The 2 Week Veg Pledge is over.
At first I was sad and then I realized… I’ll still eat a plant-based diet. Â I’ll probably even keep making an effort to have at least one veggie serving at every meal (breakfast included).
You may have checked out this post where I announced that as part of the Food Buzz Tastemakers program, I was selected to take the Green Giant Veg Pledge.  The pledge was to eat one more cup of vegetables per day.
Over the past couple of weeks I did a pretty good job at keeping up with it.  I even added arugula to my pizza on a less-than-clean dinner out. 🙂  Here are a few of my favorite veggie-based meals over the past couple of weeks:
Last but not least I made Zucchini Pasta with Raw Alfredo Sauce.
For years I have resisted making a “cheese” sauce out of cashews. Â Partially out of laziness, partially out of the belief that I’d have to eat a full cup of cashews to make enough sauce.
I feel silly now.
Cashews actually get fluffy when blended, FYI. Â You won’t even need to eat 1/2 a cup of them (not for lack of wanting).
When Janet @ The Taste Space posted this recipe for her Raw Alfredo Sauce with Basil, Cherry Tomatoes, and Zucchini Noodles, I knew I had to try a version of my own.
The lemon-y sauce was fantastic with the fresh zucchini and the sweet heirloom tomato. Â Light and summery, I will be making this raw dish over and over again.
The sauce can be used for a number of things! Â So far I have added it to smoothies, used it as a sauce for a raw collard taco, and slathered it on a sweet potato fr a snack.
Use your imagination! Â And make a double batch.
Zucchini Pasta with Raw Alfredo Sauce
- 1/2 C cashews, soaked for 2-4 hours and drained
- Juice of 1/2 large lemon
- 1-2 drops NuNaturals Lemon Liquid Stevia
- 1/4 tsp white miso
- Water, as needed (~2 T)
- 2 zucchinis, spiralized (or finely cut with a cheese cutter, as I did)
- 1/2 carrot, spirialized (or fine cut with same high-tech method above)
- 6-8 stalks of asparagus, cut into 1/2 in pieces
- 1 large Heirloom tomato, diced
- 5-6 basil leaves, chiffonaded
Place the soaked cashews, lemon juice, Stevia, miso, and water in a blender and blend until smooth.
Combine vegetables in bowls and drizzle each with 2-3 T of sauce.
Top with basil, pepper, and red pepper.
Any remaining sauce may be stored in the fridge.
Serves 2.
***
In case you’re curious about that NuNaturals Lemon Stevia… check back Monday.  There just might be a give away… 🙂
Have you ever made cashew “cheese?”
What are you looking forward to this weekend?
I am hesitant for using cashews as a primary sauce ingredient for the same reason- the amount that will be needed! I am now more inclined to try after reading your recipe- as I don’t have any miso on hand, do you think tahini would work instead?
I would use a mix of tahini and some salt (miso is super salty)… I bet that would be really good!
Every time I see a post on your blog it makes me feel guilty of eating anything I make for mine. Heh.
This pasta looks delicious. I haven’t tried a raw alfredo sauce but this recipe but be tried soon. 🙂
Noooo… every time I look at your blog I want to show up at your door demanding food. 🙂
Sounds delicious! I haven’t tried the cashew cheese yet either, but I love cashew butter. 🙂
Shoot, I keep hoping we are going to get your on the v-team! 🙂 That recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
I know, I know… I struggle with not being able to try anything and everything. BUT I do focus on keeping in mostly plant-based! You are a big inspiration. 🙂
Even without a challenge, there is no need to shun veggies… Keep it up! I don’t eat veggies from brekkie, but I should try to start… Glad to hear you loved the sauce… it definitely is quite versatile! Yum~~
I for sure will! The veggies like like best for breakfast are sweeter (zucchini or carrots), so taste-less (like spinach and/or celery in a smoothie).
Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Love how all of your meals and snacks are so different and original! My meals can get so boring and repetitive sometimes… need to step it up a notch me thinks! 🙂 Never had cashew cheese and have nada going on this weekend. Luke always has a game on Saturdays so I generally study all day and then Sunday is Luke’s day off after the game so he’s normally pretty tired so he tends to veg out and again I study all day! Monday is where it’s at around these parts! Thinking lunch at one of the beach bars! 🙂 What about you??
Thank you!
