Creamy Vegan Sun Dried Tomato (Printable version)
Dairy-free pasta with creamy sun-dried tomato and cashew sauce, ready in 35 minutes.
# Ingredient list:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz dried pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
02 - Salt, for pasta water
→ Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce
03 - 3.5 oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained (reserve oil)
04 - 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 15 minutes and drained
05 - 2 cloves garlic, peeled
06 - 1 small shallot, roughly chopped
07 - 1 1/4 cups unsweetened plant-based milk (almond, soy, or oat)
08 - 2 tbsp reserved sun-dried tomato oil (or olive oil)
09 - 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
10 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
13 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
→ To Finish
15 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
16 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional)
17 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
02 - While the pasta cooks, soak the cashews in hot water for 15 minutes, then drain thoroughly.
03 - In a blender, combine the soaked cashews, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, shallot, plant-based milk, reserved sun-dried tomato oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, oregano, and smoked paprika. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water or more plant-based milk to reach desired consistency.
05 - Return the drained pasta to the pot over low heat. Pour the creamy sun-dried tomato sauce over the pasta and toss well to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
06 - Stir in chopped basil. Divide among plates and top with toasted pine nuts and extra black pepper.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
- Perfect for convincing skeptics that plant-based eating can be incredibly satisfying
02 -
- If you forget to soak the cashews, boil them for 10 minutes instead, though texture may suffer slightly
- The sauce thickens as it sits, so err on the slightly thinner side when blending
03 -
- Reserve every drop of that sun-dried tomato oil, it's liquid gold you paid for
- Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly than cold ones