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Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Cashew Alfredo

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Fall is near and the cooler temps are rolling in which means we are all craving warm, cozy, and creamy food! Well, I have long been working towards the perfect creamy, garlicky, cheesy vegan pasta sauce and this recipe checks ALL of those boxes. When you think of creamy alfredo pasta you may instantly think of a heavy, rich, fat-filled cream sauce, but this sauce is the exact OPPOSITE. This dish is made with 100% plants and is a way healthier version of your classic dairy-filled alfredo. It is also gluten-free AND oil-free!
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We have covered the basics: This pasta is delicious, vegan, and healthy, but guess what else? It is also incredibly SIMPLE. All you need is one pot and one blender. No chopping, no prep, and dinner is ready in under 30 minutes! Your family will be begging for more and I promise no one will know this dish is made from cauliflower. 😉

This recipe is wonderful to prep ahead of time and make a double batch – the sauce can be kept in the fridge or freezer and reheated right before serving for easy weeknight dinners that the whole family will love. Add this to your menu and as always let me know what you think in the comments! I always love to hear your feedback and how you liked the recipe.

Jackie Akerberg

Author of the Clean Vegan Cookbook, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer from Des Moines, Iowa. 

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Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Cashew Alfredo

jackfruitfulkitchen
This creamy pasta is a healthy veganized version of a classic alfredo sauce! Creamy, garlicky, and loaded with veggies - this sauce is to die for!
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4
Calories 306 kcal

Equipment

  • High Speed Blender
  • Medium Saucepan

Ingredients
  

  • 4 servings fettucini or linguine I used Banza's gluten free chickpea-based linguine
  • 1 C cauliflower florets
  • 1/3 C raw cashews
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 yellow onion
  • 1/2 - 2/3 C water or plain plant milk start with 1/2 C
  • 3 TBSP tapioca flour, arrowroot powder, or corn starch
  • 1 TBSP miso paste
  • 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp coconut aminos, liquid aminos or soy sauce
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 tsp salt and pepper
  • 3 TBSP nutritional yeast VERY different from activated yeast
  • 1 C fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Fill a medium saucepan half full with water and place on stove over high heat. Add cauliflower, cashews, garlic, and onion. Boil for 15 minutes until cauliflower is VERY soft - should crumble easily when pierced with a fork.
  • Drain water and transfer the cauliflower, cashews, garlic and onion to a high speed blender. Meanwhile, fill the same medium sauce pan with water and cook pasta according to package instructions while you finish making sauce.
  • Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend on high until super smooth and creamy. Add more water if needed. Season to taste.
  • Drain cooked pasta, reserving 1/2 C of pasta water and set aside. Wipe out saucepan.
  • Pour blended Alfredo sauce into same medium saucepan and heat over low heat until it begins to thicken and get slightly “stretchy” (like melted cheese), stirring frequently, and adding pasta water little by little if needed.
  • Add cooked pasta back into the pan with alfredo sauce and toss to coat, adding more pasta water and heating through to achieve desired creaminess. Toss in parsley and serve hot topped with fresh cracked black pepper, reserving a little extra parsley for a finishing garnish.

Notes

*Reserve any leftover sauce in an airtight container to be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Reheat on stove and toss with cooked pasta right before serving.
*Miso Paste and Nutritional Yeast are what give this recipe its cheesy flavor! I have made it with just one or the other before, so feel free to do so, but the BEST flavor is achieved by using both.
Keyword gluten free vegan pasta, noodle bowl, vegan alfredo, vegan mac and cheese, vegan pasta
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10 Responses

  1. have made this several times and its a crowd pleasure. How can I make it nut free? hemp seeds, sun seeds or white bean? thanks

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    This was amazingly delicious! I made a double batch and in the 2nd half added about 1/2 cup of pesto sauce and some red pepper flakes. My husband couldn’t stop eating it. So good!

    Reply

  3. Wow – This was absolutely amazing! Delicious cheesy flavor and so easy to make. Will definitely make again (and again…)!

    Reply

  5. 5 stars
    Delicious! I forgot to save some of the pasta water before I drained it, but it still came out great. Very creamy and had a great flavor.

    Reply

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