Creamy, garlicky pasta — what’s not to love? This quick and easy pasta is the ultimate satisfying, nourishing meal with tomatoes, arugula, and fiber-rich beans. YUM.
Just 10 ingredients required for your new favorite weeknight-friendly pasta, friends. Let us show you how it’s done!
This garlicky pasta starts with (you guessed it) garlic! And there’s more in the sauce, friends. We aren’t playing around! Canned white beans combine with the garlic and some tomatoes for a savory, garlicky base.
While the beans soften in tomatoey goodness, it’s sauce time! The sauce starts with soaked cashews for a super creamy result, and for major flavor and “cheesiness” we add nutritional yeast, garlic, and lemon zest + juice. Add some water and blend ‘er up!
Next it’s time to add a generous portion of arugula to the saucy tomatoes and beans. Not a fan of arugula? Spinach would work well here, too!
“All together now!” Lastly, the cooked pasta goes into the pot with the wilted greens and saucy tomatoes. The sauce gets added as well, and while it might look a bit thin, don’t worry! A few minutes over low heat and the sauce will thicken to creamy perfection.
We hope you LOVE this lemon garlic pasta! It’s:
Creamy
Savory
Comforting but fresh
Perfectly lemony
& SO satisfying!
It’s perfect as a meal on its own but is also delicious with sides such as our Perfect Roasted Asparagus or Simple Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette. For more protein, pair with our Crispy Baked Tofu with Italian Herbs or Lemon Baked Salmon with Garlic Dill Sauce.
More Plant-Based Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Mushroom and Asparagus Pasta (GF)
- Vegan Pasta Al Limone
- Creamy Vegan Pink Pasta (30 Minutes!)
- Vegan Pasta Primavera with Roasted Veggies
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Lemon & Garlic Pasta with White Beans (Vegan)
Ingredients
SAUCE
- 2/3 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
PASTA
- 12 oz pasta of choice (we like Jovial gluten-free penne)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 (15 oz.) can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (or sub chickpeas, but they’ll be more firm)
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 6 cups baby arugula
FOR SERVING optional
- Vegan parmesan cheese (or store-bought)
Instructions
- Add cashews to a heat-proof bowl and cover with at least 2 inches of boiling water. Set aside to soak.
- PASTA: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add pasta, stir, and set a timer for the lower end of your package’s al dente recommendation. Proceed with the recipe while your pasta cooks.
- Meanwhile, heat a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add olive oil and garlic and cook until fragrant and lightly sizzling — about 1 minute. Add the drained and rinsed beans, tomatoes, and salt and stir to combine. Then reduce to low heat, cover, and let simmer while you make your sauce.
- SAUCE: Drain the cashews and add them to a high-speed blender along with the other sauce ingredients (water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic, salt, and lemon zest). Blend on high until very smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. The sauce may seem thin but it will thicken once added to the pasta.
- PASTA: Test your pasta for doneness and drain. Then add the arugula to the tomatoes/beans and stir to combine. Once the arugula has wilted, add in the cooked pasta and the cashew sauce and mix well. Turn the heat to medium-low and continue stirring until everything is nicely coated and the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
- Serve warm garnished with vegan parmesan cheese, if desired. Leftovers keep for 3-4 days. Not freezer friendly.
Holly says
Loved this! The sauce was great, and the flavor level was perfect! I’ve made this twice now, and the first time I realized I’m not an arugula fan. Second time I added roasted chickpeas and blanched broccoli instead and it still turned out great! Thanks for the yummy healthy recipe!
Love your modifications, Holly! Thank you for sharing! xo
Dev says
Sooooo good! Creamy and hearty but light and fresh at the same time. YUM
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Dev! Thank you for sharing! xo
s says
added carrots and peas and used basil and spinach instead of arugula – how lovely! i’ll add more lemon juice and zest next time, though :)
Those additions sound lovely. Thank you for sharing!
Des says
We make at least one or two of your recipes weekly. This is a staple in our home. So good!
My kids are really picky & your recipes never let me down. Your recipes pull me out of my comfort zone, teach me new things I can do with food, my family all happily eats it. I’m in love with your food. Thank you so so much for sharing your love of food.
Aw, this makes us SO happy, Des! Thank you so much for sharing! xo
Athena says
I really enjoyed this dish! I used Banza Chickpea Penne Pasta for an extra kick of protein and broccoli instead of arugula. My husband isn’t vegan so he added some lemon chicken on the side. I definitely recommend this recipe! It’s quick and versatile!
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Athena!
Laura D says
I really enjoyed this and have been enjoying the leftovers too. Good flavor, simple, quick, and creamy and comforting. Thank you!
Hi Laura! We’re so glad you enjoyed this one! Thanks so much for sharing. xo
deborah mapp says
This dish tasted absolutely divine and easy to make too!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Deborah. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a star rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Nara says
This recipe is INCREDIBLE! Highly recommend. I’ve made plenty lemon-garlic pastas but the flavor balance on this one is just perfect.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Nara. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Nathalie says
This recipe is absolutely delightful – and so perfect for Spring!!
