What is cashew sauce made of?

Cashew Sauce! Just four easy ingredients: cashews, garlic, salt, and water ! Perfect base sauce recipe for pasta, dips, or cheesy sauce alternatives. Vegan.

What is homemade Alfredo sauce made of?

Most Alfredo sauces are made with only Parmesan cheese, butter, cream, and salt . But we took the liberty of adding in some garlic and extra seasonings to make it that much more delicious.

Does cashew cream thicken when heated?

While true cream gets thinner and more fluid when you heat it because the tiny fat globules that make up more than 35 percent of its bulk melt, cashew cream gets thicker . That's because heat causes its plentiful starch particles to swell and gelatinize.

Are cashew cream and cashew butter the same thing?

Answer: The difference between the cream and the butter is basically texture and how long or how much moisture's in it, right? So the cream is just, it's really just like a cream .

Why is my cashew sauce grainy?

Soak the cashews for the smoothest texture, or use a quality high-speed blender to ensure that the cashews are thoroughly broken down. Adding an adequate amount of liquid is crucial for achieving a creamy texture. If the sauce is too thick or if there isn't enough liquid , it may turn out grainy.

What mother sauce is Alfredo made from?

Bechamel is a white sauce, made of flour, butter and milk . It's typically the base for Alfredo sauce or white country gravy.

What makes Alfredo taste like Alfredo?

What Makes Alfredo Taste Alfredo? The key to Alfredo sauce's unique flavour is the combination of butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese . The butter and cream create a rich, velvety base, while the Parmesan cheese adds a tangy, salty flavour.

What is Alfredo sauce made of in Italy?

Pasta alfredo, and I'm talking about real authentic alfredo sauce hailing from Rome, is a creamy 3-ingredient pasta dish made from butter, Parmesan cheese and fresh egg fettuccini . There's absolutely no cream in this dish!

Is cashew cream healthier than cream?

Compare this to the nutrition information for our Cashew Cream recipe, and you'll see that cashew cream has fewer calories, total fat, saturated fat and sodium. Going by these numbers, cashew cream is healthier than heavy cream .

Can I substitute cashew cream for heavy cream?

I also like to use cashew cream as a dairy-free replacement for heavy cream . Then, I use a lower cashew:water ratio, which makes a runnier cream sauce. It's not as thick as the sour cream above, but it's still richer and creamier than cashew milk.

Does cashew cream taste like cashews?

Alone, cashew cream has little to no taste but it has the correct texture. And, like dairy cream, it adds a source of fat and richness to the recipes in which it's used. It's also remarkably easy to make.

What is cashew chicken sauce made of?

Usually soy sauce, water, cornstarch, oyster sauce, sesame oil, Chinese cooking wine (sherry is a great sub), and possibly a bit of hoisin sauce .

What are cashews made of?

Cashew Nuts Aren't Really Nuts Cashew nuts come from fruit-producing trees . The fruit, or 'cashew apple', which resembles a bell pepper, is a 'false fruit'. A master of deception, the real fruit dangles from the bottom of the cashew apple, guarding within it a single seed known to us as a cashew nut.

Is cashew butter like peanut butter?

While cashew butter is made to have a similar taste and texture to peanut butter, it does not contain any peanuts . This is great for people that may want the benefits of peanut butter in their diets but are allergic to them. Cashew nuts are still rich in the same vitamins, minerals, and fats as peanut butter.

Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo [+VIDEO] | ICanYouCanVegan How To Make Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce (2024)

Jump to Recipe

If there’s one thing I love, it’s PASTA! With some veggies and added protein (if you wanna) you’ve got yourself a whole meal!

Back in the day, Fettuccini Alfredo was one of my go-to orders from Italian restaurants.

Often times I’d even order it with chicken! Well clearly I’ve moved past those days and I’m on to my new favorite.

This Vegan Cashew Alfredo! It’s creamy, cheesy and delicious!

Ingredients for Cashew Alfredo Sauce

For this recipe you’ll be using the following ingredients:

Frozen peas (optional)
Pasta of choice(I used Linguini)
Raw cashews
Vegan Butter
Minced Garlic
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Lemon Juice
Onion Powder
Nutritional Yeast
Sea salt
Italian Seasoning Blend
black pepper

Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo [+VIDEO] | ICanYouCanVegan How To Make Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce (1)

How to Make Cashew Alfredo

You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to make this Vegan Cashew Alfredo sauce! The key to a creamy cashew pasta sauce finish is soaking your cashews.

I prefer to soak mine overnight for a fuss-free meal the next day.

To begin, just measure out one cup of raw cashews the night before you plan to make this, place them in a bowl filled with water and cover them with a lid.

The following day, drain the water and you’re ready to get started!

The next day, you’re ready to get started. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. I used Linguini pasta, but you can use whatever pasta you have on hand.

Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo [+VIDEO] | ICanYouCanVegan How To Make Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce (2)

While the pasta is cooking, begin preparing the sauce. Take a few moments to gather all of the necessary ingredients, then measure out everything so it’s ready to go.

In your high-speed blender begin adding all of the sauce ingredients and blend on high for a few minutes until your sauce is completely smooth.

