Dairy-Free Alfredo Sauce

Are you a vegan or have lactose intolerance? Dairy-free Alfredo is an appropriate alternative to creamy sauce. 

The delicious Alfredo sauce is very popular worldwide. You need heavy cream and cheese to prepare the traditional Alfredo sauce. But, people who avoid dairy products and seek only plant-based foods, or have lactose intolerance cannot enjoy the famous Alfredo Sauce with pasta.

To overcome this situation, nutritionists suggest dairy-free creamy sauce made with some secret ingredients. This article will present a dairy-free but creamy Alfredo sauce recipe. Prepare rich flavor sauce without dairy by following our recipe. Keep reading to know the ingredients details and easy making process.

Dairy-Free Alfredo Sauce Ingredients

The vegan Alfredo sauce recipe contains some secret ingredients that give a creamy texture to the sauce. We are going to describe the ingredients and their purpose of using, in this section.

1. Raw Cashews – 1 cup

Cashew is a secret ingredient that gives a creamy texture to the vegan pasta sauce. Cashews contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids which are good for our health. Besides, it is a good source of plant protein. You will require 1 cup of cashews for this recipe.

2. Unsweetened Almond Milk – 1 cup

Almond milk also assists to get a creamy and smooth texture. Experts suggest unsweetened almond milk because they are low in calories and high in good fats and plant-based protein.

1 cup of unsweetened almond milk will bring a velvety texture to the homemade Alfredo sauce.

Note: If you want to make the sauce light in texture, you can add water instead of almond milk.

3. Nutritional Yeast – 2 tablespoons

Nutritional Yeast is a common ingredient in vegan recipes. It provides a cheesy flavor. Moreover, this is a good source of vitamin B complex. Our experts recommend using 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast to prepare 2 cups of sauce.

4. Onion – 1 small size

You will require 1 small size onion for this sauce recipe. Onion brings a sweet flavor to the sauce.

• Peel off the onion.
• Wash it.
• Then, chop it. You can chop the onion roughly.

5. Garlic – 2-3 cloves

Garlic is another important ingredient for enhancing the flavor. It brings a satisfying aroma to the sauce.

• Take 2 – 3 cloves of garlic.
• Wash them nicely.
• Then, chop them.

6. Olive Oil – 2 teaspoons

Olive oil is for sautéing the onion and garlic. It brings a richness to the sauce. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids which are healthy fats. You can use 2 teaspoons of olive oil for this recipe. 

7. Lemon Juice – 1 tablespoon

Lime juice provides a tangy flavor and gives a touch of acidity to the sauce. You will need 1 tablespoon of lemon juice here.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar – 1 teaspoon

The function of Apple cider vinegar is quite similar to the lime juice. Vinegar works as a natural preservative for the sauce. 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar is enough for 2 cup sauce.

9. Salt – 1 teaspoon

1 teaspoon salt balances the taste of the sauce.

10. Black Pepper Powder – 1 teaspoon

Seasoning with 1 teaspoon of black pepper powder will elevate the taste of the Alfredo sauce.

11. Nutmeg or Italian Seasoning – a pinch

You can use a pinch of nutmeg or Italian seasoning to add warmth and extra flavor to the sauce.

How to Prepare Vegan Homemade Alfredo Sauce: Easy 7 Steps

Vegan Alfredo sauce is a healthy alternative to a high-fat creamy sauce. We are here to tell you the making process of this sauce easily. You only have to follow the following 7 steps to prepare the perfect dairy-free creamy sauce.

Step 1: Soaking the Cashews

Soaking the cashews helps to blend them easily into a smooth paste.

• Measure 1 cup of cashews.
• Take a bowl filled with normal water.
• Put the cashews into the bowl.
• Soak the cashews for at least 2 hours.

Tips: If you are in a hurry, you can soak the cashews in hot water for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Sautéing the Onion & Garlic

The second step is to sauté the onion and garlic.

• Take a pan and add olive oil.
• Heat the olive oil at medium temperature.
• Add the chopped onion and garlic.
• Sautee for 5 to 10 minutes until they become brown.
• Be careful and avoid burning them.

Tips: You can ignore this step. You can directly blend the onion and garlic. But, professionals recommend sautéing them. Because sautéing provides a desirable flavor and color to the sauce.

Step 3: Preparing the Dairy-Free Cream

It is the most vital step of this recipe.

• Take a Blender.
• Put sautéed onion and garlic, nutritional yeast, soaked cashews, almond milk, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar into the blender jar.
• Then, blend them for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Your dairy-free cream is ready.

Step 4: Seasoning

Your vegan Alfredo sauce is almost ready. Now, you need to season the sauce.

• For seasoning the sauce, add salt, black pepper powder, and nutmeg or Italian seasoning into the blender jar.
• Again, blend for a minute.

Step 5: Heating the Sauce

• Remove the sauce from the blender jar and put it in a saucepan.
• Then simmer the sauce over medium heat for 5 – 7 minutes.
• Heating will help to thicken the sauce and also help to increase the shelf life.

Tips

• Even after heating, if you want a thicker consistency of the sauce, you can add a pinch of wheat flour to thicken the sauce. However, if you want a gluten-free Alfredo sauce, you cannot use wheat flour at all. In the gluten-free version, you can add more cashew paste to thicken the sauce.
• Similarly, if the sauce becomes thick according to your preference, you can add almond milk to get the desirable concentration. 

Step 6: Tasting and Adjusting the Sauce

• When the sauce is ready. Taste it before serving the sauce.
• You can adjust the taste at this stage.
• If you add seasoning ingredients to your preferences. 

Step 7: Serving the Sauce

• You can toss pasta with this vegan version of Alfredo sauce. It tastes awesome. You cannot understand that no dairy products are used in this sauce.
• Besides, you can enjoy this sauce with fries, roasted vegetables, and so on.

Conclusion

The dairy-free Alfredo sauce is an excellent option for one who wants to enjoy creamy sauce without any dairy product. The sauce is healthy, tasty, and easy to prepare. If you have lactose intolerance, you can enjoy this creamy sauce without any guilt.

So! Prepare this homemade version of this famous Alfredo sauce. You can pair this delicious sauce with pasta, spaghetti, pizza, fries, and even veggies. This sauce can be a lifesaver for vegans and lactose-intolerant people.