Woohoo! Thanks so much for the great review, Nathalie!
Julie says
Great flavor and texture! Super easy and fast…turned out great! Used Banza pasta to bump up protein. Had baby spinach on hand, but next time will try the arugula.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Julie! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
mimi says
delicious. a keeper
Merci!
Yay! Thanks for the lovely review, Mimi!
Nicole says
I would love to make this but cannot eat cashews. Is there something I can substitute instead?
Hi Nicole, if you don’t mind the flavor of coconut milk, that should work here. We would suggest starting with about 1 cup and adding more as needed.
Sandra says
I just made with 1 cup of coconut milk and it’s extremely watery! Like a soup. I recommend way less coconut milk and/or a thickening agent.
Hi Sandra, sorry that happened! Did you include water by chance? If using coconut milk, we’d recommend skipping it.
Nicolena says
I made this with chickpeas and spinach instead of white beans and arugula because that’s what I had on hand, DELICIOUS!!! The pasta type I used is trofie, I saw it at Trader Joe’s and it looked cool so I picked it up – works well with this dish!
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Nicolena!
penname says
So darn delicious I was amazed we had leftovers. I look forward to making it again, but with single ingredient cashew butter for a smoother sauce.
So glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the great review!
Jen says
SO freaking good! Whole fam loved it. Thanks for another great recipe!
Yay! So glad you all enjoyed, Jen. Thanks so much for the review!
Allison says
This came out great! I used penne and made as directed. Really liked the arugula. Will make again.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Allison. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Nicole says
I made this for dinner tonight and thought it was very good. It came together quickly and is perfect for a weeknight meal.
We’re so glad to hear it! Thank you for the lovely review, Nicole! xo
Claire says
I’ve made this twice now and loved how they turned out. The first time the sauce was quite thin and as described it thickened once stirred into the cooked pasta. The second time I used fresh green beans instead of white beans and served with pesto crusted cod. The combination was stunning. Thank you MB!
Wow, that combination does sound amazing! Thank you for sharing, Claire!
Jen says
Could you sub in thinly sliced kale for the arugula? Or would that be too hearty?
We think that would work well, Jen!
Halimah Williams says
I made this today and really enjoyed it. I feel that mine was a little too “lemony”. I like the modification of adding mushrooms that someone tried. I’m going to add some mushrooms after sautéing them with some garlic and olive oil since I didn’t do it originally. I’m also going to add some black pepper to the pot. I only added to my single portion initially.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Halimah! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Paula says
Loved this dish so much. I didn’t use all of the sauce because I think I made a bit less pasta.
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Paula! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Jane says
Great recipe! Super fresh and jam packed with goodness. I added mushrooms, and I used chickpea pasta for an extra protein punch. Seriously, so good. I’m already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow!
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Jane!
Piper says
So incredibly delicious. Only adjustment I made was adding a bit less water to the sauce because I was afraid of it being too thin. It is so fresh. Big thumbs up!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Piper! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Molly Upstill says
I made this recipe tonight and it was a hit with both the husband and 15 month old toddler.
At any opportunity I have, I always add extra vegetables so a zucchini and bag of frozen spinach also went in.
Seriously delicious and I will absolutely make it again.
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Molly!
Amy says
Hi, this looks great, but we don’t eat nutritional yeast. Is it fine to just eliminate it? Thanks!
Hi Amy, it’ll still be tasty without it, just not as cheesy!
Jess says
My little guy has a cashew and peanut allergy. Any suggestions on another nut to use here? Maybe almond? Thanks in advance!
Hi Jess! We haven’t tried this sauce with any other nuts, however you could try silken tofu, macadamia nuts (they might not get as smooth) or pine nuts. The flavor and texture of the sauce will be slightly different. Let us know if you try it though!
Meri Schroeder says
How would you use the silken tofu? I’m new to the tofu world – would you just use 2/3 cup of the tofu and follow the directions as is? Thanks!
Hi Meri, we haven’t tested it, so can’t guarantee it will turn out the same. But yes, 2/3 cup and maybe start with less water since it won’t be as absorbent as cashews. Let us know if you try it!
Meri Schroeder says
Will do – and thank you!
Gabriela Vega says
any Non-vegan alternatives to the cashew?
Hi Gabriela! We haven’t tried it, but you could try using 1/2-3/4 cup of cream instead of the cashews and water. When you add the sauce to the pasta, you may need to add water to thin it out! Let us know if you try it!
Joanna says
Hi, I am wondering if there is anything that can be subbed for the cashews? Another nut or food? Thanks!
Hi Joanna, if you don’t mind the flavor of coconut milk, that should work here. We would suggest starting with about 1 cup and adding more as needed.
JD says
Love these cream type vegan pasta dishes. I used tahini in place of cashews and it tuned out great. Probably a little nuttier and more toasty in flavor but I enjoy that. I eyeballed the sub so can’t really comment on measurement specifics. Thanks for all the recipes and inspiration!
Amazing! Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modification!