Vegan Alfredo Sauce Recipe
This creamy Vegan Alfredo Sauce uses soaked cashews blended with garlic, olive oil, and nutritional yeast to create a rich, dairy-free alternative to traditional Alfredo sauce. Paired perfectly with fettuccine, it offers a smooth and luscious pasta dish that’s entirely plant-based and packed with flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 4-12 hours soaking time)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes (including minimum soaking time)
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup water, plus more as needed
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup vegan parmesan, grated
- 2 teaspoons nutritional yeast
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 1 lb fettuccine
Instructions
- Soak Cashews: In a medium bowl, cover the cashews with enough water and soak them for 4 to 12 hours until softened. This softening step is essential to blend them into a smooth paste, especially if your blender isn’t high-powered.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fettuccine according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Blend Sauce: In a high-speed blender, combine the soaked cashews, garlic, 1/2 cup water, and olive oil. Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
- Heat Sauce: Transfer the blended mixture to a small saucepan and warm it over medium-low heat for about 1 minute, just until heated through.
- Add Cheese & Yeast: Stir in the vegan parmesan and nutritional yeast to add cheesy flavor and depth. If the sauce is too thick, add additional water a tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Season and Toss: Season the sauce with kosher salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper to taste. Add the cooked fettuccine directly into the sauce and toss well to coat the pasta evenly.
Notes
- For a creamier texture, soak the cashews closer to 12 hours if your blender is not very powerful.
- You can substitute fettuccine with any pasta shape of your choice, like linguine or penne.
- If vegan parmesan is unavailable, increase the nutritional yeast slightly for cheesier flavor.
- This sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Use freshly ground black pepper for the best flavor impact.
Keywords: Vegan Alfredo Sauce, Dairy-Free Alfredo, Cashew Sauce, Vegan Pasta Sauce, Plant-Based Alfredo, Fettuccine Alfredo Vegan
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/vegan-alfredo-sauce-recipe/
