe*
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup (50-60g) vegan parmesan cheese* (optional but recommended)
  • Garlic Bรฉchamel Sauce (recipe below)
  • 15 fresh sage leaves, sliced or torn up

Tofu Ricotta

  • 1 (14-ounce/400g) block of extra-firm tofu
  • 1/4 cup (20g) nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small lemon, zested and 1 tablespoon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Garlic Bรฉchamel Sauce

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 (13.5 ounce/400 mL) can โ€œliteโ€ coconut milk**, can shaken or stirred well
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta shells. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil and generously salt the water. Add the jumbo pasta shells and cook according to the box instructions until just al dente (do not overcook!), then drain well.
  • Transfer the cooked pasta shells to a baking sheet and drizzle with the 1 tablespoon olive oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
  • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF (or 175ยฐC). Grab a a 13×9-inch (33×23 cm) rectangular oven-safe baking dish (a 3 liter pan).
  • While the pasta is cooking, prepare the Tofu Ricotta. Drain the block of tofu and dab away the excess water with some paper towels. Place the tofu in a food processor. Add the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, a generous amount of pepper, extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and crushed red pepper flakes.
    Pulse repeatedly until the texture is relatively smooth but still a little chunky, similar to the texture of ricotta cheese.
  • Make the pumpkin ricotta filling. In a large bowl, combine the Tofu Ricotta, pumpkin purรฉe, nutmeg, and vegan parmesan cheese (if using). Fold the ingredients together using a silicone spatula.
    Taste the filling and adjust the seasonings accordingly, adding more salt, pepper, or nutmeg as needed. Spoon 1-2 tablespoons of the filling into each jumbo pasta shell, and set aside.
  • Make the Garlic Bรฉchamel Sauce. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add onion and season with a pinch of salt. Cook for 6-7 minutes, or until the onion is softened and lightly browned.
    Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
    Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the flour, whisking constantly for a minute until well incorporated.
    Gradually pour in the lite coconut milk in stages, whisking after each addition to prevent clumps, and then cook for 2 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
  • Blend the sauce. Transfer the sauce to a blender and add the 1 teaspoon kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste the sauce for seasonings, adding more salt or pepper as desired.
  • Assemble the dish. Pour 1/2 cup of the Garlic Bรฉchamel Sauce into the baking dish (enough for a thin layer on the bottom of the pan).
    Arrange the stuffed jumbo shells on top of the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce on top of the shells. Scatter the chopped fresh sage leaves on top of the sauce.
    Bake the stuffed shells for 22-25 minutes, or until the pasta shells are lightly golden. Serve warm.

Notes

* You can use canned pumpkin puree or make your own; see blog post on โ€œhow to make homemade pumpkin pureeโ€ for instructions.ย 
** The vegan parmesan cheeses Iโ€™ve used are Follow Your Heart shredded parmesan and Violife vegan parmesan wedge.
*** To make your own โ€œliteโ€ coconut milk, mix together 1 part full-fat canned coconut milk with 2 parts water, stir together until well combined. Then measure out 13.5 ounces (400 mL).
To reheat, add leftovers to a baking dish and bake at 300ยบF/150ยบC for 15 to 20 minutes, or until warmed through. [Don’t bake at a higher temp, as the shells might harden].ย 

Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 575mg | Potassium: 283mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4770IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg

Big Vegan Flavor

Techniques and 150 recipes to master vegan cooking.

Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells (Gourmet Version)

5 from 90 votes
A fancy upgrade to the original Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed shells recipe for a more gourmet experience! These pumpkin ricotta stuffed shells feature an herb-infused garlic bรฉchamel sauce, caramelized leeks, and fried sage for the ultimate holiday dish.
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Serving size: 8

Ingredients

Pumpkin Ricotta Filling

  • 14 oz (400g) block of extra-firm tofu
  • 1/4 cup (20g) nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small lemon, zested + 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup (240g) canned pumpkin purรฉe
  • ยฝ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup (50-60g) vegan parmesan cheese* (optional but recommended)

Pasta

  • 10 to 12 oz (~300g) jumbo pasta shells
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons olive oil

Infused Milk

  • 2 cups (480 mL) full-fat oat milk**
  • 6 to 8 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 sprig fresh sage
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Freshly grated nutmeg

Garlic & Leek Bรฉchamel Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium leeks*** (1 pound or 450g pre-trimmed)
  • 6 cloves garlic
  • ยผ to ยฝ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • ยผ cup (32g) all-purpose flour
  • Infused Milk

