Description
Enjoy a creamy and zesty dinner with Cashew Cream Cajun Chicken Pasta – Dairy Free! Perfectly customizable; try it tonight!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3/4 cup raw cashews
- 1 1/2 cups broth (chicken or vegetable)
- 12 ounces gluten-free pasta
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 1/2 large red pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 large yellow or orange pepper, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- Pinch or two of cayenne (optional)
- Parsley (to garnish – optional)
Instructions
- In a heatproof bowl, cover raw cashews with just boiled water for at least 30 minutes or up to an hour. If pressed for time, simmer the cashews on the stovetop for about 10 minutes until they are pale and plump.
- Start a large pot of lightly salted water to boil for the pasta. Cook according to package instructions. Reserve about 3/4 cup cooking water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together all dried spices: onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, paprika, thyme, and cayenne (if using). Ensure everything is well combined.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. When hot, add chicken pieces and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of your spice mix. Cook until cooked through on both sides. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Add an additional tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet along with diced onion, bell peppers, and chopped garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until tender. If necessary, add a tablespoon or two of water to release any brown bits from the skillet.
- Stir in tomato paste along with remaining spice mix. Cook for one more minute until spices are aromatic.
- Drain soaked cashews and place them in a blender with broth, nutritional yeast, salt, and black pepper. Blend on high for at least one minute until smooth.
- Return skillet to medium-low heat. Add cooked pasta, chicken pieces, and cashew cream sauce into the pan. Stir well to combine while scraping up any brown bits from the bottom. Bring to a simmer for one or two minutes until sauce coats pasta evenly. Adjust consistency by adding reserved pasta water as needed.
- Taste your dish and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Top with fresh parsley if desired before serving!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg