Creamy Vegan Pink Pasta (30 Minutes!)

User Reviews

4.9

123 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    30 mins

  • Servings

    5 (Servings)

  • Calories

    458 kcal

  • Cuisine

    Vegan

Creamy Vegan Pink Pasta (30 Minutes!)

Creamy, cheesy, savory, and PINK vegan pasta! A quick and easy, plant-based, and oh-so-comforting side or main. Just 10 ingredients and 30 minutes required!

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Ingredients

Servings

PASTA

  • Water for boiling
  • 1 Tbsp salt (for seasoning the water)
  • 12 ounces Pasta of Choice (penne is best here // gluten-free as needed // we like Jovial brand)

SAUCE

  • 3/4 cup raw cashews*
  • 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (if oil-free, sub water and use more as needed)
  • 1 cup diced white or yellow onion
  • 4-5 cloves garlic, minced (4-5 cloves yield ~3 Tbsp minced)
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 ½ Tbsp tomato paste
  • 3/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 ½ - 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 cup water (plus more for soaking cashews)

FOR SERVING optional

  • Freshly chopped basil
  • Vegan Parmesan Cheese
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Instructions

  1. Add 3/4 cup cashews (90 g // adjust amount if altering batch size) to a bowl and cover with at least 2 inches of water. Set aside to soak.
  2. For the pasta, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil.
  3. Heat a large rimmed skillet (or large pot) over medium heat. Add olive oil and onions and cook until tender — about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and continue cooking until fragrant — about 30 seconds.
  4. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and salt and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and continue simmering for 10 minutes or until thickened.
  5. When the pasta water is boiling, add the pasta and stir to prevent clumps. Cook to al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup (120 ml) of pasta water and drain the pasta.
  6. Drain cashews and add them to a high-speed blender with nutritional yeast and 1 cup (240 ml // adjust amount if altering batch size) of water. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  7. To the tomato sauce, add cashew mixture and stir to combine. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time until it becomes a thick but pourable sauce. Taste and adjust, adding more tomato paste for tomato flavor, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, red pepper flakes for heat, or salt for overall flavor.
  8. Add drained pasta to the sauce and stir to coat. It should be quite saucy and well coated. Serve warm and garnish with fresh basil and vegan parmesan cheese (optional).
  9. Leftovers will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days. Sauce can be frozen up to 1 month.

Notes

  • *If cashew-free, you can sub full-fat coconut milk for the cashews and water, but sauce will have a slight coconut flavor.*Adapted from Female Foodie.*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with 12 ounces rice-based gluten-free penne and 1/4 tsp salt in the pasta water (since the full tablespoon isn’t absorbed into the pasta), and without optional ingredients.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1serving Calories 458 (23%) Carbohydrates 70.6g (24%) Protein 11.9g (24%) Fat 16.2g (25%) Saturated Fat 2.3g (12%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2.2g Monounsaturated Fat 8.6g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg (0%) Sodium 634mg (26%) Potassium 542mg (15%) Fiber 6.1g (24%) Sugar 7.2g (14%) Vitamin A 259IU (5%) Vitamin C 12.6mg (14%) Calcium 54mg (5%) Iron 3.7mg (21%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5(Servings)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 458 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 458 23%
Carbohydrates 70.6g 24%
Protein 11.9g 24%
Fat 16.2g 25%
Saturated Fat 2.3g 12%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.2g 13%
Monounsaturated Fat 8.6g 43%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 634mg 26%
Potassium 542mg 12%
Fiber 6.1g 24%
Sugar 7.2g 14%
Vitamin A 259IU 5%
Vitamin C 12.6mg 14%
Calcium 54mg 5%
Iron 3.7mg 21%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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4.9

123 reviews
Excellent

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