Description
This vibrant and creamy Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce offers a delicious dairy-free alternative to traditional Alfredo, blending roasted red bell peppers with cashews and flavorful spices. Perfectly paired with pasta, spaghetti squash, or roasted veggies, it’s a wholesome, satisfying sauce that’s both easy to prepare and packed with nutrients.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper (raw or roasted)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup raw cashews or macadamia nuts
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
To Serve
- 10 oz pasta or spaghetti squash or vegetables
- Optional grilled or roasted veggies, beans, or other add-ins
Instructions
- Soak the Nuts: Place the cashews or macadamia nuts in a cereal bowl, cover them with water, and let them soak for 6-8 hours. After soaking, drain the nuts fully and pat them dry to prepare for blending.
- Blend the Sauce: Combine the soaked nuts, red bell pepper, 1/2 cup water, nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese, salt, onion powder, turmeric, and nutmeg in a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy.
- Cook the Pasta: In a separate pot, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta fully but do not rinse it to preserve the sauce’s adherence.
- Heat the Sauce: Transfer the blended sauce to a pot and gently heat it on the stovetop until it reaches your desired temperature, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Combine and Serve: Pour the warmed sauce over the drained pasta. Season with additional salt and black pepper to taste, then stir in any optional cooked vegetables, beans, or other add-ins of your choice. Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Soaking the nuts is essential for achieving a smooth, creamy texture in the sauce.
- You can roast the red bell pepper beforehand for a smokier flavor or use it raw for a fresher taste.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more or less water when blending.
- Try serving the sauce with gluten-free pasta or spiralized vegetables for alternative options.
- Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/5 of sauce with pasta (approximately 1 cup sauce with 2 oz pasta)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
