Creamy Cashew Pasta Dish (Printable Version)
Rich vegan pasta with silky cashew sauce, savory vegetables, perfect for a comforting plant-based main.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz dried pasta such as penne, fusilli, or spaghetti
→ Cashew Cream Sauce
02 - 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours or boiled for 10 minutes
03 - 1 cup water
04 - 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
05 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
06 - 1 small garlic clove
07 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Vegetables (optional)
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 3.5 oz baby spinach
# How To Make:
01 - If cashews are not already soaked, boil them in water for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
02 - Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente as per package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
03 - In a blender, combine soaked cashews, water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
04 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, around 1 minute.
05 - Add drained pasta and cashew sauce to the skillet with sautéed vegetables if using. Toss gently to coat, adding reserved pasta water gradually until the sauce reaches desired consistency.
06 - Taste for seasoning adjustments, then serve immediately. Garnish with additional black pepper or fresh herbs as preferred.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Uses pantry staples
- Ready in just over 30 minutes
- Vegan and dairy-free yet luxurious and satisfying
- Gluten-free adaptable
- Crowd-pleaser even for non-vegans
02 -
- High in plant protein from cashews and nutritional yeast
- Can be made ahead and reheated with extra pasta water
- Kids love its silky texture and gentle flavor
03 -
- Always taste the sauce before combining with pasta as seasoning can shift with cashews
- If you want the classic nutty aroma toast a few cashews in the pan for garnish
- If blending by hand soak cashews overnight for the smoothest texture
- Never skip the reserved pasta water that touch makes restaurant-worthy sauce at home