Pasta with marinara sauce is one meal that definitely qualifies as cheap and easy, but if you are looking to top your favorite pasta with a dairy-style sauce instead, you'll find that they're not as budget-friendly. Vegan cheeses and creams, like dairy versions, can be quite pricey, but the good news is that there's a cheap alternative—white beans.
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White beans can be beaten and blended into a creamy Alfredo-style pasta sauce in no time. The recipe requires only six ingredients, many of which you can find in just about any vegan kitchen.
The recipe below can be enjoyed tossed with your favorite pasta. You can also add veggies to make it a complete meal. Enjoy!
White Bean Alfredo Sauce
1/4 cup vegan margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cooked white beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
Parsley (optional)
•In a sauté pan over low heat, melt the margarine. Add the garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
•Transfer the margarine mixture to a blender or food processor, add the white beans and 1 cup of soy milk. Blend until completely smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add the remaining soy milk until you reach the desired consistency.
•Pour the sauce back into the pan over low heat, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Add fresh herbs, such as parsley, if desired. Cook until the sauce is warm.
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Comments ( 10 )
Great blog! I've bookmarked you. I can't wait to try this recipe. Thanks!
Posted by Cinnette | March 4, 2009 10:59 PM
Posted on March 4, 2009 22:59
OoooOOOhh, I can make that. I'm going to try that for tomorrows dinner. Thank You!!!!
Posted by Alicia | March 5, 2009 8:50 AM
Posted on March 5, 2009 08:50
Did it today and it taste delicious :)
Posted by Liza | March 5, 2009 2:07 PM
Posted on March 5, 2009 14:07
Yum! This sounds good - I was thinking as an addition and for new vegans or vehgan-curious people - that if you topped this with a few broken up walnuts and pine-nuts you would get that fatty flavour that you'd otherwise get with dairy cheese.
Posted by elizabeth | March 5, 2009 9:57 PM
Posted on March 5, 2009 21:57
So many people, even vegans, are having issues with their weight and with the recent stories in the "news" that counting calories is the best way to lose weight, we need to know how many calories are in what we eat. I figured using the FitDay program that based on it making 4 servings, that each serving has ~273 calories. It would be nice if how many servings and the nutritional information could be provided with the recipe. BTW, I figured it using Smart Balance Organic margarine (vegan!) and Plain Silk Soymilk. I look forward to trying it.
Posted by Tonia | March 6, 2009 10:06 AM
Posted on March 6, 2009 10:06
Can't wait to try this. Cashews also make a great "alfredo" alternative with garlic (1 clove), nutritional yeast (1 T), hot pasta water (1 c), olive oil (1 T), lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon) and salt (1 t).... Need a hearty blender for that one. You can play with amounts
Posted by Stephanie | March 6, 2009 3:23 PM
Posted on March 6, 2009 15:23
I tried this tonight and I can't get enough!! So, so good!
Posted by Candice | March 11, 2009 4:11 AM
Posted on March 11, 2009 04:11
I made this tonight, it was soooo yummy!
This is a great way to get kids to eat beans:)
Posted by Joanna | March 13, 2009 9:13 PM
Posted on March 13, 2009 21:13
just made this tonight and it was amazing... i used a bit more garlic and added some broccoli to fill it out.
this is a perfect midweek meal as it is quick and easy and oh-so delicious!
Posted by Dave Andrus | March 20, 2009 12:28 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 00:28
I tried this tonight and it was yummy. It reminded me more of pasta ricotta as i left it a little chunkier. definitely hit the spot never thought I'd taste anything so deliciously similar.
Posted by nicole s | March 28, 2009 12:48 AM
Posted on March 28, 2009 00:48