Indulge in a creamy and delicious vegan alfredo that is both satisfying and nutritious. This recipe combines the rich texture of cashews with the vibrant flavor of broccoli, creating a delightful dish that will please your taste buds. Perfect for a comforting dinner, this vegan alfredo is sure to become a favorite in your household.
When preparing this recipe, you might need to visit the supermarket for a few specific ingredients. Cashews are essential for creating the creamy base of the sauce, and they need to be soaked in water for a few hours beforehand. Nutritional yeast is another key ingredient that adds a cheesy flavor to the sauce; it can usually be found in the health food section. Make sure to pick up fresh broccoli and garlic as well.
Ingredients For Vegan Alfredo With Broccoli
Cashews: These nuts are soaked to create a creamy base for the sauce.
Broccoli florets: Fresh broccoli adds a nutritious and vibrant element to the dish.
Garlic: Minced garlic provides a robust flavor to the sauce.
Nutritional yeast: This ingredient gives a cheesy flavor to the vegan sauce.
Vegetable broth: Used to blend the sauce and add depth of flavor.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a hint of acidity to balance the flavors.
Salt: Enhances the overall taste of the dish.
Ground black pepper: Adds a touch of spice and warmth.
Pasta: Choose your favorite type of pasta to complete the dish.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When blending the cashews for the sauce, make sure they are fully soaked and soft to achieve a creamy texture. If you have a high-speed blender, it will help create a smoother sauce. Additionally, you can adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more or less vegetable broth. If the sauce becomes too thick while heating, simply stir in a bit more broth until you reach the desired consistency.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
cashews - Substitute with sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds provide a similar creamy texture when blended and are also rich in healthy fats and protein.
cashews - Substitute with silken tofu: Silken tofu offers a smooth consistency and adds a protein boost, making it a great alternative for a creamy sauce.
broccoli florets - Substitute with cauliflower florets: Cauliflower has a similar texture and can be steamed or roasted to mimic the bite of broccoli.
broccoli florets - Substitute with asparagus: Asparagus provides a different but complementary flavor and texture, adding variety to the dish.
minced garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can be used in a pinch, though it may lack the fresh, robust flavor of minced garlic.
minced garlic - Substitute with shallots: Shallots offer a milder, sweeter flavor and can be minced to provide a similar aromatic base.
nutritional yeast - Substitute with miso paste: Miso paste adds a savory, umami flavor that can mimic the cheesy taste of nutritional yeast.
nutritional yeast - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a depth of umami flavor, though it will change the color and slightly alter the taste profile.
vegetable broth - Substitute with water with bouillon cubes: Bouillon cubes dissolved in water can replicate the flavor of vegetable broth.
vegetable broth - Substitute with mushroom broth: Mushroom broth provides a rich, earthy flavor that enhances the overall taste of the dish.
lemon juice - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar offers a similar acidity and tanginess to brighten the sauce.
lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice provides a comparable acidic kick and fresh flavor.
salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add saltiness along with a depth of umami flavor.
salt - Substitute with seaweed flakes: Seaweed flakes add a salty taste along with additional nutrients.
ground black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper offers a similar heat and flavor but with a slightly different taste profile.
ground black pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds heat and a different kind of spiciness, though it should be used sparingly.
pasta - Substitute with zucchini noodles: Zucchini noodles provide a low-carb, gluten-free alternative with a fresh taste.
pasta - Substitute with spaghetti squash: Spaghetti squash offers a similar texture to pasta and is a nutritious, low-carb option.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Recipe
- Allow the alfredo sauce to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the sauce watery.
- Transfer the pasta and broccoli mixture to an airtight container. If possible, use a shallow container to help the dish cool more quickly and evenly.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make sure the container is sealed tightly to maintain freshness and prevent any odors from the fridge from seeping in.
- For freezing, portion the vegan alfredo into individual servings. This makes it easier to thaw and reheat only what you need.
- Use freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Label them with the date to keep track of how long they've been stored.
- Freeze for up to 2 months. While the sauce and broccoli will maintain their quality, the texture of the pasta may change slightly after freezing.
- To reheat, thaw the frozen portions in the refrigerator overnight. This gradual thawing helps maintain the texture and flavor.
- Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally. You may need to add a splash of vegetable broth or plant-based milk to loosen the sauce if it has thickened too much.
- Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave. Place the portion in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until heated through.
- If the sauce appears too thick after reheating, add a bit of lemon juice or vegetable broth to bring back its creamy consistency.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Stovetop Method: Place the leftover vegan Alfredo with broccoli in a saucepan. Add a splash of vegetable broth or plant-based milk to help rehydrate the sauce. Heat over medium-low, stirring frequently until warmed through. This method helps maintain the creamy texture of the sauce.
Microwave Method: Transfer the leftovers to a microwave-safe dish. Add a small amount of vegetable broth or plant-based milk to keep the sauce from drying out. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot.
Oven Method: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the vegan Alfredo with broccoli in an oven-safe dish. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent drying. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway to ensure even heating.
Steamer Method: If you have a steamer, place the leftovers in a heatproof dish that fits inside the steamer basket. Steam for about 5-7 minutes, or until hot. This method helps retain moisture and keeps the broccoli tender.
Double Boiler Method: Set up a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Add the vegan Alfredo with broccoli to the bowl. Stir occasionally until heated through. This gentle heating method helps prevent the sauce from separating.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Large pot: used for cooking the pasta according to package instructions.
Colander: used for draining the cooked pasta.
Steamer basket: used for steaming the broccoli florets until tender.
Blender: used for blending the soaked cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, vegetable broth, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper into a smooth sauce.
Saucepan: used for heating the blended sauce over medium heat until warm and slightly thickened.
Wooden spoon: used for stirring the sauce and tossing the pasta and broccoli to coat evenly.
Measuring cups: used for measuring the cashews, vegetable broth, and pasta.
Measuring spoons: used for measuring the nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
Chef's knife: used for chopping the broccoli florets and mincing the garlic.
Cutting board: used as a surface for chopping the broccoli and mincing the garlic.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Pre-soak cashews: Soak cashews overnight to save time on the day of cooking.
Use frozen broccoli: Opt for frozen broccoli florets to skip the chopping and steaming steps.
Blender efficiency: Blend the sauce ingredients while the pasta is cooking to multitask effectively.
Batch cook pasta: Cook extra pasta and store it for quick meals later in the week.
Pre-minced garlic: Use pre-minced garlic to cut down on prep time.
Vegan Alfredo With Broccoli
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup Cashews soaked in water for 4 hours
- 2 cups Broccoli florets chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons Nutritional yeast
- 1 cup Vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper ground
- 12 ounces Pasta your choice of type
Instructions
- 1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- 2. Steam broccoli florets until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.
- 3. In a blender, combine soaked cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, vegetable broth, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth.
- 4. In a saucepan, heat the blended sauce over medium heat until warm and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
- 5. Add the cooked pasta and steamed broccoli to the saucepan. Toss to coat evenly with the sauce.
- 6. Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutritional Value
Keywords
Suggested Appetizers and Desserts for This Recipe
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