Creamy Beet Cashew Pasta (Printer-Friendly)

Colorful pasta in a creamy beet-cashew sauce, naturally dairy-free with lemon and olive oil for bright flavor.

# What You’ll Need to Cook:

→ Pasta

01 - 250 g dried pasta, such as penne or fusilli

→ Sauce

02 - 1 large beetroot (about 200 g), peeled and diced
03 - 80 g raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes and drained
04 - 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
05 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
06 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
07 - 2 tablespoons reserved pasta cooking water (plus more as needed)
08 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

10 - Chopped fresh parsley or basil
11 - Toasted walnut pieces
12 - Vegan yogurt or cashew cream
13 - Grated lemon zest

# Steps to Prepare:

01 - Simmer diced beetroot in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Optionally, roast at 200°C for 30–35 minutes to intensify flavor.
02 - Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve at least 150 ml of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
03 - In a high-speed blender, combine cooked beetroot, drained cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water. Blend for 1–2 minutes until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, adding more pasta water as needed to achieve a pourable consistency.
04 - Transfer drained pasta into a large pan over low heat. Pour beet-cashew sauce over the pasta and toss gently until every piece is evenly coated and warmed through. Adjust seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice to taste.
05 - Finish with a drizzle of olive oil, then top with fresh herbs, toasted walnuts, a swirl of vegan yogurt or cashew cream, and lemon zest as desired. Serve immediately.

# Extra Cooking Tips:

01 - For optimal creamy texture, ensure cashews are thoroughly soaked and blended until completely smooth.
02 - Retaining additional pasta water allows for precise saucing consistency.
03 - Enhance presentation by garnishing with fresh herbs and lemon zest.

Go Back