Most Creamy Vegan Cashew Alfredo
A luxurious dairy-free sauce made from soaked cashews, delivering velvety richness and nutty depth without any compromise on flavor or texture. This vegetarian-inspired vegetarian (vegan, dairy-free) ready in about 130 minutes pairs raw cashews, water, nutritional yeast for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 12 oz spaghetti
Instructions
- Step 1: Soak 1 cup raw cashews in 1 1/2 cups water for at least 2 hours (or overnight). Drain and rinse thoroughly before blending.
- Step 2: In a high-speed blender, combine soaked cashews, 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 cup reserved cashew water. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed.
- Step 3: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain spaghetti. Toss cooked spaghetti with 1 cup cashew sauce until evenly coated, adding reserved pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until desired creaminess is reached.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Most Creamy Vegan Cashew Alfredo take to make?
Total time is about 130 minutes (120 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Most Creamy Vegan Cashew Alfredo?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep raw cashews from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Most Creamy Vegan Cashew Alfredo?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Most Creamy Vegan Cashew Alfredo for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Most Creamy Vegan Cashew Alfredo vegan?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegan, dairy-free based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
So much better than takeout. We'll never order vegetarian delivery again.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