Lunch at a beach bar sounds divine… I’m counting down the day until my next vacation. 🙂
I”ve always been a bit hesitant to make a cashew sauce too, I’ve saved a couple recipes to try but I dunno… all those nuts sounded like a bit of a stomachache 🙂 Maybe I’ll really have to give it a shot now though! Especially because I soooo miss alfredo sauce! I’m lactose intolerant so beyond sacrificing to try my baked goods I usually steer clear, must try! And all of those veggie dishes you’ve been making all look fabulous! I wouldn’t quit the veggie challenger either with all of those!
that’s what I thought! and cashews are expensive. This really was a pleasant surprise. Let me know if you try it. 🙂
That sauce looks absolutly wonderful–I don’t think I would have thought to use cashews (which I love) in that way!
I’ve wanted to try making cashew cheese but I just got a food processor and haven’t tried yet! I think this dish is genius! It looks tasty! Yet again, I want to come over and have you cook for me 🙂 Think I could afford you as a personal chef?! hehehe
We should just alternate dinner nights because I want YOU to be my chef too. 🙂
I’m looking forward to not working. 😀 To be more specific, I’m looking forward to a cookout tonight and boating tomorrow. If I still lived in ATL, I’d be looking forward to Sweetwater’s 420 Fest.
Thanks for the recipe. The hubs n’ I aren’t big lemon fans. Do you think it’d still be good w/o the lemon?
Totally! People make all sorts of cashew sauces… i think it would be really good kicked up with herbs too.
I like using cashews to create creamy vegan sauces!!! Love this recipe!
I didn’t even know there was cashew cheese!!! I love almond cheese, but sometimes it’s expensive. And melts funny… I can’t wait to try the cashew kind! All your eats look yummy, love that raw avocado sauce!
I feel that same about almond cheeses – this is a totally different beast since it’s more “saucy.” Now that you mention it, I best would make a great “melted” cheese sub, especially if you warmed it.
Cashew cheese is pure bliss in sauce form. I first tried it at a raw restaurant a couple of years ago, and now I make my own pretty often. One of these days I will cut my tongue licking the food processor clean. (Shh, don’t tell.)
This weekend I am looking forward to celebrating my son’s birthday. Again. This time with family. I just am not looking forward to all that I have to do before then! Happy weekend to you!
It is a very good thing that I can’t fit my tongue down to t he bottom of the VitaMix. 🙂
I NEED to try this sauce – and I think I’e been on the veg-pledge for a couple of years now! =) I definitely want to incorporate more raw ones into my diet – I’ve been neglecting the fresh veggies!
Summer make incorporating raw so much easier for me – I can already tell that raw veggies and fresh cashew sauce is going to be trending this summer. 🙂
I don’t like cashews at all and thus have resisted making “cheese” with it. I may give it a try, but I just don’t know how I feel about that.
As for weekend activities my husband and I are going to be keeping on the run as all three of our children have a birthday party to go to.
Hope you have a good weekend Laura!
You could probably do it with other nuts – just make sure to soak it first. Almonds would be great!
You know, I rarely pre-soak my nuts for sauces. I just don’ t usually plan that far ahead. 🙂 I love cashew sauces, we keep bags of cashews in the cupboards for that very reason! 🙂
So it works just as well without the soak? Interesting…
You inspire me to eat more vegies and nuts because you are so ccreative in your dishes – thank you so much 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
That means a lot to me – thanks, friend. 🙂
I’ve never made cashew cheese, but I sure want to now!
What I’m looking forward to doing this weekend is relaxing…next weekend we will be in NYC and I just want to relax at home while I can 🙂
Let me know if you try it!
Lucky you going to NYC – I’ve never been, but it’s on my list.
I am really excited to try this recipe hun 🙂 I haven’t made cashew cheese yet but it has been on my list
Let me know how you like it if you do. I can’t wait to try others!
Love this idea! Can’t wait to try this… and those endive boats too- lovely!
Looks awesome! I have a similar recipe that I’ve never tried… thanks for the encouragement to try it! We’re enjoying having my in-laws here this weekend. It’s been busy, but with plenty of down time, too.
You always make your veggies look so good. I mean veggies are good, but you can make them look almost sinful!
Sinful veggies. I like it. 🙂
YUM! I just picked some zucchini up at the store tonight, and was trying to decide what I should use it for 🙂 now I have lots of ideas!!!
Awesome! I think I could live on zucchini. 🙂
This looks and sounds amazing!
There’s nothing better then eating the goodness of raw foods. Looks delicious!
So true! I’m trying to focus more on that lately. So pure and clean!
Um. I know what I’m making for dinner tonight. Damn.