Creamy Dairy Free Cashew Alfredo Sauce
A rich, velvety vegan Alfredo sauce made from soaked cashews, garlic, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast, perfect for a dairy-free pasta experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours or overnight
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other plant-based milk)
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional but recommended)
- Salt to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Water as needed for blending
Instructions
- Soak the cashews: Place 1 cup of raw cashews in a bowl and cover with water. Let soak for at least 4 hours or overnight. For a quick soak, pour boiling water over the cashews and let sit for 30 minutes.
- Drain and rinse the cashews with fresh water to remove any bitterness.
- Prepare ingredients: mince garlic cloves, squeeze fresh lemon juice, and gather almond milk and nutritional yeast.
- In a high-speed blender or food processor, combine soaked cashews, garlic, lemon juice, almond milk, nutritional yeast, olive oil, black pepper, and salt. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until ultra-smooth and creamy.
- Adjust consistency by adding water or more almond milk one tablespoon at a time, blending after each addition until the sauce is pourable and creamy.
- Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and warm over low heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently to meld flavors and maintain creamy texture.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, lemon juice, or nutritional yeast as desired.
- Serve immediately over your favorite pasta or steamed vegetables.
Notes
Soaking cashews overnight is best for a smooth sauce, but a quick soak with boiling water for 30 minutes works in a pinch. Use a powerful blender for best texture. Warm sauce gently on low heat to avoid separation. Adjust thickness by varying plant milk and water amounts. The sauce thickens when chilled; stir in plant milk or water when reheating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 6
Keywords: dairy free, vegan, cashew Alfredo, creamy sauce, plant-based, pasta sauce, gluten-free, easy recipe