Vegan Cajun Mushroom Pasta Recipe - Gluten Free (2024)

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This creamy cajun mushroom pasta is one of my favorites--great spicy flavor, and so, so easy to make. Just saute vegetables, blend garlic cashew cream and add to cooked pasta. The delicious garlic cashew cream makes every recipe better!

This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free and ready in less than 30 minutes.

Everyone on a gluten-free diet should still be able to enjoy pasta! Using grain-free pasta in dishes like this one or in my black bean pasta bowl recipe provides a meal that just about anyone can enjoy.

If you use lentil pasta as I did, you will have additional protein with every serving in addition to the vitamins and minerals from the vegetables. Good, and good for you.

Mushrooms are a great source of nutrients. They are perfect for vegan diets because they contain minerals such as phosphorus, iron, and potassium that can be hard to obtain.

This creamy cajun mushroom pasta is a great recipe to use for easy meal prep because it is so quick to make. Simply store pasta in single-serving containers, reheat in the microwave and enjoy a nutritious and delicious lunch.

Ingredients

This creamy cajun mushroom pasta is a favorite of mine because it is delicious and so easy to make! Most of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry. The exact amounts are listed below in the recipe card.

Here's what is needed to make creamy cajun mushroom pasta:

• Lentil pasta - I use Trader Joe's
• Mushrooms
• Green onions - You can use leeks instead if you prefer
• Red bell pepper
• Spinach
• Garlic
• Cajun seasoning - Usually made up of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano.
• Sea salt
• Cashews - Raw and unsalted
• Lemon

The cajun seasoning varies by brand but is typically made from paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, pepper, and oregano. Making this from home instead of buying it at a store lets you adjust the salt and spice levels.

Instructions

Creamy cajun mushroom pasta can be made in 30 minutes or less and is packed with good for you nutrients. It's also great for making ahead for easy packed lunches.

1. Start by chopping the mushrooms, green onions, red bell pepper, and garlic.
2. Add chopped vegetables to a pan with spices and oil. Saute until tender.

3. To make the cashew garlic sauce add cashews, garlic, water, sea salt, lemon juice, and lemon zest to a blender and blend until smooth.

4. Next, add spinach a handful at a time to a pan and stir until the spinach is wilted. Only cook for a minute or two to prevent overcooking the spinach.

5. Pour the cashew cream sauce over the sauteed vegetables and stir.

6. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse pasta with cold water.
7. Add pasta and spinach to the sauteed vegetables and garlic cream sauce. Stir, serve, and enjoy!

Variations

There are a bunch of variations that can be made with this creamy cajun mushroom pasta, by including or substituting:

• For a cheesy flavor add nutritional yeast for b-vitamins. Nutritional yeast can be found in most grocery stores in the baking section or down the spice aisle.
• To make the dish spicier use birds eye chili hot sauce or add some red pepper flakes.
• For coconut oil substitution, you can also use avocado oil or olive oil.
• Substitute the spinach with zucchini for a more meaty texture
• For extra flavor in the garlic cream sauce replace the water with vegetable broth.

Top Tips

This creamy cajun mushroom pasta is so easy to make and is vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free. It's perfect for serving a hungry crowd. Here are my top tips for making this recipe.

• Avoid cutting the mushrooms too thin before cooking because they will shrink when sauteed.
• Do not overcrowd the pan when you are sauteing the mushrooms or you will end up with soggy mushrooms.
• Before cooking the spinach clean and drain any excess water then pat with a paper towel to dry.
• This recipe can be made ahead for easy lunches.
• Make sure your pan is hot before sauteing the vegetables.

Frequently Asked Questions

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