Cheezy Alfredo Sauce

I LOVE pasta dishes, and veganizing meals is my forte! If you're transitioning to a plant-based diet, trying to live a healthier lifestyle, or simply just want an awesome, vegan dinner idea, you have to try this dish! It's gluten free, oil free, cruelty free, and best of all, healthy!

This "Cheeze" sauce resembles an Alfredo-type sauce. It goes great in so many pasta dishes. I will give an example of a dish I love to add it to, below!

CHEEZY ALFREDO SAUCE: INGREDIENTS: ** need at least 2 hours for soaking nuts.

1 cup of cashews - soaked at least 2 hours, rinsed, drained
*optional: 3 brazil nuts (soak with cashews)
2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1.5-2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Himalayan salt
1.5-2 cups water
1-2 dates - de-pitted
1 tsp ACV (apple cider vinegar)
*optional: pinch of cayenne

** NOTE ** This makes enough sauce for 24 oz (two boxes) of pasta. I like to use half of this recipe, just so that the pasta is coated, and save the other half for a pasta dish another night. But feel free to use all the cheese at once, if you like it creamier!

ZUCCHINI & PASTA RECIPE

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 white onion - chopped
4 cloves garlic - minced
3 big zucchini (unpeeled if organic)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
Cracked black pepper, to taste
~ 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Water or broth for sautéing. Use ~ 1/2 cup at a time
12 oz box of pasta . I use jovial GF pasta (found at whole foods)
1/2lb of spinach -- optional

TIPS:

Make the "cheeze" sauce the night before, or morning of, to give it a richer flavor.
Use whatever veggies you like! I'll post a few variations of these recipes on the blog.
Always use low sodium veggie broth or water in place of oil! Use about 1/2cup water for every TBS of oil that would've been used.
Use almonds or macadamia nuts in place of cashews (for "cheese") if you'd like.
PARENTS - use a pinch of turmeric for "cheese" to make it look "cheesier" for kids!

TOPPING IDEAS:

nutritional yeast
red pepper flakes
hemp seeds
fresh parsley
fresh basil
coconut bacon - find "Hot For Food" recipe here

INSTRUCTIONS for ZUCCHINI & PASTA RECIPE:

Sauté 1/2 onion and minced garlic in 1/2 cup of water or broth ** see note above**
While onions and garlic cook, wash and chop zucchini, and put a separate pot of water on stove to boil, for pasta.
Add zucchini to onion & garlic pan, with all seasoning/spices.
While veggies are cooking and waiting for water to boil, prepare your "cheeze" sauce, if you haven't already! ** RECIPE BELOW **
Continuously stir veggies. Add pasta to water once it's boiling. Follow directions on pasta box
Once pasta is done, strain, and add pasta, spinach, 1/2 the sauce recipe to one pot. Stir well.
Add veggies, or serve on top.

INSTRUCTIONS for "CHEEZE" SAUCE:

Put the rinsed cashews in a [high speed] blender with 1/2 cup of water and pulse a few times.
Add rest of spices, date, ACV, and water, and blend on high until smooth.
Refrigerate until use or set aside while prepping meal

Thanks for reading, and make sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook! If you try my recipe, make sure to let me know by tagging me @clementinecrossing on Instagram / or Clementine Crossing on FB, and using the hashtag #clementinecrossingrecipe :)