Cashew Pasta Sauce Recipe

This vegan cashew pasta sauce is rich, velvety, and perfect tossed with fettuccine noodles. If you’re craving vegan comfort food in the form of a creamy pasta dish, give this recipe a try.

What to serve with this cashew pasta sauce

If you’re looking for a simple salad to serve with this pasta dish, try some fresh greens tossed with this maple vinaigrette salad dressing. It’s easy to make and loaded with flavor.

Noodles smothered in a creamy cashew pasta sauce on a white plate.

Ingredients and substitutions

Instead of using butter and parmesan cheese like traditional alfredo sauces do, this dairy-free alfredo sauce calls for cauliflower and cashews that have been soaked and blended. The cashews give this sauce its creamy consistency and the cauliflower adds body and nutritional value. This sauce is perfect for tricking picky kids into eating some extra vegetables.

A little nutmeg and garlic give this cashew pasta sauce plenty of flavor. If you don’t have any fresh garlic then you can substitute one teaspoon of jarred chopped garlic or garlic powder. And you can omit the nutmeg if necessary.

This recipe calls for cooked cauliflower. I usually just throw some chopped cauliflower on a baking tray, sprinkle a little bit of water on it (to prevent the cauliflower from browning) and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively you can boil or steam the cauliflower until it’s fork tender.

What to serve with this

I love tossing this sauce with fettuccini noodles and garnishing it with some finely chopped fresh parsley. Fresh basil or chives would make a delicious garnish too.

This sauce would also be delicious as a sauce for a white pizza, topped with some spinach and vegan cheese. Or make a white vegan lasagna using this alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce.

Or for a lower carb option, roast some cauliflower and toss it with this cashew pasta sauce for a truly decadent cauliflower dish.

Storage

Store this cashew pasta sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Fettucine alfredo on a plate.

More easy vegan recipes to try

Noodles smothered in a creamy cashew pasta sauce on a white plate.
5 from 4 votes
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Cashew Pasta Sauce Recipe

This vegan cashew pasta sauce is perfect when you're craving a rich bowl of pasta. It's creamy, filling, and flavorful.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 95kcal

Equipment

  • Blender or food processor

Ingredients

  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 1/2 cup cooked cauliflower (steam, boil, or bake until tender)
  • 1 cup cashews
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 3/4 cup cold water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Optional garnish: fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Soak the cashews in 1 cup of boiling water for at least one hour.
  • Drain and rinse the cashews and add them to a high powered blender or food processor.
  • Add the cooked cauliflower, cold water, salt, pepper, garlic, and nutmeg.
  • Blend until a smooth.

Notes

  • This recipe calls for cooked cauliflower. You can either steam, boil, or roast the cauliflower until tender before adding it to the blender.
  • Store this cashew pasta sauce in the fridge for up to three days.

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

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