Fried Sage Leaves (optional)

  • 1 cup (210g) neutral-flavored oil of choice
  • 20 to 30 leaves fresh sage

Instructions

  • Make the Pumpkin Tofu Ricotta. Drain the tofu and dab away some excess water with a towel. Place the tofu in a food processor. Add in the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 ยฝ teaspoons kosher salt, and a generous amount of pepper. Blend until the mixture is creamy and thick, scraping down the sides as you go. Taste, adding more salt or lemon juice as desired.
  • Transfer ricotta to a medium bowl. Add in the pumpkin, nutmeg, and parmesan cheese (if using). Fold together using a silicone spatula. Taste the filling and adjust the seasonings accordingly, adding more salt, pepper, or nutmeg as needed. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil for the jumbo shells.
  • While the water comes to a boil, infuse the milk. In a saucepan, combine the oat milk, thyme and sage sprigs, bay leaf, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, several cracks of pepper, and a few grates of fresh nutmeg, if desired. Heat over medium-low heat and gradually bring it to a gentle simmer. Once gently simmering, remove from the heat. Strain the milk in a sieve, discarding the herb sprigs and bay leaf. Set aside to cool.
  • Prepare the leeks. While the water is coming to a boil, peel the tough outer layers and discard, along with any bruised tops. Slice the leeks pretty thinly, about 1/8โ€ (.3 cm) thick, including the dark green tops. Add the leeks to a large bowl and cover with cold water.
    a. Let rest for a few minutes. In the meantime, chop the garlic.
    b. Run your hands in the water to loosen the dirt from the leeks, then scoop the leeks out using your hands or a slotted spoon (donโ€™t drain or the dirt will go back into the leeks). Pat the leeks dry.
  • Cook the pasta. Once the water is boiling, salt the water generously. Add the shells and cook according to the box instructionsโ€™ minimum cook time for just al dente (do not overcook!), stirring occasionally. Drain well and transfer cooked shells to a sheet pan. Drizzle with just a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
  • Arrange an oven rack in the middle and preheat the oven to 350ยฐF (or 175ยฐC).
  • Make the Bรฉchamel Sauce. Heat a large sautรฉ pan over medium heat with the 4 TBSP olive oil. Once hot, add the leeks and season with a generous pinch of salt. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, or until quite soft and starting to brown on the edges.
  • Scoop out a bit more than half of the leeks into a bowl. Set aside.
  • Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the leeks. Cook for 60 to 90 seconds, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the flour, whisking or stirring constantly for 1 minute until thick. Gradually pour in the Infused Milk in stages, whisking after each addition to prevent clumps. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce has thickened. Take off the heat.
  • Blend the sauce. Transfer the sauce to a blender. Blend until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste the sauce for seasonings, adding salt or pepper as needed.
  • Assemble. Spoon the pumpkin ricotta filling into each jumbo pasta shell.
    a. Pour a thin layer of the Bรฉchamel Sauce on the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish. Arrange the stuffed jumbo shells on top of the sauce. Scatter the reserved sautรฉed leeks on top.
    b. Pour the remaining Bรฉchamel Sauce on top of the shells. Bake the stuffed shells for about 22 minutes, or until the pasta shells are lightly golden on the edges.
  • While the shells bake, make the fried sage leaves, if using. Pour the oil into a medium saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Bring the oil up to 350ยบF to 360ยบF (~180ยบC); it will take 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, line the sheet pan used to store the pasta shells with a few layers of paper towels.
    a. To test if the oil is hot enough, add one sage leaf. If it sizzles quite a lot immediately, itโ€™s hot enough. Add the rest of the sage leaves and stir with a slotted spoon or spider. Once the bubbles become less intense, 20 to 40 seconds, use the slotted spoon to scoop the leaves out of the oil and onto the lined sheet pan.
    b. Season the leaves lightly with kosher salt. The sage will get crisp as it cools.
  • Top the warm stuffed shells with whole fried sage leaves, or use your hands to crush up the crispy sage leaves all over the shells. Serve warm.

