Description
Healthy and flavorful, this oil-free Vegan Creamy Parmesan Orzo and Peas dish is plant-based decadence with an almost risotto type dreaminess.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 cups reserved hot pasta water *
- ¾ cup low-sodium vegetable broth *
- ¼ cup Vegan Parmesan Cheese *
- 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 Tablespoons [raw] cashew butter *
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ¼ to 1 teaspoon sea salt *
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (+/-)
Other Ingredients
- 12 oz. dry orzo pasta *
- 1 ½ cups frozen peas, thawed
Optional Toppings:
- Freshly chopped parsley
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Fill a stock pot full of water. Add a little sea salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil then add the orzo pasta. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Follow package directions, boil the orzo pasta until almost al dente.
- Remove 2 cups of hot pasta water, set aside.
- Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water to remove any excess starch (only if using gluten free pasta), shake well, set aside.
- Place the empty pasta cooking pot back on the stove. Then place all of the Sauce Mixture Ingredients (including the reserved 2 cups of hot pasta water) into the empty pot, and heat over medium-high heat until the sauce comes to a low boil, then immediately lower to a simmer whisking constantly until all the cashew butter has dissolved smoothly into the sauce. Simmer for several minutes.
- Next add the cooked orzo pasta and the thawed peas to the pot with the sauce. Gently stir the pasta over until all the pasta and peas are coated in the sauce. Simmer over low heat and continue to cook the orzo for several minutes until al dente.
- Remove from the pot from the heat and allow to sit and slightly cool for 10 minutes. Then serve with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley, and Vegan Parmesan Cheese on individual servings.
Notes
*Please reference the blog post for Tips for Success, Pantry Items Used, Storage and Freezing, and Kitchen Products Used.
*Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
*Servings: 4 to 5