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One of the things I miss most about trying to balance my diet with little to no dairy at home is creamy, cheesy pastas. So I was on a mission to make a dairy-free version of a cream sauce similar to an alfredo but with my own twist and alas I’ve done it! This sauce and pasta dish in particular will definitely be a go-to for me!
This was also my first time using bratwursts (instead of sausages) at home and after doing a bit of research I realized the best way to cook them to keep them really juicy is by boiling them in water first and then letting them rest, slicing, and finishing off to get that nice browning in a pan. And boy were these juicy and flavorful this way!
Ingredients
- 6 bratwursts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound penne pasta use gluten free pasta to make recipe gluten-free
- 4-5 tablespoons flour
- 3 1/4 cup cashew milk
- 10 cloves garlic, diced
- 3 medium shallots, diced
- 4 tablespoons vegan Parmesan cheese (I used Violife), plus more for topping
- 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more if you like spicy!
- 1 cup frozen peas
- kosher salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
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Place bratwursts in a large pasta pot and just cover with water. On high heat, wait until the water begins to boil and then turn off the heat and let sit for 10 minutes before draining. Set aside and let cool.
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Using the same pot, fill with water and season liberally with salt. Bring to a boil (this will be for your pasta).
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Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large pot or pan with high sides on medium-low heat. Stir until fragrant about 3 minutes. Add in flour and using a whisk, mix in until flour is no longer dry. Then slowly add in the cashew milk (slowly to avoid clumping!). Let simmer for about 3-4 minutes.
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Add in 4 tablespoons vegan Parmesan cheese. Stir until combined and then transfer to a blender. Add in the garlic and shallots and blend on high until creamy (about 30 seconds). Set aside for now.
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Once your pasta water is boiling, cook your penne pasta according to your box instructions.
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While pasta is cooking, slice the bratwursts into 1/4 inch discs. Heat a non stick pan on medium heat and add bratwurst discs and cook until golden brown on both sides. Transfer to some paper towels to rid excess grease.
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Transfer the sauce back to your pan and season with paprika, cayenne and pepper and liberally season with salt and pepper. Add in frozen peas and bratwursts. Drain cooked pasta and add in to the sauce as well. Give it a taste test and add in more salt and/or pepper to taste and enjoy!
Shelby
March 19, 2020If I wanted to make with regular milk – how much would I use?
Nina Joy
March 19, 2020You can substitute regular milk in the same quantity! Enjoy 🙂