Who loves pasta? Who loves cheesy sauces made out of plant based goodness? If you do, then you MUST try this recipe! It's a life saver on these days, when all what you want to do is cover yourself with a blanket and pretend you are a cocoon at the front of the TV...or when you are really not up for fancy- schmancy dinner and just want to stuff your face with something good, familiar and comforting, and is really easy to make. Sounds familiar? Ready? Here we go...
Since changing my diet a little, and trying to eliminate dairy, I've been missing cheese like crazy! My attempts to go fully vegan failed many times before, and cheese is mainly to blame. I found it incredibly hard to quit this smelly, salty and creamy things. You would think that because it is smelly and salty it will be easy to forget about it, but I guess I've always been attracted to weird things and this is no exception.
Thankfully there are cashews and nutritional yeast!!! I will never stop being amazed by cashews and how many things you can turn them into. Small nut, but oh, how powerful! Funny enough, until incorporating more of vegan diet, I didn't even know that nuts could be used for anything else than a topping for cookies or chocolate! Yup, I was a nut virgin in a way...NOT ANYMORE!!!
Cashew cheese sauce is also great for pizza's or savory snacks like tarts and muffins. Or even as a dip on some chips, crisps or veggies. Actually, I could eat it on pretty much anything. But the area where it really takes it to the next level and will blew your cotton socks away, is with pasta. It's a great base for any creamy sauce, and I happen to fancy some Carbonara, so here we are.
The preparation and cooking times for this recipe is not including soaking cashews, and I would recommend you to soak them overnight. Some recipes suggest that 3-4 hours will be enough, but I found that texture is not as smooth and creamy as when leaving them in water over night. It tastes good, but it's not the same (just like in that advert!). Also, you can store it in your fridge for 3-4 days, so get ready for some cheesy moments! If you are cashew cheese virgin, you must try this. There will be no disappointment, I can guarantee you!!! Now, enough talking, say 'cheese', and carb up!!!
Carbonara with creamy cashew cheese
Ingredients
Cashew Sauce:
- 1 cup of cashews (soaked overnight)
- ¾ cup vegetable stock
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 onion minced
- salt and pepper
Carbonara:
- 250 g wholewheat spaghetti pasta
- 300 g white close cup mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 cup green peas (fresh or frozen)
- 1 small onion (minced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- fresh parsley
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Cashew Cheese:
- Rinse your cashews and place in blender along with the rest of ingredients.
- Blend until you have smooth, creamy texture and set aside.
Spaghetti Carbonara:
- Cook your pasta as per package instructions, cool down and drizzle with olive oil, set aside.
- Heat up medium frying pan and add 1-2 tbsp. olive oil.
- Add garlic and stir fry for a minute.
- Add onion and mushrooms and stir fry until golden brown (about 5 mins).
- Add fresh or frozen peas and cook further for 3 mins, stir in 4 tbsp. of cashew cheese and mix until well combined.
- Serve immediately, sprinkle with fresh parsley.
- Enjoy!
Please note that all my recipes are developed and tested in metric grams. I recommend that you use digital scales for a more accurate results. I have provided a conversion to US customary in the recipe but please note that I haven’t tested using this method.
Nutrition
Heather
Hi! I am allergic to onions so can I just negate or use a sub for the sauce?
annabanana
Hi Heather, you can try replacing the onion with leek or scallion, or just omit them completely from the recipe. Let me know how you get on!
Amy Dyason
Hi, just wondering if you cook the onion before blending it up for the sauce? ☺️
annabanana
Hi Amy, thanks for stopping by! It's a fresh, finely chopped onion, no need to cook it. You can also use 1 tsp of onion powder instead of fresh onion. Hope this helps.
Emma
Hi, this recipes looks amazing, but my partner doesn't like mushrooms, is there anything I could substitute the mushrooms with that would be just as yummy? 🙂
annabanana
Hi Emma, thanks for stopping by! Hmm...I would suggest replacing them with eggplant, maybe some olives or perhaps some tofu? Hope you and your partner will try it and like it!
Dee
Thank you for this lovely recipe! My kids loved it!
annabanana
Hi Dee, thanks so much for your comment and rating! I'm over the moon to hear that your family loved this recipe!
luisa
What can I substitute brad crumbs with? I don't have bread crumbs.
annabanana
there are no breadcrumbs in this recipe?
Claire
Found this on Pinterest, and I'm so glad I did! It's a delicious recipe that works! The creamy sauce is to die for!
annabanana
Hi Claire!
Thanks for this great review! You've made my day!
Helen
I cannot thank you enough for this recipe! I've been doing veganuary this month and tried this couple of weeks ago. I've made it 3 times since then, and each time is a success! Delicious and easy recipe perfect for any day!
annabanana
Hi Helen!
That is such a great thing to hear! I'm over the moon to hear you've tried it and liked it so much! Hope veganuary is going well and that you will be coming back to this recipe!
Khloe
this is honestly the best carbonara recipe i've come across and make it way to often. always sneak it to my non vegan friends and family and they can't tell ahah
annabanana
Hey Khloe!
That is absolutely fantastic to hear!!! I love when you can't even tell when food is vegan, and to hear that even meat- eaters enjoyed my carbonara- it's like a music to my ears!!! Thanks so much for this lovely comment!
Chris
I'm so glad I found this on Pinterest. The best vegan carbonara I've tried to date!
annabanana
Hey Chris!
Thanks so much, I'm so happy to hear that! Really pleased you liked it!
Jennifer
This is the tastiest vegan carbonara I've ever tried! That cashew cream/ sauce is just delicious! Great recipe that I will definitely make again and again! Thank you.
annabanana
So glad to hear you've enjoyed the recipe! It's one of my absolute favorites too, and it's so simple! Thank you for your feedback!
annabanana
Aww thanks so much Rebecca! Not sure how I've missed this! 🙂 yes, it's so good and cashews are a great substitute for both, cream and cheese! So happy you like it! X
gabriele
742 for 1 serving or for 3 😮 ??!
annabanana
Hi Gabriele! Calories are per serving. 🙂 all the good carbs 😉
Rebecca de Silva
This is perfect for me, I love pasta, yet with my carbonara I would have normally add single cream and a whole load of cheese. This is delicious and vegan. Thanks Anna x