Vegan Pumpkin Alfredo Linguine
Too soon with the pumpkin recipe?
Eeeerm, I couldn’t NOT do it. Apparently I’m a “basic white girl,” because this list is spot on.
When the weather gets cooler, creamy and comforting foods just feel so right. Ryan especially loves pasta sauces filled with heavy cream. One of the first times he made a meal for me when we moved in together he said he was making us pesto pasta. I sat down with a glass of wine and watched him pour a LOT of heavy cream in the saucepan. We’re talking a good 1/2 cup+, for just to two of us.
It was delicious, don’t get me wrong, but here’s the hush-hush thing about cream-based pasta sauces: my tastebuds love them, my tummy does not.
I’ve been experimenting with cashews in lieu of dairy pretty frequently lately, but this is the first recipe I felt the immediate need to share. Those cashews, when soaked and whirled up in a blender, create a beautiful cream sauce. That cream sauce, along with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, pumpkin, and warm fall spices, makes for a super luxurious autumn dinner.
I made this on Friday, which was the first fall-like day in MN, and also a day when I happened to be home sick with a hacking cough. This dinner, which is really quick to make, and about as comforting as can be, was just what I needed.
Since this recipe is full of cashews, it is not a lower-fat alternative to alfredo. I’m not afraid of high-fat meals, especially when the fat comes from cashews. Ryan and I watched a food documentary about a year ago that mentioned cashews being a natural mood lifter. Apparently cashews are a good source of tryptophan, which your body turns into serotonin.
So yes, this is a high-fat recipe, but those are happy fats!
I’m no doctor or nutritionist, but any possibly natural mood boost is good by me…especially if it means devouring this pasta.
Vegan Pumpkin Alfredo Linguine
Creamy and rich pumpkin alfredo without the dairy! Soaked cashews blend up into a super smooth cream, which is mixed with pumpkin, rosemary, garlic, and warm fall spices.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces whole wheat linguine (or gluten-free alternative)
- 3/4 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 6 hours (or overnight)
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (to taste - I like a LOT of nutmeg)
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to package directions.
- Drain the cashews from the soaking water. Combine the soaked cashews and 1/2 cup of broth in a blender, and blend until completely smooth.
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, and then add the rosemary and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Pour in the remaining broth, blended cashews, pumpkin, and all spices. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, until all the ingredients are warmed and incorporated. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste.
- To get the sauce extra smooth, I like to blend it again at this point, but it is not necessary if you're crunched on time.
- Stir the sauce into the cooked pasta. Serve warm with extra cracked black pepper and/or additional chopped fresh rosemary.
The sauce will firm up after it cools, but add 1-2 tablespoons of water when reheating leftovers in the microwave and it will become smooth and creamy again.
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Uh, hello, another basic white girl right here! That list annoyed me.. I’m basic just because I comprehend the sheer glory of fall? Psh. That’s another rant for another day. This right here, this looks AMAZING. I’m so glad you made it vegan! And pumpkin alfredo? I’d never have dreamt that up in a million years but now I have to make it everyday. Ev.ery.day.
I’m with you. I can’t touch a cream sauce. I love ’em, but my tummy does not. Which is weird because I can eat cheese and ice cream and milk. Ack. Anyways, this looks like perfect fall comfort food. Can’t wait to try it out!
I can’t believe this is dairy-free – it looks so creamy and nom-erific! I’ve got some pumpkin and cashews in the pantry, so I think I know what’s for dinner tomorrow!! (would be tonight, but gotta soak those cashews!)
Mmmm. Sounds ultra fabulous!
Ooh, this sounds so good! Such perfect fall comfort food. I definitely have to get some pumpkin in the house immediately. :)
Oh my goodness – this looks delicious! And it’s finally looking like fall here in the midwest (well, at least today!) Can’t wait to try – I have some vegan friends coming over and I think this will be the perfect recipe!
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I’m not concerned about fat either, especially when it’s a good fat as in these cashews. Looks absolutely lovely!
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I made this tonight and it was amazing! Definitely the perfect way to welcome autumn. I added nutritional yeast (because I put it in everything) and it gave it a nice cheesy flavor. I’m so glad I made a double batch. Now I can enjoy it for lunch the rest of the week! :)
I bet nooch would be great in this! I’ll have to try that next time :)
Just made this tonight and it was amazing :) thanks for the recipe!
Awesome! Thanks for the comment! :)
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This recipe initially sounded really good. Unfortunately, For me this was not very good at all. I followed the recipe exactly as written and can see how some people might like it, however for me it was not good. I think it was the combination of cashew and pumpkin. Just not a good combination.
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