Creamy Vegan Cashew Pasta Sauce
A velvety, dairy-free cashew cream sauce that's incredibly versatile and perfect for coating your favorite pasta. It's quick to make and packed with savory, umami flavor, making it a staple for plant-based meals.
For 4 servings
Soak Cashews: Place raw cashews in a heatproof bowl. Pour hot water over them, ensuring they are fully submerged. Let them soak for at least 15-20 minutes, or up to 2 hours if using cold water. This softens them significantly for a smoother blend.
Prepare Aromatics: While the cashews are soaking, mince the garlic cloves.
Drain Cashews: Drain the soaked cashews thoroughly and rinse them under cold water.
Blend Sauce: Transfer the drained cashews to a high-speed blender. Add 3/4 cup fresh water, nutritional yeast, minced garlic, fresh lemon juice, sea salt, black pepper, and optional onion powder.
Achieve Smoothness: Blend on high speed until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. This may take 1-2 minutes, depending on your blender. If the sauce is too thick, add more fresh water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
Heat Sauce (Optional): In a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Pour in the blended cashew sauce and gently warm it through for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not boil.
Combine with Pasta: Cook your favorite pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.
Toss and Serve: Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the saucepan with the warmed cashew sauce. Toss well to coat. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, 1-2 tablespoons at a time, until it reaches a perfect consistency.
Garnish: Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs (like parsley or basil), a sprinkle of black pepper, or vegan parmesan if desired.
What to keep in mind.
4 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1High-Speed Blender is Key: For the smoothest, most luxurious sauce, a powerful high-speed blender is highly recommended. Regular blenders might leave a slightly grainy texture.
- 2Adjust Consistency with Pasta Water: Don't discard your pasta water! Its starchiness helps the sauce cling better to the pasta and allows you to adjust the consistency without diluting the flavor.
- 3Don't Overheat: When warming the sauce, keep the heat low and avoid boiling, as this can cause the sauce to separate or become too thick.
- 4Batch Prep: Make a larger batch of the sauce and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It thickens as it chills, so you might need to thin it with a splash of water or plant milk when reheating.
Adapt it for your goals.
Spicy Cashew Cream
Add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the blender for a fiery kick.
Herby Garden SauceHerby Garden Sauce
Blend in a handful of fresh basil, parsley, or spinach for a vibrant green color and fresh herbaceous flavor.
Roasted Red Pepper Cashew SauceRoasted Red Pepper Cashew Sauce
Roast 1-2 red bell peppers until charred, peel, and deseed them. Add to the blender with the cashews for a sweet and smoky depth.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Heart-Healthy Fats
Cashews are rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can help lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Plant-Based Protein
This sauce provides a good source of plant-based protein from cashews and nutritional yeast, essential for muscle repair and overall body function, making it a satisfying vegan option.
Rich in Minerals
Cashews are packed with essential minerals like magnesium, zinc, and copper, which support bone health, immune function, and energy production.
Frequently asked questions
While soaking is highly recommended for the smoothest texture, if you have a very powerful high-speed blender, you might get away with skipping the soak. However, the texture may be slightly less creamy and require longer blending time.