Notes

* The vegan parmesan cheeses Iโ€™ve used are Follow Your Heart shredded parmesan and Violife vegan parmesan wedge
** I recommend using a full-fat oat milk (I like Oatly) to ensure the sauce is creamy and rich.ย 
*** Leeks are dirty! Be sure to wash thoroughly. Instructions are in the video at this timestamp.ย 
Reheat leftover shells in a low oven, about 300ยบF/150ยบC for 15 to 20 minutes until warmed through. When reheated at 350ยบF/175ยบC, the edges of the shells dry out.
ย 
ย 

Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 426mg | Potassium: 379mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5227IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 3mg

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4.97 from 139 votes (52 ratings without comment)

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262 comments on Vegan Pumpkin Ricotta Stuffed Shells

  1. Ciara

    Do you think this would be good if you added purรฉed sweet potato to it also? Or would it overpower the pumpkin?

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Ciara, I think it would add too much sweetness, which might be odd in a savory dish like cheesy stuffed shells.

  2. Bridgette

    5 stars
    Great recipe! I needed a vegan alfredo sauce in my life and the stuffed shells were awesome. I got to use fresh sage and onions from our garden, a first! My non-vegan tofu hating husband had 3 helpings! It was fun to make and I think I used to much lemon zest but it was great, thank you!!

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Yay, we’re so happy to hear you and your husband are hugs fans of the recipe, Bridgette! And I’m jealous about the homegrown sage and onion part- that’s awesome! Thanks for sharing :)

  3. Vicki Vincent

    Hi Nisha
    I am wanting to make this recipe but I cannot buy jumbo pasta shells in Australia
    Do you have any suggestions for a substitute?
    I love your recipes thanks so much
    Vicki

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Vicki! Too bad you’re not able to find jumbo pasta shells where you are. This recipe could potentially be converted to a lasagna recipe, though we haven’t tried it ourselves.

      First, make sure you use cooked lasagna noodles, not the โ€œno-boilโ€ noodles- since thereโ€™s not enough liquid-y sauce to cook the noodles. Also, since we havenโ€™t tried this lasagna ourselves, we aren’t sure how much filling it would make, but we suspect less than a 13×9โ€ pan. Weโ€™d say a 10-12 inch cast iron skillet would work really well for the amount of filling, or a square baking pan.ย 

      Best of luck!

  4. Karishma

    5 stars
    Another fabulous recipe. Served this at Christmas and my guests couldn’t believe it was plant-based. The tofu ricotta is so rich and creamy. Absolutely divine. Can’t wait to make this again. Next time I’ll make a double batch in the hopes there are leftovers.

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Lovely, Karishma! Thanks for making the recipe and sharing with your guests!

  5. Dale

    5 stars
    What an amazing dish! I’m fully plant-based and my husband is almost there! I can’t say enough on how light and flavourful this dish is. My husband had seconds and so did I. Because I’m celiac, I had to use gluten-free rice shells. The dish still turned out amazing. If you weren’t vegan, you wouldn’t know the difference. Thanks for such as amazing dish!!
    Dale
    Ontario, Canada
    BTW, I shared this recipe with friends and told them to follow you on Instagram ๐Ÿฅฐ

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Dale. Thanks for making the recipe and sharing it with loved ones! :)

  6. Emily

    5 stars
    I made this for my teenage nephew last Christmas (who is not vegan, but has a beef and dairy allergy). He has requested I make it again this year! I didnโ€™t love the tofu for ricotta, so Iโ€™m gonna try it with cashews instead this time. It was a lot of work, but โ€˜tis the season, otherwise, loved it!

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Aw, we’re so happy to hear he requested the shells again this year! Thanks for making the recipe and leaving a thoughtful review, Emily!

  7. Sophie

    5 stars
    This is so delicious, creamy, and the perfect fall comfort food. One small drawback is that it took me way longer than 10 minutes to prep, plus I couldn’t find jumbo shells, so I spent like 45 minutes stuffing stupid medium-sized shells. ๐Ÿ™„ I had some leftover pasta, vegan parmesan, and pumpkin so I made it again tonight. It’s a work night, so no stuffing shells for me; I just layered the noodles with the pumpkin-ricotta mix, and it was just as good. My son hates all things vegan but judged it “actually very good”, and my vegan daughter who doesn’t really like vegetables (I am trying to fix that by using your recipes) loved it, so it’s a win. Thank you!

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Aw, sorry it didn’t go as expected, but we’re happy the recipe was a hit!

    2. Jessica

      yeah, if they didn’t have big shells, I probably would have gone with manicotti or just rolled the filling in some halved lasagna sheets – glad the different pasta worked out for you.

