Creamy Vegan Cashew Tomato Pasta
A rich and creamy vegan pasta dish featuring a smooth cashew cream sauce blended with tomato paste and diced tomatoes. This comforting rigatoni recipe is flavored with garlic, onion, and a hint of red pepper flakes, making it a perfect plant-based dinner that’s both satisfying and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 60 minutes soaking time)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes plus soaking time
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Cashew Cream
- 1 cup raw cashews
- ½ cup water (for blending)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Pasta
- 16 ounces rigatoni (or your preferred pasta)
- ¾ teaspoon salt (divided)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Cashew Cream: Place the raw cashews in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them soak for about 60 minutes until tender. Once soft, drain the cashews and transfer them to a blender with ½ cup of fresh water and ¼ teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to package instructions, but reduce the cooking time by 2-3 minutes to keep the pasta al dente. Reserve 1 ½ cups of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until it darkens, about 2 minutes. Add the diced tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ cup of reserved pasta water. Simmer the sauce until it thickens and deepens in color, about 10 minutes.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta, cashew cream, and remaining 1 cup of pasta water to the sauce. Toss thoroughly to coat the pasta with the sauce evenly.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Soaking cashews overnight can reduce the soaking time and produce an even creamier texture.
- Reserve pasta water carefully; it’s key for achieving the perfect sauce consistency.
- You can use gluten-free pasta to make the recipe gluten-free.
- Add fresh basil or parsley as a garnish for added flavor and color.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred level of spice.
Find it online: https://bitezly.com/creamy-vegan-cashew-tomato-pasta/
