This creamy butternut squash pasta is vegan, so easy and uses a special ingredient that cuts the overall fat. But the flavor is still unreal!
This post was sponsored by PB2 Foods but the content and opinions expressed are fully my own.
I can't stop eating this butternut squash pasta sauce with a spoon! It's so rich and delicious which is mind blowing since it doesn't use whole cashews.
Ingredients
To make this delectable butternut squash pasta sauce, you'll need the following:
- Butternut squash , about 15 ounces or 3 cups chopped
- Shallots , about 4-5 or 4.5 ounces or ¾ cups chopped
- Garlic , medium sized (adjust for your preferred garlic flavor)
- PB2 cashew powder
- Veggie broth
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sea salt
- Oil or broth
By this point you likely know the magical powers of cashews and how wonderfully creamy they can make a recipe. However, there's the soaking and blending that can make the process a little long. But now, there's a shortcut! By using PB2 Cashew Powder, you can create all the best healthy and creamy dishes in no time!
Not only is it easier to use than whole cashews, but it's healthy too! It has less fat and fewer calories, because they press out the oil and blend the cashews into a fine powder. It's still a great source of protein, and because literally the only ingredients is cashews, it's gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and free of preservatives!
While this powder can be used for baking and in smoothies, I wanted to create a savory pasta dish. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
How to Make Butternut Squash Pasta
This pasta sauce is so simple to make, but the flavors are amazingly deep due to the roasting. Here's what to do:
- Roast the butternut squash, shallots and garlic.
- Blend roasted veggies with broth, cashew powder, and vinegar and pour over your pasta.
- Serve and enjoy!
Serving suggestions
This butternut squash pasta sauce is so good, you want to make sure you get the most sauce per bite! Bigger pasta shapes are ideal since they have more surface area to soak up the goodness. Some great pasta shapes to try include:
- Penne
- Rigatoni
- Ziti
- Pappardelle
- Bucatini
Garnish with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or sage and a sprinkle of Vegan Parmesan! You can serve this as a complete meal, or pair with any of the following:
Tips and tricks
Before you set out on your butternut squash pasta journey, make sure to check out these helpful hints:
- If you don't have shallots you can substitute for sweet or yellow onion.
- The low calorie and low fat powdered cashew helps give this sauce the creamy texture. If you can't wait to try the sauce without it, you can use 1 cup raw cashews.
- If you are using whole cashews, soak them first if you don’t have a high speed blender, or use a coffee grinder to create a powder.
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper while roasting. It avoids sticking and makes for easy cleanup!
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce with veggie broth, add more to make it thinner.
- Peeled and cubed squash is best for roasting. You can prepare a fresh squash, or make it easy and use previously frozen!
- You can make this sauce ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or pop in the microwave.
Common Questions
If you love subbing out spaghetti squash for pasta and want to try the technique with butternut squash, don't. The butternut squash does not have the same stringy texture and will not shred into 'noodles'. However, the flavor tastes great with pasta so definitely pair the two!
This gourd pairs well with both sweet and savory flavors. Thyme, sage, rosemary, garlic, cumin, cayenne, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are all popular spices to use.
One cup of cubed butternut squash contains 16 grams of carbohydrates. This wholesome food packs in a ton of nutrients and fiber, and are a healthy addition to your menu.
While technically edible, most choose to avoid eating the skin on butternut squash. The peels can be tough to remove, so some people choose to cook with the skin on then remove afterward. Using a sharp vegetable peeler is best for removing the skin before cooking.
More Vegan Butternut Squash Recipes
The every popular healthy gourd goes well in so many dishes! Try out these plant based recipes:
- Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll Ups
- Vegan Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta
- Avocado Kale Salad with Butternut Squash
- Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
- Butternut Squash Apple Burgers
Creamy Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 429 grams butternut squash , about 15 ounces or 3 cups chopped
- 130 grams shallots , about 4-5 or 4.5 ounces or ¾ cups chopped
- 2 cloves garlic , medium sized (adjust for your preferred garlic flavor)
- ¾ - 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Drizzle of oil or broth to roast
- 1 ½ - 2 cups veggie broth , low sodium if needed (depending on how thick you want it)
- ½ - 1 cup PB2 cashew powder , see note for other options
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
To serve:
- 12 ounces your favorite pasta , gluten-free if needed
- Fresh thyme , optional for added flavor or garnish (sage or rosemary would work too)
- Vegan Parmesan , optional for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 F/ 230 C
- Mix the squash, shallots and garlic with ½ teaspoon of the salt and oil if using.
- Put the mixture on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 35 minutes until the squash is cooked and brown on the edges.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions.
- When the butternut squash is done, add to a blender with the broth, cashew and vinegar.
- Blend until smooth. Add more salt as you prefer.
- Serve mixed with pasta and thyme or parmesan!
Notes
- The powdered cashew helps give this sauce a creamy yet lower fat and calorie option. If you do not have it, you can use ½ - 1 cup raw cashews (soaked if you don’t have a high speed blender or powder them using a coffee grinder).
- Adjust the cashew to get the creaminess you prefer.
- You can sub sweet or yellow onion for the shallots.
- The nutrition facts are for the sauce only. It makes about 2 ½ - 3 cups depending on how much broth you use. Serving size is about ½ - ¾ cup.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Marilyn
This looks amazing…and am anxious to make it ! A question: I’ve not used the PB2 cashew butter..but will be buying it. I’m wondering if it can be used in some of your cheese recipes and other sauces. I love them and make them often…but need to grind the cashews in a coffee grinder before blending. This would be so much easier and quicker. What do you think? Thanks.
veggiesdontbite
Hi Marilyn! YES!!! This cashew powder is perfect for that. It was a huge win when I tried it and the first thing I thought of was how great it would be for those that needed to grind the cashews. Because it is a powder, I would start with the same amount as is written for the cashews and add more if you need to for flavor. let me know how it goes!
Sarah
I am now convinced that cashew powder has magical powers! Too perfect.
Dayne Conn
Great and easy to follow.
veggiesdontbite
I'm so happy you liked it!
Cassie
This sounds delicious. Would love to make but my daughter has nut and sunflower allergy. What can I sub to make it creamy? Thanks
veggiesdontbite
Hi Cassie! So sorry to hear about the allergy. Unfortunately cashews are the best way to get a creamy result and I can't personally vouch for other options, but I have had a few people make my cheese sauce recipe without the nuts and adding more potato (that one uses some potato in it), white beans and/or cauliflower. This recipe won't taste as creamy and rich but it may be worth a shot? I know some people also use silken tofu but the flavor may come through for that. You can also try a coconut based yogurt but you'd need to cut the tang so I'd leave out the vinegar until you taste it. I wish I had a magic answer but these are all simply ideas!
Edamommy4life
This looks really good! I'm curious where you purchased the cashew powder? Amazon shows $19.99 for a container that only has 2 cups in it.
veggiesdontbite
Hi! I get it from Amazon, my local stores or their site. You can adjust the amount to get the creaminess you prefer or you can always sub with actual cashews! I just love the ease of the powder and how it's lighter in terms of the end result in the sauce.