Cashew Alfredo Pasta Parmesan (Printable Version)

Creamy pasta with cashew Alfredo sauce and homemade nutritional yeast Parmesan, perfect for vegan Italian-inspired meals.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 ounces fettuccine or linguine
02 - Salt, for pasta water

→ Cashew Alfredo Sauce

03 - 1 cup raw cashews, soaked and drained
04 - 1 ½ cups unsweetened plant milk
05 - 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
06 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 2 cloves garlic
09 - ¾ teaspoon salt
10 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
11 - ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Nutritional Yeast Parmesan

12 - ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
13 - ¼ cup raw cashews
14 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
15 - ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Garnish

16 - Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
17 - Cracked black pepper (optional)

# Preparation steps:

01 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining. Set aside.
02 - In a high-speed blender, combine soaked cashews, plant milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Blend until perfectly smooth and creamy.
03 - Transfer the sauce to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes until it slightly thickens. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
04 - Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to ensure even coating. Remove from heat.
05 - In a food processor, pulse nutritional yeast, cashews, garlic powder, and salt until it achieves a coarse, sandy texture.
06 - Portion the pasta into bowls. Generously sprinkle with the nutritional yeast Parmesan. Garnish with parsley and extra black pepper, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish
  • Creamy and satisfying without any dairy products
  • Uses simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry
  • Much healthier than traditional cream based Alfredo
  • The nutritional yeast Parmesan can be used on countless other dishes
02 -
  • High in plant protein from both cashews and nutritional yeast
  • Contains healthy fats unlike traditional cream based Alfredo
  • Much lower in saturated fat than dairy Alfredo
  • Can be made gluten free by using appropriate pasta
  • Perfect for meal prep as it reheats beautifully
03 -
  • For ultra creamy sauce, use a high powered blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec. Standard blenders might leave tiny cashew pieces that affect texture.
  • The sauce will continue to thicken as it stands, so serve immediately for best results or keep it slightly thinner than desired if not serving right away.
  • Warming your serving bowls in the oven for a few minutes before plating helps keep the pasta hot and the sauce creamy longer.

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