Optionally, you can transfer the mixture into a sauce pan if you’d like to heat it up a bit more, but I’ve found that this step isn’t completely necessary.

After blending, the mixture will naturally warm up, then when served over hot pasta, I’ve found it to be the perfect temperature.

Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo [+VIDEO] | ICanYouCanVegan How To Make Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce (3)

If you’re really looking to take this dish to the next level you can also prepare some peas, broccoli, asparagus or vegan chicken to top your vegan cashew Alfredo with!

Tips for Making Great Cashew Alfredo:

Soak your cashews! This will ensure the perfect, creamy consistency. If by chance you forgot to soak your cashews the night before, you can also boil them on the stove until they’re soft.

Use a high-speed blender. If your blender leaves chunks of fruits and veggies in your smoothie, it will probably to the same with the cashews in this recipe. Be sure to use a blender that your trust to deliver the results you want. I made this Cashew Alfredo in my Vitamix blender, but any high-speed blender should work fine.

Adjust to your liking. I’ve always preferred a thick, creamy Alfredo sauce but I realize that everyone has their preference. If you notice that the sauce seems too thick mix in small amounts of water or vegetable broth to loosen the sauce.
Customize it! Life is too short for boring food. Consider adding your favorite Alfredo toppings such as peas, broccoli florets, asparagus, mushrooms or even vegan chicken! You can also top it with your favorite vegan parmesan cheese or add roasted garlic to give it some extra flare.

Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo [+VIDEO] | ICanYouCanVegan How To Make Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce (4)

Vegan Alfredo Sauce Q&A:

How do you thicken Alfredo sauce?

This Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce is pretty thick as is thanks to the cashews. It will also continue to thicken as it cools.

However, if you would like to thicken it even more, you can mix 2 tsp of cornstarch with 2 tsp of water and slowly stir it into the mixture until it’s thick enough for you.

Does it really taste like Alfredo?

I’ve been enjoying this recipe for years and it’s a home run to me (and my very picky 2 year old)!

I’ve even received tons of feed back from readers here and on social media that they are obsessed with this recipe because of how realistic it tastes.

So in short, I definitely think it tastes like real Alfredo, but you’ll have to be the judge of that!

How does it compare to traditional Alfredo?

Traditional Alfredo sauce is made with tons of dairy. Heavy cream, butter, milk and cheese.

What’s cool about this recipe is that all of these ingredients are being replaced primarily with cashews. It still gives a rich and creamy texture that will feel (and taste) familiar to you!

Can this be made gluten free?

Absolutely! You can swap the traditional pasta for your favorite gluten free variation.

Can this Alfredo sauce recipe be made oil free?

Yes! You can skip the vegan butter and add in some vegetable broth instead.

Can I use an alternative milk?

If you’re out of almond milk, unsweetened soy milk would make a great alternative!

Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo [+VIDEO] | ICanYouCanVegan How To Make Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo Sauce (5)

I know you’ll love this Vegan Cashew Alfredo. It’s creamy, easy to make and delish!

Give this cashew pasta recipe a try and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Be prepared to say “goodbye” to those pricey vegan Alfredo sauce brands in the store!

Other Pasta Recipes You’ll Enjoy:

Easy Vegan Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
Roasted Vegetable Baked Penne Pasta
Vegan Rasta Pasta
4 Cheese Baked Mac and Cheese
Air Fried Mac and Cheese Bites
Thai Red Curry Pasta
Spinach Lasagna Rolls with Almond Ricotta
Vegan Tuna Pasta Salad
Spinach Pesto

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This post was updated with new photos and recipe modifications on 6/29/23.

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5 from 14 votes

Vegan Cashew Alfredo

Easy Vegan Cashew Alfredo recipe that can be made in a blender!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword Alfredo, Pasta, Sauce

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Cashew Soaking Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 25 minutes minutes

Servings 5

Ingredients

16 oz. pasta of choice (I used Linguini)
1 cup frozen peas (optional)

Cashew Alfredo Sauce

1 cup soaked cashews ( soaked overnight or boiled until softened)
2 tbsp vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)
3 tsp minced garlic
1¼ cups unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tbsp onion powder
4 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp Italian seasoning blend plus more to taste
black pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare pasta of choice according to package directions, then set aside.
16 oz. pasta of choice
Add all sauce ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth and creamy.
1 cup soaked cashews, 2 tbsp vegan butter, 3 tsp minced garlic, 1¼ cups unsweetened almond milk, 1 tsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp onion powder, 4 tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 tsp sea salt, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning blend, black pepper to taste
Once smooth, transfer the cashew mixture to the sauté pan to warm through over low-medium heat (optional). Stir frequently to avoid sticking.
Note– if the sauce is too thick for your preference, simply add a few splashes of vegetable broth or water to thin until you've reached desired consistency.
Once the sauce is ready spoon desired amount over each serving of cooked pasta. Top with a pinch of extra salt, Italian seasoning and any other toppings you desire. Enjoy!
1 cup frozen peas (optional)

Video

Notes

Makes about 2 cups of cashew Alfredo sauce.

If meal-prepping, do not mix the pasta and sauce together. Instead, simply place the sauce on top of the pasta and mix when ready to eat.

Old photo: