Vegan Roasted Pumpkin Pasta

Its amazing how there is Halloween related stuff everywhere on the web - Pinterest is already full of recipes, decorations and costume ideas etc. It definitely excited me to come up with something that was holiday related.

I have been meaning to make a vegan pasta recipe for sometime now and this time just seemed perfect. A delicious recipe for all the vegan friends and family members this holiday season!

I roasted pumpkin in the oven (which caramelized the sugars in it) and then pureed it. To make the pasta sauce I added some cashew nut puree to the pumpkin and cooked them in olive oil with some parsley, garlic and shallots. The cashew puree gives this recipe a really creamy and rich consistency adding a little bit of nuttiness at the same time.

If you want to do a vegetarian version of this recipe instead or if you are allergic to nuts, substitute cashew puree with equal amount of heavy cream. The consistency of the pasta sauce is a lot like Alfredo sauce, but its lighter on your stomach and has good calories and nutrients from the cashew nut. Cashews are very low in cholesterol and sodium. They are also a good source of magnesium, phosphorus, copper and manganese.

Serving for 2

Cooking time 20 min plus roasting time

Things You Will Need:

1 cup puree of roasted pumpkin (see below for directions)

3/4 cup cashew puree (see below for directions)

1 cup button mushrooms, sliced

1 cup vegetable broth

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp olive oil

handful of fresh parsley, chopped

salt & pepper

vegan linguine or spaghetti for two people

To Make Pumpkin Puree:

Preheat the oven at 400F. Quarter a medium size pumpkin and roast in the oven for about 50 to 60 minutes or till it turns soft. Let cool. Pull the pumpkin out of the skin using a fork. Puree it in a blender with little bit of water. You need one cup of this puree. You can freeze any extra for the next time.

To Make Cashew Puree:

Toast about 1/2 cup of cashews slightly in a pan on low heat. Let cool and soak in 3/4 cup water for about an hour. Puree it in the blender.

To make Pasta Sauce:

  1. Saute mushrooms in a pan with little oil till all their water is evaporated.
  2. Heat oil in a deep sauce pan and add garlic and shallots to the oil. Cook for about a minute till they turn soft.
  3. Add half of the parsley and stir for a few seconds.
  4. Add the pumpkin puree and and the vegetable broth. Cook for a minute.
  5. Stir in the cashew puree and cook for a few more minutes.
  6. Season with salt and pepper and mix in the sauteed mushrooms and the rest of parsley.
  7. Add cooked linguine to the sauce, mix well and serve immediately.
Category : Eggless, Entree, Vegan
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