Cashew Alfredo Pasta with Shrimp

Whether or not you are dairy free, this cashew spin on Alfredo sauce will be a go to pasta dish for you. Ready in just a couple of minutes, it is super creamy and flavorful. Especially when poured over a combination of pasta, shrimp and veggies like it is in this weeknight pasta recipe.

Jump to:

• The Ingredients
• The Method
• Leftovers and Storage
• Make it Your Own
• Serving Ideas
• And if you liked this recipe...
• Recipe Card
• Comments

Throughout my young adult years, I struggled with digestive issues. And while we won't get into that here, the reason I am bringing it up is that for a period of that time, I went dairy free and stumbled upon the idea of using cashews to make a creamy pasta sauce.

And after some experimenting and tweaking, this dairy free Alfredo pasta sauce recipe came to be a regular in my dinner rotation. In fact, I loved it so much that even though I have since returned to eating dairy, I still opt to make this regularly.

Not everyone may agree, but personally, I enjoy it even more than traditional Alfredo sauce and you might too because it is:

• So fast! This sauce comes together in about 2 minutes total. And while I do recommend soaking the cashews overnight for creamiest blending, it is still delicious even if you skip that step.
• Flavorful. Do not be fooled by the simple ingredient list for the sauce. This stuff is so tasty that I have been known to take a spoon to it (don't judge me 'til you've tried it!).
• Dietary Friendly. Whether you have dietary restrictions or are entertaining friends or family who do, this is a meal that can easily accommodate most concerns. If you need it vegan, just leave out the shrimp. If you need gluten free, just use gluten free pasta. And if you need dairy free, well, it already is!

The Ingredients

• "Alfredo" Sauce:
  • Raw Cashews- Make sure that you are using raw cashews and not roasted as they won't blend up to the same creamy consistency. For best results, soak the cashews overnight.
  • Garlic- I prefer to use a fresh clove but ½ teaspoon of garlic powder can be used instead.
  • Lemon Juice- Fresh squeezed always has the best flavor but I have made this with bottled as well before and it still turned out tasty.
  • Fine Sea Salt- Kosher or table salt will work as well- just adjust to taste.
  • Black Pepper
  • Water
• Pasta- I like to use fusilli pasta as all of the spirals are a great place for soaking up the sauce. I really like the taste and texture of brown rice pasta which happens to be gluten free but you can use whatever type of pasta you prefer.
• Shrimp- To make this a filling, all in one meal, I added shrimp for protein and I also find that shrimp pairs great with the flavors of Alfredo. You can omit it if serving this as a side or substitute another protein such as chicken.
• Broccoli- Just like the shrimp, I added broccoli for some veggies to round out the meal. Feel free to leave it out or you can substitute another vegetable such as cauliflower, carrots or asparagus.
• Chickpeas (Optional)- This recipe has lived on my blog for years, but recently, I have started adding a can of beans to it for an extra boost of fiber. Any canned or cooked beans would be great- I really like cannellini beans in this as well- so you can use another type or just leave it out.

The Method

Leftovers and Storage

Make Ahead: The cashew Alfredo sauce can be made up to 1 day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

To Store: Store leftover cashew Alfredo pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: Warm in the microwave until heated through, adding an extra splash of water as needed (the pasta tends to soak up some of the sauce as it cools).

Make it Your Own

• Chicken Alfredo- Substitute 1 lb cooked and shredded or diced chicken breasts in place of the shrimp.
• Add more greens- Stir in 2 cups of fresh spinach when you combine all of the other ingredients with the pasta.
• Top it with Parmesan- If you don't need it to be dairy free, try topping with freshly grated parmesan cheese just before serving.

Serving Ideas

Enjoy this Alfredo alongside:

• a simple Spinach Salad
• Baked Herb Tomato Zucchini
• a slice of Honey Oat Bread
• Or check out this post with 23 Perfect Sides to Serve with Alfredo (Plus Toppings!) for even more ideas!

And if you liked this recipe...

...you might also like:

• Chai Frappe (Also made creamy by cashews!)
• Pot Pie Soup
• Sautéed Spinach Pasta
• Turkey Spinach Lasagna

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