A vegan pasta that requires simple ingredients and just 30 minutes! A creamy butter- and dairy-free white sauce is infused with lemon and roasted garlic. Simple, light, delicious. See notes for adapting if you’re gluten-free or not vegan.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Add asparagus to a baking sheet and toss with 1/2 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch each salt and pepper (amounts as original recipe is written // alter if adjusting batch size). Top with several thin slices of lemon and bake for 20-25 minutes. Once finished cooking, remove from oven and roughly chop into thirds.
In the meantime, bring a pot of water to a boil and salt generously.
While the water’s heating, bring a large skillet to medium heat. Once hot, add 3 Tbsp olive oil (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and garlic. Whisk and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes or until garlic is just starting to brown.
Add 3 Tbsp flour (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and whisk. Cook for 30 seconds, then whisk in almond milk 1/2 cup at a time. TIP: Use a large flat spatula to smash down the bits of garlic and flour to properly incorporate. Add a healthy pinch salt and pepper and whisk. Slightly lower heat and continue cooking to thicken, stirring occasionally.
Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Then drain and set aside.
For extra creamy sauce, add sauce to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend. Add nutritional yeast and another pinch of salt and pepper. If it looks runny, add remaining flour (or cornstarch). Blend until creamy and smooth, using the “puree” or “liquify” setting if possible. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then add back to pan and continue cooking over medium to medium-low heat to thicken.
Once your sauce has reached desired thickness, add the juice of half a lemon and stir.
Add 3/4 of the chopped asparagus and the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat.
Divide between 2-3 serving plates (per original recipe // adjust if altering batch size) and top with remaining asparagus. Serve with a lemon wedge and vegan parmesan cheese.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to a few days.
Notes
*3-4 large cloves garlic is ~2 Tbsp minced garlic. *To keep this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and sub the flour with cornstarch or another thickener of choice. Add 1-2 Tbsp during the blending process to make sure it’s completely blended. Then add back to the pan to thicken for 5-7 minutes. Alternatively, make a slurry with the cornstarch and a few Tbsp of the sauce in a small bowl and then whisk it directly into the pan during the simmering process. Repeat in 1/2 Tbsp amounts until desired consistency is reached. *We recommend Trader Joe's unsweetened, unflavored almond milk for best results. *If not vegan, sub cow’s milk and parmesan cheese. *Adapted from my Creamy Vegan Garlic Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes *Inspired by Creme de la Crumb *Asparagus health benefits from whfoods.org *Nutrition information a rough estimate calculated with the lesser end of the range of garlic and flour.