• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Plant Based Jess
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • 📧 Subscribe
  • Contact me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring Recipes
    • Recipes
    • About
    • 📧 Subscribe
    • Contact me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipe Index » Pasta and Noodles

    Vegan White Sauce (basic creamy sauce for pasta)

    Published: Feb 4, 2021 · Modified: Apr 4, 2024 by Jessica

    JUMP TO RECIPE PIN SHARE

    This 4-ingredients vegan white sauce is such a delicious basic creamy sauce for any simple pasta dish. The cashews make this sauce super rich and luscious, you won't believe it is dairy-free!

    There is a large shallow white bowl with farfalle pasta mixed with a vegan white sauce and roasted pepper and zucchini. On the side, these is a black and white hand towel, a small white bowl with red pepper flakes, lemon wedges and another bowl with more pasta.

    Having a basic creamy white sauce is a great addition to your recipe repertoire. I make this recipe often and it never stays in the fridge for very long. It has a rich & silky consistency with mild flavors that can be used in so many meals.

    This creamy sauce is so delicious simply poured over cooked pasta, but it's also a perfect go-to replacement for heavy cream in savory meals.

    It actually reminds me of a creamy Alfredo sauce. I prepare vegan cauliflower Alfredo or a flour-based creamy spinach pasta recipe regularly, but I keep this cashew sauce recipe for when I need something a little richer.

    There is a see through jar containing a vegan white sauce with a spoon inside. In the background, there is nutritional yeast in a white bowl, raw cashews and a white and black hand towel.

    What's to love about this vegan white sauce

    • Easy & quick to prepare
    • Versatile
    • Creamy and rich
    • Only 4 ingredients
    • No added butter or oil
    Close up on a white bowl containing farfalle pasta with a vegan white sauce and roasted pepper and zucchini.

    It's a totally dairy-free vegan white sauce!

    The secret to reaching such a creamy sauce without any dairy is the cashews!

    Raw cashews become soft and plumped after soaking in water. This makes them more blend-able and can be used to create a uniformly smooth textured sauce. And depending on how much water you add to the blender, you can adjust how thick you want your sauce to be. I even use soaked cashews to make thick sweet cashew creams, just like in this vegan blueberry cheesecake.

    Ingredients to make this vegan white sauce

    • Raw Cashews
    • Nutritional yeast ( I love this nutritional yeast from Bragg)
    • Fresh Lemon
    • Fresh garlic
    • Water + Salt
    There a few white bowls containing water, raw cashews, nutritional yeast, a clove of garlic, half of a lemon and salt.

    How to make this vegan white sauce

    First, soak the cashews in plenty of cold water for 8-12 hours. If in a pinch, then boil water, remove from the heat and add the cashews to let them soak in the hot water for about 30 minutes. (pssst, you can even boil the cashews for 10 minutes for an extra speedy version). Drain the cashews and rinse them.

    Then, blend all the ingredients until very smooth. This could take 30-60 seconds. And that's it!

    Then, add to your dish to warm the sauce up.

    Raw cashews being that were soaking in water are being drained in a fine mesh colander.
    Showing is the inside of a blender that contains a white-yellowish creamy pasta
    There is a see through jar containing a vegan white sauce with a spoon showing the texture of the sauce. In the background, there is nutritional yeast in a white bowl, raw cashews and a white and black hand towel.

    Watch how to make it

    YouTube video

    Tips when making this vegan white sauce

    • I like this sauce quite thin, especially when I want to pour it over pasta. You can see the consistency easily if watching the video. If you want to use this sauce to stuff pasta shells or use as a white filling sauce for lasagna, then you could easily make this sauce thicker. To do this, use a little more cashews (about 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cup). Or check out this cashew ricotta cheese for a perfect lasagna filling.
    • Taste along the way as you blend the sauce and adjust how much salt, nutritional yeast and lemon juice you want. If you are new to nutritional yeast, then you can start with a little less first and taste.
    • If making this sauce using a regular blender (opposed to a high-speed blender), then make sure you soaked your cashews long enough first and you might need to blend for a little longer. Also, stop the blender a few time to scrape the side of the blender to ensure all the cashews bits are crushed.
    There is a large shallow white bowl with farfalle pasta mixed with a vegan white sauce and roasted pepper and zucchini. On the side, these is a black and white hand towel, a small white bowl with red pepper flakes, lemon wedges and another bowl with more pasta.