  8. Molly

    5 stars
    This was a huge hit at my Thanksgiving table! I used lite coconut milk as the recipe instructs and I didn’t have any issues with a strong coconut flavor. It was perfectly savory and complemented the pumpkin ricotta perfectly. I topped mine with breadcrumbs for an extra crunch. My friend has also made this recipe but as a lasagne instead of stuffed shells and she said it was fantastic.

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Molly, So good to hear everyone loved this recipe! :)

  9. Cathy

    5 stars
    Made this dish last year for Thanksgiving. It was so delicious it’s a repeat for this year. Happy Thanksgiving

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Wonderful, thanks for sharing Cathy! Happy Thanksgiving!

  10. Robin

    Has anyone tried freezing this? Need small batches for 2 of us. I haven’t made it yet. Looks good, just really big for 2 small eaters

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Robin, unfortunately none of these components really freeze well besides maybe the sauce that could be blended after thawing. Could you try to halve the recipe?

  11. Tamara

    5 stars
    This was just incredible, it tasted amazing on the first try and I will make it again. I didn’t blend the Bรฉchamel sauce because I was short on time, but it still came out perfect. The mix of flavors in the ricotta is especially great. The only change I will make next time is serving it with a starter, since I ignored that it’s listed as a side dish and wanted to make it the whole meal :).

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Tamara. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to review!

  12. Meagan

    5 stars
    Fantastic!! (As always!) I forgot and used the whole can of pumpkin. Still tasted great!
    I think no one would believe this was vegan! Thanks for another amazing recipe. And one that will be a huge hit at any holiday event!

    1. Kaitlin @ Rainbow Plant Life

      We’re glad you enjoyed the stuffed shells, Meagan! :) So lovely to hear others enjoyed the recipe as well.

  13. Brittney R Fullerton

    How much pumpkin are you suppose to use??

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      1 cup (240-250g) canned pumpkin purรฉe!

  14. Victoria

    5 stars
    I’m such a fan of your channel and blog Nisha, I’ve tried dozens of your recipes and they always turn out so good. I’ve made these shells three times now and they’re just unbelievably good! I can’t attest to the coconut taste because I use oat milk for my roux, but the dish overall is SO GOOD! Thank you for always putting out such tasty recipes :)

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Awesome, Victoria. Thanks for your lovely comment and for taking the time to review!

  15. Colin

    5 stars
    Soo amazing!!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Thanks for the lovely feedback, Colin!

  16. Lynda C.

    Unfortunately this came out tasting only of coconut milk! Must’ve been this one particular brand (new to me) and it just overpowered every other flavour. Silly me for not tasting the sauce before slathering the shells in it. Will try again with a different milk because everything else screams delicious!

    1. Support @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Sorry to hear that, Lynda! Did you use canned lite coconut milk? Glad you liked it otherwise!

  17. Cameron

    5 stars
    These were excellent. Even the non vegans in my house loved it. I made it it without the parm too.

    1. Hannah @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Cameron, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely review, we appreciate it! Glad it worked just fine without the parm :)

  18. Erin Burns-Flett

    5 stars
    I made this lovely dish for our Friendsgiving dinner last weekend – it was a big hit for vegan and non-vegan eaters. The fresh nutmeg and sage were definitely worth adding – not only for flavour, but aroma while I was in the kitchen.
    I followed the recipe exactly with the exception of the crushed red peppers – I have an intolerance for any hot peppers – sad for me.
    I made the ricotta 2 days before and completed the rest of the recipe the morning of the dinner and reheated an hour before dinner.
    I was asked to share the recipe with the other 6 families attending the dinner – which is everyone – would definitely make this again.

    1. Hannah @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Erin, I love to read comments like these, thank you for sharing and taking the time to write such a kind review! I also love the smell of fresh nutmeg and sage, yum!

  19. Lucy

    5 stars
    Interesting recipe, with one exception: I hate pumpkins. Can it be substituted with other vegetables (no sweet potato either)?

    1. Hannah @ Rainbow Plant Life

      Hi Lucy! We haven’t tried any other squashes so I can’t guarantee success. However, if you’d like to try, I’d suggest using either kabocha squash or butternut squash.

  20. Cassie

    5 stars
    Amazing!!! Will definitely be making this again! Tastes like Fall! ๐Ÿ˜Š

    1. Hannah Hairston

      Hi Cassie,

      What a great description! I wear a sweater and light a candle when I eat this dish, it’s so cozy! Thanks for the lovely review :)

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