February 4, 2022

Cashew Butternut "Pasta" with Chickpeas

Cashew butter adds depth and creaminess to this vegan butternut “pasta” dish with added protein from chickpeas, cashews and sesame seeds. This dish can be prepared up to 3 days in advance, just leave off the cashews and sesame seeds until ready to serve.

Plant-Based Whole30 Cashew Butternut Squash
Photo credit: Sarah Steffens

Cashew Butternut “Pasta” with Chickpeas

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 2 tbsp coconut or avocado oil
  • 3 medium garlic cloves ,peeled & minced
  • 1 14.5-oz can of full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 cup plain almond milk
  • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup plain creamy cashew butter
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 4 cups spiralized butternut squash
  • 1 14.5-oz can of chickpeas ,drained

Garnish

  • ¼ cup fresh parsley ,minced
  • 1 whole scallion ,minced
  • ¼ cup toasted cashews
  • 1 tbsp black or white sesame seeds

Instructions

  • ADD coconut or avocado oil to a stockpot set to low heat.
  • ADD minced garlic and allow to become golden in color, stirring often, about 3 minutes.
  • POUR in coconut milk and almond milk and stir well. Whisk in nutritional yeast, lemon juice and cashew butter until very smooth.
  • SEASON with sea salt and black pepper and stir well.
  • ADD in butternut squash pasta and stir well so that the spirals are completely coated in sauce. Stir often until "pasta" is soft, about 5-8 minutes. If it appears a little dry, add another splash or two of almond milk or water.
  • STIR in drained chickpeas.
  • WHEN the butternut squash is soft, remove from the heat and serve garnished with fresh parsley, scallion, cashews, and sesame seeds. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
  • ENJOY!
Sarah S.

Sarah Steffens

Sarah Steffens, our Recipe Developer, has a B.A. in Business Administration, Public Relations from The Master's University in Southern California. After years of experimenting with nutrition and recipes in her own kitchen, she now works as a Personal Chef and Food Photographer in Sacramento, creating meals that support her client's intention to physically and mentally thrive. She has catered several independent film sets, making it her goal to optimize the energy and well-being of each creative crew. You can find many of Sarah's recipes in various Whole30, Paleo and Keto cookbooks. When Sarah is not cooking and styling recipes, you can find her enjoying a long walk, working on creative projects with loved ones or exploring beautiful Northern California.