Description
Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce – a creamy, dairy-free, vegan Alfredo sauce made with roasted red bell peppers, cashews, nutritional yeast, and warm spices. This vibrant orange sauce is rich, velvety, and packed with flavor. Perfect over pasta, zucchini noodles, or roasted vegetables for a healthy, satisfying meal!
Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper (raw or roasted)
- ½ cup water
- ½ cup raw cashews or macadamia nuts
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- 10 oz pasta, spaghetti squash, or vegetables
- Optional: grilled or roasted veggies, beans, etc.
Instructions
- Place nuts in a bowl, cover with water, and soak 6–8 hours. Drain and pat dry.
- Blend all ingredients (including ½ cup water) except pasta and optional veggies in a food processor or high-speed blender until smooth.
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Heat sauce in a pot until desired temperature.
- Drain pasta, do not rinse. Pour sauce over pasta, season with salt and pepper, and stir in cooked vegetables, beans, or other add-ins if desired.
Notes
- For a quick soak method, cover cashews with boiling water and soak for 30 minutes instead of 6-8 hours.
- Roast the red bell pepper for deeper, sweeter flavor – blacken over a flame or under a broiler, then peel off skin.
- Use nutritional yeast for a dairy-free, vegan sauce, or Parmesan cheese for a traditional version.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of tomato paste for a rosé-style sauce.
- This sauce is oil-free, gluten-free, and packed with plant-based protein.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Freeze the sauce for up to 3 months – thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Serve over zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, whole wheat pasta, or chickpea pasta.
- Add grilled chicken, shrimp, sautéed mushrooms, or roasted broccoli for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauce, Main Dish
- Method: Blend, Simmer
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired