The Ultimate Vegan Carbonara Recipe: Made with Cashews!
I’m so excited you’re going to try my vegan carbonara recipe! If you’re a fan of creamy pasta dishes but are looking for a plant-based option, this recipe is sure to satisfy.
The creamy cashew-based carbonara sauce is the star of this dish. It’s made with a blend of raw cashews, soy milk, lemon juice, garlic, nutritional yeast, and miso paste, and it’s super easy to make in a high speed blender. Just blend all the ingredients together until smooth, taste and season with salt and pepper, and you’re ready to go!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Vegan Carbonara
- Creamy and delicious: The cashew-based carbonara sauce is rich, smooth, and full of flavor. It’s the perfect complement to the pasta, creating a satisfying and tasty dish.
- Easy to make: This recipe doesn’t require any special skills and it comes together quickly and easily, making it a great choice for a weeknight dinner.
- Vegan and plant-based: If you’re looking for a meatless meal that is still satisfying and filling, this vegan carbonara is perfect. The tofu bacon bits add a savory, smoky flavor and a crispy texture, making it a great alternative to traditional bacon.
- Versatile: You can use any type of pasta you like for this recipe, so feel free to use your favorite. Fettuccine, linguine, fusilli or rigatoni are all great options. And if you don’t have an air fryer or a frypan, you can bake the tofu bacon in the oven instead. It’s budget-friendly: This recipe serves four people and only costs around $6 to make. It’s a great way to enjoy a tasty and satisfying meal without breaking the bank.
What You’ll Need to Make Vegan Carbonara
To get that silky smooth texture, you’ll need a high speed blender for this recipe. If your blender is on the weaker side, soak the cashews overnight to get them really soft. Air fryer is completely optional but super handy.
Equipment:
- A high speed blender
- An air fryer (optional)
Shopping list:
- Raw cashews
- Soy milk (unsweetened)
- Lemon
- Garlic
- Nutritional yeast
- Light miso paste
- Salt and pepper
- Extra firm tofu
- Soy sauce
- Maple syrup
- Smoked paprika
- Spaghetti (or pasta of choice)
Key Ingredients
- Raw cashews: These are the base of the creamy carbonara sauce. They provide a rich, nutty flavor and a smooth, velvety texture when blended with the other sauce ingredients. Be sure to soak the cashews in boiling water for at least 10 minutes before blending to soften them and make them easier to blend.
- Tofu: Tofu is a great plant-based protein that is used to make the tofu bacon bits in this recipe. In addition, it’s high in protein and has a neutral flavor, making it a versatile ingredient that can take on the flavors of the marinade. Be sure to use extra firm tofu for this recipe, as it holds its shape better and becomes crispy when fried.
- Nutritional yeast: This is a type of deactivated yeast that has a savory, nutty flavor and is often used as a flavor enhancer in vegan recipes. What’s more, it’s a great source of vitamins and minerals, including B-vitamins, and it adds a delicious depth of flavor to the carbonara sauce.
- Miso paste: This is a fermented paste made from soybeans, salt, and a type of fungus called koji. It has a savory, umami flavor and is often used to add depth and complexity to sauces and marinades. In this recipe, it adds a nice depth of flavor to the carbonara sauce.
- Pasta: Any type of pasta will work for this recipe, so feel free to use your favorite. Spaghetti, fettuccine, linguine, and bucatini are all great options. Just be sure to cook the pasta according to the package instructions and then drain it before adding it to the sauce.
Storage Instructions
If you have leftovers of this vegan carbonara, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply place the leftovers in a saucepan over low-medium heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, adding a splash of soy milk or water if needed to thin the sauce and prevent burning. Alternatively, you can also reheat the leftovers in the microwave using a microwave-safe dish.
Note: The tofu bacon bits may become slightly soft when stored in the refrigerator, but they should still be flavorful. If you prefer a crisper texture, you may want to make a fresh batch of tofu bacon when you’re ready to serve the leftovers.
In conclusion, this vegan carbonara recipe is a delicious and satisfying plant-based meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. The creamy cashew-based carbonara sauce and the crispy tofu bacon bits come together to create a dish that is both flavorful and filling. And the best part? It’s easy to make and budget-friendly, making it a great choice for anyone looking to add more plant-based meals to their repertoire.
I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you give it a try, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Do you have any variations or substitutions that you’ve tried? Let me know!
Vegan Carbonara
Equipment
- Air fryer (optional)
- High speed blender
Ingredients
Carbonara Sauce
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1/2 cup soy milk unsweetened
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tbsp light miso paste
- salt and pepper to taste
Tofu Bacon Bits
- 450 g extra firm tofu
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Pasta
- 500 g spaghetti or pasta of choice
Instructions
Tofu Bacon Bits
- If you have time, press the tofu for 10-20 minutes. To do this, place the tofu on paper towel or a clean, non-fluffy tea towel and weigh it down with a chopping board and some heavy objects (a cast iron dish or pan works nicely).
- Slice the tofu into thin strips roughly 3-5mm wide. The thinner the strips, the crispier the bacon! Then slice strips again into bacon-bit size squares.
- In a small bowl, combine the marinade ingredients: soy sauce, maple syrup and smoked paprika.
- Place tofu pieces into a single layer in a large baking tray, pour over the marinade and soak for 10 minutes. The longer you leave it the more flavour the tofu will absorb.
- Air fryer option: add tofu bacon bits into airfryer for 18 minutes at 200C/390F, shaking half way through.
- Oven option: place tofu onto a lined baking sheet and bake at 210C/410F for 20-25 minutes, flipping the pieces half way through, they are done when golden and slightly crispy.
- Pan fry option: Heat a generous lug of oil in a frypan over medium-high heat. Fry tofu for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden. Rest on paper towel to absorb excess oil before serving – the tofu will get crispier after cooling slightly.
Pasta
- Cook pasta of choice to packet instructions.
Carbonara Sauce
- Place cashews in a small bowl and soak in boiling water for 10 mins. Drain.
- Combine all sauce ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add extra water if you’d like a thinner consistency.
- Pour sauce over pasta and mix gently to combine. Serve into bowls and top with tofu bacon bits.
Sam says
Such a smooth rich sauce! I used packaged bacon bits and it was still excellent
Karina Banno says
Made this twice now! Sunday staple for my partner and I. He’s not vegan, and has zero complaints.
Gareth Tan Yiam Leem says
Really good, making it again.