Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
creamy vegan pasta made in 25 minutes or less!!! perfectly al dente vegan pasta tossed with sauteed bell pepper, broccoli, sundried tomatoes, & an easy homemade lemony basil creamy vegan pasta sauce made from cashews. the easiest healthy pasta recipe - totally dairy-free, vegan & filled with veggies! #creamyveganpasta #easycreamyveganpastasauce #veganrecipes #vegandinner #easyveganrecipes #healthyveganrecipes #plantbased #veganpasta #dairyfree #dairyfreerecipes

lemony basil creamy vegan pasta with broccoli & sundried tomatoes

  • Author: jess larson | plays well with butter
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4
  • Category: pasta, vegan recipes
  • Method: stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian, vegan

Description

Creamy vegan pasta made in 25 minutes or less!!! Perfectly al dente vegan pasta tossed with sautéed bell pepper, broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, & an easy homemade lemony basil creamy vegan pasta sauce made from cashews. The easiest healthy pasta recipe – totally dairy-free, vegan & filled with veggies!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces whole wheat pasta (see Recipe Notes)
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 3 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, sliced (see Recipe Notes)
  • 4 ounces arugula (a few handfuls)
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

lemon basil cashew cream sauce:

  • 1 cup roasted, unsalted cashews
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 cup packed fresh basil
  • 1 cup water
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, generously salt the water. Add in the pasta and cook to al dente, according to package directions. About 2 minutes before the pasta is al dente, add the broccoli florets to the pot to cook with the pasta as the pasta finishes cooking. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. Make the lemon basil cashew cream sauce: Add all listed ingredients to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  3. Cook the veggies: Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add in the onion and bell pepper. Season with 1 teaspoon Kosher salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies soften slightly, 3-4 minutes. Once softened, add the sun-dried tomatoes and arugula to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sun-dried tomatoes soften and the arugula wilts slightly, 1-2 minutes.
  4. Finish the creamy vegan pasta: Once the veggies are ready, add the drained pasta & broccoli to the skillet. Pour the lemon basil cashew cream sauce over top. Toss to combine, adding a little of the reserved starchy pasta water as you go to reach your desired consistency. Taste and season additionally with salt or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, as desired. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Pasta: Obviously, to make this pasta vegan, use your favorite vegan pasta. I love DeLallo’s whole wheat pastas – they’re totally vegan-friendly. While I prefer a textured short noodle for this lemony basil creamy vegan pasta recipe (it clings to the sauce really nicely – pictured here is rigatoni), you can use whatever shape you like best.
  • Sun-dried tomatoes: I find 3 ounce bags of sliced sun-dried tomatoes at Trader Joe’s & they work really well for this recipe. You’ll want to make sure to use dried sun-dried tomatoes for this recipe, not the kind that comes packed in oil, to ensure your creamy vegan pasta doesn’t get super oily.

Keywords: creamy vegan pasta, creamy vegan pasta sauce