Skip to main content
Epicurious

Vegan Cacio e Pepe

4.0

(2)

Image may contain Food Food Presentation Pasta Spaghetti Plate and Cup
Photograph by Isa Zapata.  Food Styling by Cyd McDowell.  Prop Styling by Paige Hicks

Delicious, a little fancy, and deceptively simple to make, this vegan cacio e pepe is a frequent star in Chrissy Tracey’s weeknight meal rotation. While the pasta is good on its own, sautéed mixed mushrooms stirred into the pasta add a dose of veggies and some intrigue. 

“I tried to re-create the creaminess, taste, and texture of cheese without using dairy and using only natural ingredients,” Tracey says. “When soaked cashews are blended with spices, miso, and pasta water, a creamy sauce forms that makes for the perfect cheese alternative.”

If you don’t want to soak the cashews overnight, we’ve got you: Just cook them in boiling water until softened, about 20–25 minutes.

What you’ll need

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Cold Matcha Noodles
Matcha tints this refreshing noodle dish a delightful green hue—and imparts its characteristic grassy flavor.
Sun Gold Tomato Pasta With Pistachio Gremolata
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.
Chickpeas With 40 Garlic Cloves
Braising canned chickpeas in chicken stock and olive oil makes them unbelievably tender and buttery. This is worth the effort of peeling 40 cloves of garlic.
Quick Butter-Braised Tomatoes and Dumplings
Store-bought dumplings, fresh tomatoes, butter, and soy sauce simmer away for dinner in a flash.
Roasted Tofu Grain Bowls With Miso-Tahini Sauce
This vegetarian bowl is as colorful as it is hearty: brown rice and quinoa, roasted tofu and broccolini, avocado, cabbage slaw, and a turmeric-spiked dressing.
Silken Tofu With Black Bean Garlic Sauce
A homemade black bean sauce is better than anything you can find in the grocery store. Plus, the 15-minute dinner you can make with it.
Green Pasta e Fagioli
This riff on the Italian classic comfort food gets its verdant color from kale two ways: blended into the base, and wilted among the pasts and white beans.
Cashew Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry
Savory cashew chicken meets tender asparagus in this lightning-fast dinner.