Description
Spice-packed “Creamy Cajun Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta” brings southern warmth to plant-based comfort food. Hearty noodles dance with rich pumpkin sauce, delivering complex flavors that comfort and excite you.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 can (15 oz/425 g) pumpkin puree
- 1 lb (450 g) pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- 1 cup (240 ml) raw cashews
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 tsp cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Liquid and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) plant-based milk
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Soak raw cashews in hot water for 30 minutes to soften, enabling smoother blending for the creamy sauce base.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, prepare the sauce by combining soaked cashews, pumpkin puree, vegetable broth, and plant-based milk in a high-speed blender until completely smooth.
- Transfer blended mixture to a large skillet and heat over medium temperature, stirring continuously to prevent scorching.
- Incorporate cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, nutritional yeast, olive oil, and lemon juice into the sauce, whisking until fully integrated.
- Simmer the sauce for 5-7 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken slightly, stirring occasionally to maintain consistency.
- Add cooked pasta directly into the skillet, gently tossing to ensure every pasta piece is evenly coated with the creamy cajun pumpkin sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt as needed, ensuring balanced flavor profile.
- Serve immediately while hot, garnishing with additional cajun seasoning or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Soaking cashews in hot water helps break down their fibers, creating an ultra-smooth and silky sauce texture without any graininess.
- Blending ingredients thoroughly prevents lumps, ensuring a restaurant-quality creamy consistency that coats pasta perfectly.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish celiac-friendly, maintaining the rich and spicy flavor profile of the original recipe.
- Adjust cajun seasoning intensity by gradually adding spices, allowing you to control heat levels for different taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg