Vegan Creamy Cashew Alfredo Zucchini (Printable)

Luscious dairy-free cashew Alfredo over tender zucchini noodles, ready in 30 minutes.

# Components:

→ Zucchini Noodles

01 - 4 medium zucchini, spiralized
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt

→ Creamy Cashew Alfredo Sauce

04 - 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes and drained
05 - 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
06 - 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
07 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
08 - 2 cloves garlic, peeled
09 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
13 - 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts
14 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Method:

01 - Spiralize zucchini and gently pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini noodles and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly tender. Season with sea salt and set aside.
03 - In a high-speed blender, combine soaked and drained cashews, plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down sides as needed.
04 - Pour sauce into a saucepan and warm over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently until heated through. Add additional plant milk if sauce is too thick.
05 - Toss warm zucchini noodles with creamy Alfredo sauce until evenly coated. Serve immediately garnished with fresh parsley, toasted pine nuts, and additional black pepper if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like the real thing, but your body feels lighter afterward.
  • Your blender does almost all the work, leaving you time to actually enjoy cooking.
  • It works for literally anyone at your table, whether they eat dairy or not.
02 -
  • If your sauce breaks or looks grainy, you likely didn't soak the cashews long enough or your blender isn't powerful enough—invest in a good blender if this is your thing.
  • The sauce thickens as it cools, so make it slightly thinner than you think you want it while cooking.
03 -
  • Make your cashew cream the day before and store it in the fridge; the flavors actually deepen overnight and everything comes together faster when you're cooking.
  • If you're feeding skeptics, serve this without announcing it's vegan and watch them eat their words along with their pasta.
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