Creamy Dairy-Free Cashew Pasta Sauce Recipe for Easy Vegan Meals
A silky, rich, and creamy dairy-free cashew pasta sauce that is quick and easy to make, perfect for vegan meals and comforting pasta dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus soaking time)
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (optional warming)
- Total Time: 15 minutes (excluding soaking time)
- Yield: About 1 cup sauce (serves 4) 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Vegan, Dairy-Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup raw cashews (about 150g), soaked for at least 4 hours or overnight
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- ¾ cup unsweetened plant milk (almond, oat, or coconut milk)
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, freshly ground
- ¼ to ½ cup water (60-120ml), to adjust consistency as needed
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Optional: A handful of fresh herbs (basil or parsley)
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Soak the cashews: Place 1 cup (150g) of raw cashews in a bowl and cover with water. Let them soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. For a quicker soak, use hot water for 1 hour but expect less silky texture.
- Drain and rinse the soaked cashews under cold water.
- Mince 2 large garlic cloves finely.
- Add soaked cashews, minced garlic, ¾ cup unsweetened plant milk, 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to a high-speed blender.
- Blend on high for 1-2 minutes, pausing to scrape down the sides until the sauce is silky and smooth with no graininess.
- Adjust consistency by adding water 1 tablespoon at a time (up to ½ cup) and blend again until desired creamy, pourable texture is reached.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. For smoky flavor, add ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika and blend briefly.
- Optional: Warm the sauce gently in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently. Do not boil.
- Serve immediately tossed with cooked pasta and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
Soaking cashews overnight yields the creamiest texture. If short on time, soak in hot water for 1 hour but expect less smoothness. Warm sauce gently without boiling to avoid separation. Sauce thickens when chilled; thin with plant milk or water before reheating. Store in airtight container in fridge up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ½ cup sauce per serv
- Calories: 180
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 6
Keywords: cashew pasta sauce, dairy-free sauce, vegan pasta sauce, creamy cashew sauce, plant-based sauce, easy vegan meals, gluten-free pasta sauce