    Serving suggestions

    This basic vegan creamy white sauce is a great base for any pasta dishes and so flavorful on its own. My favorite way to enjoy it is to generously pour it over cooked pasta with veggies and sprinkled with vegan parmesan cheese or vegan TVP bacon bits for a carbonara style. I use this sauce whenever making a vegan white lasagna and also amazing with butternut squash ravioli! I even use it to make bean and rice enchiladas! But here are other ideas for creamy pasta dishes:

    • Make a herbed white sauce: combine this sauce with walnut pesto.
    • Make a loaded white sauce: cook veggies like onion, mushroom, pepper, green peas and combine with this sauce.
    • Make a rosé sauce (pink sauce): combine with prepared tomato or marinara sauce (or check out this creamy tomato pasta for the best pink pasta!)

    Simply warm the sauce with the other ingredients of your dish.

    You can use this sauce when making vegan pasta casseroles, vegan taco casserole, dairy-free vegetable gratins, vegan chickpea enchiladas, and creamy soups. Also delicious simply poured over steamed cauliflower or broccoli or use it to garnish vegan bean taquitos!

    There is a see through jar containing a vegan white sauce with a spoon inside. In the background, there is nutritional yeast in a white bowl, raw cashews and a white and black hand towel.

    How to store this vegan white sauce

    Keep the sauce in a air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    The sauce might thicken as it rest. If this happens, simply thin it out with a splash of water or vegan milk.

    Close up on a white bowl containing farfalle pasta with a vegan white sauce and roasted pepper and zucchini.

    Other creamy pasta dishes you might like

    • Silken tofu pasta sauce
    • Vegan cajun pasta
    • Hidden vegetable pasta sauce
    • Butternut squash mac and cheese
    • Cauliflower Alfredo
    • Garlic cream Primavera pasta bake
    • Vegan bechamel sauce
    • Tahini pasta
    • Pasta with hummus and roasted vegetables
    • Vegan avocado pasta with broccoli
    • Vegan powdered cheese
    • Vegan green pasta sauce
    • Gochujang pasta
    • Oat milk Alfredo pasta sauce

    I hope you will love this vegan creamy pasta sauce as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let us know how it was.

    And let's stay in touch with Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter to be sure not to miss any updates!

    📖 Recipe

    There is a large shallow white bowl with farfalle pasta mixed with a vegan white sauce and roasted pepper and zucchini. On the side, these is a black and white hand towel, a small white bowl with red pepper flakes, lemon wedges and another bowl with more pasta.

    Vegan white sauce

    4.86 from 7 votes
    This vegan white sauce is so easy to make and perfect for when craving something rich and creamy. Perfect poured over pasta with vegetables. Also a good staple to keep in the house as it is very versatile.
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Total Time10 minutes mins
    Servings 4 servings
    Author Jessica Laroche

    Equipment

    • Blender

    Ingredients
      

    For the cream sauce

    • 1 cup raw cashews - soaked or boiled, see note
    • ¾-1 cup water
    • 2-3 tbsp nutritional yeast
    • 1 tbsp lemon juice
    • 1 small clove of garlic
    • ½ tsp salt - or to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Blend all the ingredients in a blender on high speed for 30-60 seconds.
    • Serve over warm pasta of your choice with vegetables. Enjoy!

    Video

    YouTube video

    Notes

    • You can either soak the cashews in plenty of water for 8-12 hours, soak them in warm water for 30 minutes or boil them in water for about 10 minutes. This will help soften them and will be more blend-able. Drain and rinse before transferring to the blender.
    • Store this sauce in a air-tight container for up to 4 days.
    • To eat, simply reheat and combine to your dish. 
    • Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 2mg
    CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES!
    SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE BY EMAIL

    Pin it for later!

    More Vegan Pasta Recipes

    • White bowl with creamy pesto rigatoni garnished with roasted tomatoes.
      Creamy Pesto Rigatoni with Roasted Tomatoes
    • A white plate of noodles tossed in a vegan chickpea pasta sauce.
      Vegan Chickpea Pasta Sauce
    • Green pea pasta sauce with short noodles and a side of lemon wedge and more fresh basil.
      Creamy Green Pea Pasta Sauce (20-min Vegan Recipe)
    • View on a bowl of veggies pesto pasta with a side of lemon wedge.
      Veggie Pesto Pasta

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anonymous says

      June 08, 2024 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      Great basic sauce, will make again.

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        June 08, 2024 at 4:20 pm

        Great! I'm glad you like it!

