Quick Stove Top Meal Idea – Filled Pasta with Prepared Sauce

Ready made filled or stuffed pasta, such as tortellini or ravioli, is a great option for a quick and satisfying vegetarian or vegan meal to prepare while visiting Spain. It’s perfect for cooking in your self catering accommodation as it’s a stove top meal which requires little in the way of equipment. Vegetarian versions of tortellini and ravioli are easy to find (but check the label for cheese created using animal rennet), vegan versions may be a little more difficult to find outside of big supermarkets as the pasta is typically made using eggs.

Whether you choose fresh or dried pasta, it cooks in just a few minutes and pairs well with a variety of ready-made sauces available in Spanish supermarkets. Grab a couple of bags of salad leaves and a loaf of crusty bread, top with a handful of fresh basil (widely available in most supermarkets) and you’ll have a delicious meal, perfect for ending a busy day of holidaying 🙂

Choosing Your Pasta – Finding Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly Options

You can find filled or stuffed pasta in different sections of Spanish supermarkets (we have more about buying pasta in Spain HERE):

• Dried pasta section (Pasta seca) – Look for long-life varieties labeled as tortellini or ravioli.
• Chilled prepared meals section (Refrigerados or Platos preparados) – Fresh stuffed pasta is often found here, labeled as pasta fresca rellena.
• Gnocchi (Ñoquis) – Usually found near the fresh pasta section.

Common fillings include:

• Cuatro quesos (four cheese)
• Espinacas y ricotta (spinach and ricotta)
• Setas o champiñones (mushrooms)
• Calabaza (pumpkin)

Most filled and stuffed pasta varieties contain egg in the dough, so vegans will need to look for specific vegan options. However, vegan stuffed pasta can be difficult to find outside large supermarkets. If a vegan alternative isn’t available, gnocchi (which is often egg-free) can be a great substitute. Always check the label just in case!

Vegetarians who avoid animal rennet (you will see this labelled as ‘cuajo’ – which is typically from animal sources) should also check the cheese used in the filling, as some varieties include Parmesan or other non-vegetarian cheeses.

If you can’t find a vegan filled pasta alternative, keep a look out for gnocci which could make a good alternative.

Types of Filled Pasta

In Spanish supermarkets, you’ll commonly find:

• Tortellini – Typically filled with cheese and spinach, ricotta, or mushrooms.
• Ravioli – Available with fillings like four-cheese (cuatro quesos), mushroom (setas), or pumpkin (calabaza).
• Vegan options – Limited but sometimes available, usually with vegetable-based fillings like pumpkin or mushroom.
• Gnocchi – A great alternative for vegans, made from potato and flour.

How Much To Buy?

Good question! Most 250g packs of chilled fresh filled pasta are said to feed 2/3 people per pack. However that is a guide only. From personal experience, if we are just having the pasta with a sauce we certainly eat more than that – however if we’re having it with a salad, crusty bread, additional toppings like cheese and olives, a single pack goes a lot further!

Ready Made Pasta Sauce Options

There are plenty of ready-made sauces to pair with your pasta We talk about them in more detail HERE. You will find these in the pasta section or perhaps near the tinned tomatoes in the vegetable section. You will find chiiled pasta sauces along side the chilled pasta in the preprepared chilled food section.

Look for these common options:

• Tomato-based sauces: Salsa de tomate, napolitana, or arrabbiata (vegans should watch for cheese in some varieties).
• Pesto: Typically contains cheese, but vegan versions are sometimes available.
• Creamy sauces: Many contain dairy, so check labels if avoiding milk products.
• Pisto: A Spanish ratatouille-style vegetable sauce that works well as a topping. You’ll find this near the tinned tomatoes or tinned veg section.

• Sofrito: A simple tomato and onion base that can be enhanced with extra ingredients.
• Tomate Frito – A great fall-back and an item you will find in even the smallest, out-of-the-way supermarkets. Read why this is a must-have food item HERE.

Serving Ideas

Perhaps the best way to serve this is to put the pasta into a big bowl with the sauces in separate bowls and let people help themselves. If you don’t have a lot of equipment then you can always stir the sauce through the pasta and serve in just one dish or pan.

Make your meal even better with a few simple additions:

• Top with a sprinkling of cheese. You will find vegan parmesan is relatively easy to find.
• Stir in extra ingredients like olives, mushrooms, or roasted red peppers.
• Top with fresh basil or a drizzle of olive oil for extra flavor.
• Serve with crusty bread (pan rústico) or a simple green salad.
• Leftovers? Use them in a soup or mix them into a cold pasta salad for the next day!

Shopping List (For 4 People)

• 500g stuffed pasta (or gnocchi for a vegan alternative)
• 1 jar of ready-made sauce (tomato, pesto, or pisto)
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil (for drizzling or sautéing extra ingredients)
• Cheese for topping (look for vegan alternatives.

• Optional extras:
  • 1 small jar of olives
  • 200g mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 baguette or loaf of crusty bread
  • 1 bag of mixed salad leaves
  • Fresh basil (if available)

With just a few simple ingredients, you can enjoy a delicious, hassle-free meal that makes the most of what’s easily available in Spanish supermarkets!

So over to you 🙂 Have you used filled pasta as a quick meal idea when visiting Spain? Have you found it straight forward to find vegetarian or vegan versions? Share your tips below 🙂