Creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta

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Creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta - this creamy pasta sauce is so easy to make, and it has a secret ingredient to make it extra creamy! #vegan #vegetarian #veganpasta

Earlier this year I made a roasted aubergine (eggplant) dip, which was super creamy. Since I do get bored eating the same thing over and over again (except pizza… I never get bored of pizza), I stirred the leftovers through some warm pasta, and it made a brilliant creamy sauce. I thought this time I’d be a bit more deliberate with my cooking, and used the same technique for this cashew and roasted red pepper pasta. Just blend some roasted aubergine into the sauce, and it makes everything nice and creamy without having to add any dairy – so it’s perfect for vegans, people with dairy intolerance, people following a low fat diet, or just anyone who appreciates a bowl of creamy pasta (i.e. probably everyone).

Creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta - this creamy pasta sauce is so easy to make, and it has a secret ingredient to make it extra creamy! #vegan #vegetarian #veganpasta

As well as the aubergine, the sauce is packed with roasted tomatoes and roasted red peppers. Most vegetables are improved by roasting, but especially peppers and tomatoes – they become really soft and sweet and juicy. A few blended cashew nuts add a really lovely texture, as well as a bit of protein.

A vegetable-based sauce like this is a great way to get towards your 5-a-day (or is it meant to be 10 these days?!), especially if you have picky eaters in your family – they’ll never know that it’s made with aubergine! You get tons of flavour and goodness without even knowing you’re eating veggies.

Creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta - this creamy pasta sauce is so easy to make, and it has a secret ingredient to make it extra creamy! #vegan #vegetarian #veganpasta

The vegetables for this creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta do take a little while to roast, but the actual hands-on cooking time is pretty minimal (you don’t even have to chop the aubergine before cooking it!). Chuck all the veggies in a blender, then stir it through some cooked pasta, and you’re ready to dig in. Feel free to add extra veggies if your family is less picky – I’m thinking  a few roasted button mushrooms would be pretty great stirred through the creamy sauce!

Creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta - this creamy pasta sauce is so easy to make, and it has a secret ingredient to make it extra creamy! #vegan #vegetarian #veganpasta

Creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta

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5 from 5 votes
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 598kcal
Author: Becca Heyes

Ingredients

  • 1 aubergine (eggplant)
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 red pepper, cut into a few large chunks
  • ~ 10 cherry tomatoes
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • 1-2 tsp tahini
  • 3 tbsp cashew nuts
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Few small sprigs fresh basil
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • 200 g (~ 7 oz) dried pasta

Instructions

  • Lightly brush the whole aubergine with oil, and place on a baking tray. Roast for around 25 minutes at 190°C (Gas Mark 5 / 375°F). Turn the aubergine over, and add the chunks of red pepper and the cherry tomatoes, also lightly tossed in oil. Roast for a further 25 minutes, until all the vegetables are soft and juicy. The aubergine should be very soft.
  • Cut the aubergine in half, and set aside until cool enough to handle. Scrape the flesh from the middle of the aubergine – it should pull away easily from the skin. Add the aubergine flesh to a food processor, along with the roasted peppers and tomatoes, garlic, tahini, cashews, smoked paprika, and a couple of sprigs of basil. Season generously, and blend thoroughly.
  • Boil the pasta in plenty of water until cooked al dente, then drain, and add the roasted red pepper sauce. Mix well over a low heat for a minute or two, until piping hot. You can add a dash of water if the sauce seems too thick. Serve with fresh basil and some extra chopped cashew nuts, if desired.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Creamy cashew and roasted red pepper pasta
Amount Per Serving (1 portion)
Calories 598 Calories from Fat 160
% Daily Value*
Fat 17.8g27%
Saturated Fat 2.7g14%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 91mg30%
Sodium 125mg5%
Potassium 979mg28%
Carbohydrates 93.8g31%
Fiber 10.5g42%
Sugar 10.7g12%
Protein 20.2g40%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional information is approximate, and will depend on your exact ingredients. Please calculate your own nutritional values if you require accuracy for health reasons.

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Have you ever made your own vegan pasta from scratch? Try it – you don’t even need a pasta machine!

How to make vegan pasta

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16 Comments

  1. I had my doubts that this recipe would be a hit at dinner but we loved it!! The sauce came out better than I expected and was just the right consistency. Will make again.5 stars

  2. We super love this. It was a great way to enjoy pasta. The cashew gave it a wonderful texture which I really enjoyed. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

  3. For some extraordinary reason, aubergines and pasta are a match made in heaven, which you really wouldn’t think. You want plenty of garlic, though – and for those who don’t eat cashew nuts, how about blending some goats’ cream cheese into the mixture?

  4. This sounds SOOOOO good – anything containing Cashew nuts is always a major winner in my book – yum! Such a nice healthy list of vibrant and nutritionally packed ingredients too – which I personally love to see, as I focus mostly on clean eating and healthy recipes on my blog. Love it! Trying to share the love and make sure I take the time to read other bloggers, and reach out on recipes that I think are fabulous. Good job lovely! Charlie x

  5. That’s one of my favourite pasta shapes too! ?
    I rarely buy aubergines but I actually have one sitting in my fridge right now and it’s starting to look a bit neglected and wrinkly. Your sauce could be the perfect way to bring it back to life. I’m always on the look out for new ways to serve pasta so I’m excited to give your recipe a try. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!