        Reply
    2. Charles says

      May 05, 2023 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      Really good and easy to make. I had it over Butternut Squash Ravioli: https://plantbasedjess.com/homemade-vegan-butternut-squash-ravioli/
      Also a great recipe (I did use sprouted spelt flour and no oil for the pasta)

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        May 07, 2023 at 7:15 am

        Hi Charles! Thanks so much for sharing! I'm so glad you loved it, the ravioli with the white sauce sounds like such an amazing pairing. Yum 🙂

        Reply
    3. Laura says

      February 13, 2023 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      This is a good recipe, easy and flavorful

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        February 13, 2023 at 10:53 am

        Hi, great! Thanks for your comment! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Patricia says

      April 08, 2022 at 10:23 am

      4 stars
      Hi there, thank you for the super fast and easy recipe. It was a little too bland for me, I think next time I will add more garlic and some parsley. I will definitely make this again. I doubled up the recipe and will use the remainder to pour over steamed broccoli

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        April 08, 2022 at 10:27 am

        Hi Patricia! I'm glad this recipe worked out, thanks for taking the time to share your comment 🙂

        Reply
    5. Kathryne says

      March 04, 2021 at 12:14 pm

      5 stars
      My child have issues with dairy. Thank you for this vegan version

      Reply
    6. Jean says

      March 03, 2021 at 9:44 pm

      5 stars
      Recette qui revient souvent chez moi ! Super versatile

      Reply
      • plantbasedjess says

        March 04, 2021 at 8:03 pm

        Merci pour ton commentaire! Je suis contente que ce soit un hit! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Sonia says

      March 03, 2021 at 10:03 am

      5 stars
      Délicieux !!!

      Reply
    8. Liz Como says

      February 05, 2021 at 9:32 am

      Jess,
      I love all the use of Nutritional yeast. I was introduced to it years ago when I began working for Outward Bound here in Maine. On courses, we would make a basic gravy for stir fries and it was often a big hit on popcorn. I started working for OB in the mid 80's and finding nutritional yeast was tricky. I would often stock up from the co-op in Rockland, Maine for when I was not working over the summer. It is such a savory flavor. Thank you for broadening my recipes so much.

      Reply
      • Brenda says

        March 07, 2023 at 7:28 am

        I lived on Islesboro and worked at Heritage Savings in Rockland, Maine back in the late seventies. Makes me a little homesick to see it mentioned!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    ABOUT JESS


    Profile picture for Plant Based Jess in the kitchen.

    Hi there! I’m Jessica, a pasta obsessed French Canadian now living in beautiful Maine. I’m a mom of two, experienced foodie and ninja meal planner. I believe everyone can make stress-free plant-based meals with wholesome ingredients that your family and friends will love. 

    Join me in my kitchen to discover fun and creative recipes or click to find out more. Welcome!

    CONNECT WITH ME


    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    🌱 SPRING RECIPES


    • There is a white bowl that contains a creamy barley breakfast bowl that's topped with a strawberry and rhubarb quick compote. There is also a wooden spoon on the side of the bowl and fresh strawberries. Also beside the bowl, there is another breakfast bowl as well as a few small bowl containing more of the compote and fresh strawberries. The bowls are on a large pink hand towel and there is a cup of tea on the side.
      Barley breakfast bowl with a strawberry-rhubarb compote
    • Vegan Watermelon Salad with Mint and Cucumber
    • There is a portion of a vegan garlic pasta bake on a plate with a baking dish containing more of the pasta on the side. There are 2 forks, 2 glass and a pitcher of water on the side as well as a small plate with ground black pepper.
      Vegan Garlic Pasta Bake
    • There is a slice of a vegan spinach quiche that's being hold and close to the camera. You can see in the background the whole vegan spinach pie as well as a white and blue hand towel.
      Vegan Spinach Quiche (Gluten-Free)
    • Green pea pasta sauce with short noodles and a side of lemon wedge and more fresh basil.
      Creamy Green Pea Pasta Sauce (20-min Vegan Recipe)
    • View on a tall glass of mango cherry smoothie topped with flaxseed.
      Mango Cherry Smoothie

    POPULAR RECIPES


    • Overhead view on a dark plate filled with 3-ingredient almond flour peanut butter cookies with a glass of milk on the side.
      3-Ingredient Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
    • View on a glass of passion fruit mocktail with fresh passion fruits on the side.
      Passion Fruit Mocktail
    • Showing is a homemade easy buckwheat bread that's about half sliced. There are a few slices around the bread that are topped with peanut butter, yogurt and fruits.
      Easy Buckwheat Bread (No yeast, No kneading!)
    • There is a large spoon taking some oven-roasted potatoes and broccoli from a sheet pan.
      Oven-Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli
    • Front angle view on a kale tonic with lemon juice.
      Kale Tonic (First Watch Copy Cat Recipe)
    • Front angle view on a small jar of flaxseed pudding layered with strawberry jam and fresh blueberries.
      Flaxseed Pudding

    Footer

    Copyright © 2021 Plant Based Jess

    Privacy Policy