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Creamy Dairy-Free Alfredo Sauce Recipe with Cashew Cream Easy and Delicious

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A rich and creamy dairy-free Alfredo sauce made with cashew cream, garlic, and nutritional yeast. Perfect for a comforting, plant-based meal that’s quick and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours or overnight
  • 1 cup water (adjust for desired sauce thickness)
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons vegan Parmesan

Instructions

  1. Soak the cashews in water for at least 4 hours or overnight. For a quick soak, pour boiling water over cashews and soak for 1 hour. Drain and rinse before blending.
  2. In a high-speed blender, combine soaked cashews, 1 cup fresh water, minced garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, olive oil, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. Add water a tablespoon at a time if the sauce is too thick, aiming for a silky, pourable texture.
  4. Pour the blended sauce into a medium saucepan or skillet over low to medium heat. Stir gently with a wooden spoon or spatula and warm for 5-7 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened. Avoid boiling.
  5. Taste and adjust seasonings with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
  6. Toss the sauce immediately with freshly cooked hot pasta (about 12 ounces). Add reserved pasta water a splash at a time if a looser sauce is desired.
  7. Serve garnished with fresh herbs like parsley or basil if desired. Also great over steamed vegetables or roasted mushrooms.

Notes

Soaking cashews overnight yields the creamiest sauce, but a quick soak in boiling water for 1 hour works in a pinch. Use nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor. Avoid boiling the sauce to maintain creaminess. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency when mixing with pasta. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheat gently with added water or plant-based milk to loosen.

Nutrition

Keywords: dairy-free Alfredo sauce, cashew cream sauce, vegan Alfredo, plant-based sauce, creamy dairy-free sauce, easy Alfredo recipe, gluten-free Alfredo

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/creamy-dairy-free-alfredo-sauce-recipe-with-cashew-cream-easy-and-delicious/