Vegan Asparagus Pasta with Lemony Cashew Cream Sauce
20 minutes and 4 ingredients are all you need to make this creamy, oil-free vegan asparagus pasta. There's no need for dairy or even plant-based milk since raw cashews are the base of the silky lemony sauce.
Servings: 4
Calories: 519kcal
Equipment
- high-speed blender
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus
- 12 ounces rotini pasta or your favorite shape (gluten-free, if necessary)
- 1 cup raw cashews*
- 1 cup water
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice (from approximately 1 lemon)
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Snap off the tough woody ends of the asparagus spears. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook just a few minutes until the spears are tender and bright green. Using tongs, immediately remove the asparagus from the water and place in a bowl of ice water. When they are cool, pat the asparagus dry with a kitchen towel and cut into bite-size pieces. Set aside.1 pound fresh asparagus
- Add the pasta to the same water you used to cook the asparagus in. Cook according to the package directions. When al dente, drain and return to the pot.12 ounces rotini pasta
- Meanwhile, in a high-speed blender, combine the cashews, water, and lemon juice, and blend until completely smooth.1 cup raw cashews*, 1 cup water, 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- Add the asparagus to the cooked pasta in the pot. Pour the cashew sauce over the pasta and asparagus and toss well to coat. Taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.salt and pepper
- Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with parsley, if desired. Enjoy immediately.fresh parsley
Notes
*If your blender isn't very powerful, soak the cashews for a few hours or overnight in a bowl in the refrigerator before preparing the sauce.
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. This pasta does not freeze well. Reheat in a microwave-safe bowl. You may want to add a few tablespoons of water if the sauce looks dry.
Nutrition
Calories: 519kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 643mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 858IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 6mg
