The absolute #1 Best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce as rated by readers! So easy, dairy-free, oil-free, just 7 ingredients and so incredibly creamy and full of flavor!
One of most people's indulgent comfort foods is alfredo sauce. I admit, I used to love it too, but I didn't love how after just a few bites, I felt sick. There is such a thing as foods being too rich. Feeling nauseated and in a nasty food coma for hours after eating something isn't really worth it to me.
Enter the best Vegan Garlic Alfredo Sauce you'll ever have. No need to try any further anymore. This one is dairy-free and oil-free. Most vegan versions contain vegan butter or oil, not healthy. This one is made from cashews which make it exceptionally creamy. I wanted a whole food version, not made from oils and I did it all in just 7 ingredients (+salt). I've been making this for awhile and after a couple of folks asked for it on Facebook, I figured I better get it posted!
Read on to see how I came up with the similar rich, slightly sweet flavor of traditional garlic alfredo sauce......
Traditional garlic alfredo sauce has butter, milk, cream, parmesan cheese (or other cheeses) and garlic in it. Major dairy overload! Bloated, icky feeling. It also does not have onion in it. However, I wanted to give my alfredo sauce that slightly, sweet richness typically reached by cream and butter, so I added cooked onions, lots of them. But don't worry, it does not taste like onion sauce...it just gives it lots of flavor and cuts down on all the extra ingredients you typically see in vegan recipes.
I know what you are thinking....does it really taste like garlic alfredo sauce?? Well, my hubby said this exactly the first time he tried it, "spot on" and then he said "it really tastes exactly like garlic alfredo sauce". I was shocked. I thought it did, but I had taste tested it so much, I no longer trusted my taste buds. That's one reason I have people taste test my recipes. We all have different opinions though, so I'll let you be the judge. Try it and let me know! I'd say it is pretty darn close, especially considering it doesn't have any of the typical ingredients!
Regardless, it is delicious and very creamy and satisfying and will NOT make you sick and want to throw up afterwards. You can eat this alfredo sauce without tons of guilt.
If you are pressed for time, then you gotta try my 20 Minute Vegan Alfredo! It's actually my new favorite. So darn creamy and rich and easy! No chopping of veggies or anything! Allergic to nuts? Then make my Nut-Free Garlic Alfredo!
Sadly, this recipe is my MOST popular weekly and is continuing to be stolen and copied and posted by other sites/blogs without ANY credit. It is very upsetting, so please know that I worked hard to create this recipe years back and it is my original creation. If you like this recipe, please give credit where credit is due.
Yields 2 cups
Healthy vegan garlic alfredo sauce that tastes like the guilty version. Lots of onion is the secret to this easy, low ingredient and rich dairy-free and oil-free alfredo sauce. You will be shocked there is not an ounce of dairy in it!
10 minPrep Time
10 minCook Time
20 minTotal Time
Save Recipe5 based on 29 review(s)
Ingredients
- 1 medium white onion, chopped (MAKE SURE to measure out 1 1/2 cups (200g b/c this is where lots of flavor comes)
- 1-2 cups low sodium vegetable broth, separated (240-480 mL)
- 1/2 teaspoon (3g) fine sea salt
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 EXTRA LARGE garlic cloves, minced (15g) (don't skimp because hey, flavor! You should NOT need to be adding extra garlic if you use the correct amount listed. If your cloves are small, add more.)
- 1/2 heaping cup raw, unsalted cashews (75 g, 2.6 oz) (soaked overnight in hot water if you don't have a high powered blender, otherwise your result will be gritty and NOT creamy)
- 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice (don't omit, as this omits any cashew flavor!)
- 2-4 tablespoons nutritional yeast (more or less if preferred, as it is an acquired taste. Make sure to use a non-synthetic version so it doesn't leave a nasty vitamin taste. I highly recommend Sari brand )
- It is not recommended to sub or eliminate any of these ingredients, as I cannot vouch for the results if any are changed. The lemon juice is crucial, as it eliminates any cashew flavor.
- Also, if you don't have a high powered blender like a Vitamix, it is crucial to pre-soak the cashews so they soften and the sauce ends up smooth and creamy, and not gritty. Drain them and rinse after soaking.
Instructions
- Add the onion and ONLY 1 cup of the broth to a large pan over medium to medium-high heat. Cook for about 8 minutes until the onion is very tender. (Add a tiny bit more broth if it is cooking too fast or turn the heat down, so the onions don't burn) After 8 minutes, add the garlic and cook a couple of minutes more, stirring often. All of the broth should have evaporated by now. If not, keep letting it cook until the broth is GONE. You don't want any more liquid once it's done cooking, so the end result is thick and creamy.
- Add the cooked veggies (the onion and garlic) to a blender. Start out by adding JUST 1/2 cup more of the remaining broth and add the remaining ingredients (salt, pepper, cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast-starting with just 2 tablespoons yeast). Blend on high for a couple of minutes until very creamy and smooth. Add any more broth to reach desired consistency, if necessary. I did not. If you don't add more broth, you would likely not need any more yeast. Taste and add any more salt & pepper, if desired.
- Serve over preferred pasta. Note: When preparing your pasta, make sure to salt your water well, so your pasta has flavor and isn't bland, which can affect the end flavor result of the dish. I add around a tablespoon to a large pot of boiling water. Garnish with parsley, lemon zest and salt & pepper, if desired. Add any veggies you like. I like to add broccoli or even peas. Store leftovers in the fridge. The sauce will thicken up even more overnight, which you can thin out a little with a touch of broth when reheating, if necessary.
Here's a little side by side nutrition for my alfredo sauce in comparison to Olive Garden's alfredo sauce....a little shocking:
Mine per 1/2 cup serving which is a hefty serving:
125.2 calories, 7 g fat, 5.6 g protein, 11.3 carbs
and Olive Garden's: (they use heavy cream, milk, lots of cheese and 6 egg yolks, see here)
460 calories, 43 g fat!!, 9 carbs, 8 grams protein
Wow, what a difference! Hey, so it has a hair less carbs, but who cares when all of my ingredients are quality ingredients and not heavy on the heart. Nothing wrong with indulging occasionally, but you could eat my alfredo sauce weekly with much less guilt.
After you've made this, then you gotta make my Garlic Alfredo Pizza with this amazing sauce!!
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