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A simple vegetarian and vegan dinner at its finest, this creamy almond milk pasta sauce is flavored simply with almond milk, garlic, shallots and herbs.
My favorite thing in the world is not food. (I know, you’re surprised.) It’s not cooking or writing, music or dancing, though those are close. No, what has always been my favorite thing in the world is people. Because to me, people are fascinating. Learning their stories and connecting over what it means to be human is one of the more precious things in life. It’s what drove me out of a music career, solitary and isolating, into journalism school. I wanted to write about people and what they were doing to shape the world. Meeting a new person is always a bright spot for me. I’m almost euphoric after meeting a stranger and connecting over their story.
And that’s where food comes in for me because food, essentially, is people. Food is a connection point for strangers and friends. It’s grown by people, transported by people, prepared by people and enjoyed with people. We just visited Portland, a city chock full of some of the best food out there — but to us the food was nothing without the people it was shared with. (Huge hugs to Dana & Jon and Robyn!) Chips and salsa and margaritas are empty without friends to laugh over them with; kale nourish bowls are nothing without hearing friends’ stories.
Many of the recipes on A Couple Cooks were created with people or for people. This almond milk pasta sauce with herbs recipe is dedicated to the people who have inspired us throughout the years to keep writing this blog: our friends and family, fellow bloggers, and you, dear readers.
Making almond milk pasta sauce
This creamy almond milk pasta is mean to be shared with loved ones. Our thought in keeping it vegan and dairy-free was that it could appeal to a wide variety of diets (for gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and flour). The recipe creation was fairly typical for Alex and me: I played around with a vegan sweet potato mac and cheese to the point of tears, and Alex swooped in and saved me with this creamy almond milk pasta.
For this almond milk pasta sauce, Alex used flour and almond milk to make a roux, and shallot, garlic and herbs to make the flavor pop. I was surprised it worked, and delighted as always to be one-upped. Hope you all enjoy it, and as always: thank you so much for reading. You are some of our favorite people, really.
Looking for more easy pasta recipes?
Outside of this almond milk pasta sauce recipe, here are a few more of our favorite easy pasta recipes:
- Mushroom Pasta with Goat Cheese
- Vegan Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
- Cacio e Pepe
- Farfalle Pasta With Peas, Feta, and Dill
- Gemelli Pasta with Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- Italian Vegan Pasta Salad
- Grilled Vegetable Pasta
- Easy Pasta Puttanesca Recipe
- Everything Bagel Pasta
- Spaghetti with Lentils & Marinara
- Orecchiette Pasta with Lemon Asparagus
This almond milk pasta sauce recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and flour.
Creamy Almond Milk Pasta with Herbs
A simple vegetarian and vegan dinner at its finest, this creamy almond milk pasta sauce is flavored simply with almond milk, garlic, shallots and herbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta (or substitute penne)
- ¼ cup minced herbs (rosemary, oregano, thyme, and basil), plus 8 basil leaves for garnish
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 medium shallot
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or substitute gluten-free)
- 1 cup almond milk
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil 6 quarts water with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, then drain.
- Mince the herbs, garlic, and shallot. Thinly slice (chiffonade) the 8 basil leaves and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and shallot and saute for 1 minute. Add flour and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. When the flour is dry and bubbly, add the almond milk, herbs, and kosher salt. Stir until creamy, about 1 minute, then remove from the heat.
- Add the pasta and stir to combine. Garnish with basil and serve immediately, adding additional kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.
Delicious!!!! But I don’t think it makes enough sauce for a pound of pasta. I had a lot of penne left over- just used a different sauce.
Hey, is it okay to use dried herbs/spices instead of fresh (dried basil, etc)? Should I stick with the same amount?
Thanks so much!
It won’t be quite as flavorful but still good! Do about half to a third of the amount.
How do i know how much of a mix i will use for the spices? 1/4 cup isnt specific
Hi! The exact amount is flexible. About 1/4 cup of chopped herbs, or a medium handful from the garden.
Doesnt the flour with the liquid need to be brought to a boil for a few minutes? Im not sure why, I was just always told that.
Since the flour is cooked for 5 minutes you don’t need extra boiling.
could I use almond flour for this dish?
Unfortunately almond flour won’t work — just almond milk!
This was so yummy! Added mushrooms too. Portion size was enormous too (maybe too big!).
When do you add the herbs other than the basil? With the shallot/garlic? Thanks!!
Never mind! Found it!
Never cooked pasta using Almond Milk. This sounds interesting. Will try it…..
This looks so delicious. I definitely don’t cook with Almond Milk enough!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Love this article. And the food looks fantastic. Love your blog and follow it regularly. I’m local too, so it’s nice to see fresh ingredients here in Indy, so beautifully plated and cooked!
Connection is probably what I crave the most in life. When life is shared with a partner, family, good friends it’s gives purpose and meaning. I love that you put this all into words, Sonja. And this pasta! Orecchiette is my favorite pasta shape. Just did a post with it too a few weeks back. ;-) But I looove your almond milk sauce.
My heart was totally swelling when I read this post, because I feel the same way about the community that is built around the table, and pasta is just the perfect, comforting way to connect. Love the fresh herbs on this gorgeous plate!