Creamy Without Cream Pasta Recipe with Easy Cauliflower Cashew Sauce
A comforting and creamy pasta dish made without dairy, using a silky cauliflower and cashew sauce that is both nutritious and delicious.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 2 hours soaking cashews)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Plant-Based / Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium head cauliflower, chopped into florets
- ½ cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 2 hours or overnight
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup vegetable broth or water (low-sodium recommended)
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne or fusilli recommended)
- A handful fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in warm water for at least 2 hours or overnight to soften.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook 12 ounces of pasta according to package instructions until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Drain, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
- Steam the chopped cauliflower florets in a steamer basket over boiling water for about 10 minutes until tender but firm.
- Drain the soaked cashews and add them to a high-speed blender along with steamed cauliflower, minced garlic, vegetable broth, olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
- Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Add reserved pasta water or more broth if the sauce is too thick. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- In a large skillet, gently toss the hot pasta with the cauliflower cashew sauce over low heat. Warm through for 2-3 minutes, adding reserved pasta water if the sauce thickens too much.
- Serve immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
Soak cashews properly to avoid gritty sauce. Use a high-speed blender for best texture. Lemon juice brightens the sauce and balances richness. Save pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently with added liquid. For nut allergies, substitute cashews with white beans or sunflower seeds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approxima
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 14
Keywords: creamy pasta, dairy-free pasta, cauliflower sauce, cashew sauce, vegan pasta, gluten-free pasta option, easy weeknight dinner, plant-based comfort food