Vegan Cacio E Pepe

This vegan cacio e pepe uses a handful of simple ingredients and takes around 15 minutes from start to finish! Creamy, savory and 'cheesy', it makes an exceptional weeknight dinner that you won't believe is completely dairy-free.

I think we can all agree that there's nothing quite like a huge bowl of pasta for dinner. It's pretty much the definition of comfort food! Whenever I don't know what to cook after a long day, vegan cacio e pepe is one of my go-tos, and it makes me exceptionally happy every time.

Cacio e pepe, meaning 'cheese and pepper', is an Italian pasta dish originating from Rome. Traditionally, the recipe is made with black pepper and grated Pecorino Romano cheese, which is served with spaghetti. But using just a few ingredients, it's easy to make a vegan and dairy-free version that has a similar creaminess and distinctive cheesy flavor to the original.

This amazing vegan pasta recipe features a cashew-based sauce. This is then added to lightly-toasted black pepper, after which the spaghetti is mixed in with plenty of pasta cooking water. Serve with grated vegan cheese for a great finishing tough! This is guaranteed to become your new favorite weeknight dish.

Ingredients for vegan cacio e pepe

• Pasta of your choice. Spaghetti is my favorite for this recipe. Use gluten-free if necessary.
• Cashews. If you're not using a high speed blender, you'll need to soak them beforehand. Almonds also work, but the texture isn't quite as creamy.
• Nutritional yeast. This is a great ingredient for adding a cheesy umami flavor.
• Good quality sea salt.
• Plant based milk of your choice. I typically use almond as this has quite a neutral flavor.
• Garlic powder. You can also use either fresh or roasted garlic.
• Miso paste. This is a great 'secret' ingredient which adds a umami flavor and helps to replicate the flavor of melted Pecorino Romano cheese.
• Crushed peppercorns. These will be toasted and add a great depth and distinctiveness to the sauce.
• A little bit of vegetable stock for toasting the peppercorns.
• Grated vegan cheese and cilantro to serve.

How to make vegan Cacio e Pepe

1. You want to start by softening the cashews if you're not using a high speed blender. This can be done by either soaking them in water for an hour, or simmering them in a saucepan for 15 minutes. A properly soaked cashew will fall apart between your fingers.
2. Firstly, cook the spaghetti according to packaging instructions, until al dente. This usually takes 8-10 minutes. 
3. Meanwhile, add the cashews, nutritional yeast, salt, plant based milk, garlic powder, and miso paste to a blender or food processor. Blend until very smooth and no graininess from the cashews remains.
4. Add the crushed peppercorns to a skillet over a medium heat and toast them for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the sauce, ½ cup pasta water and stir together thoroughly. Then, add the cooked spaghetti and mix well with the sauce, until all of the pasta is coated.
6. Serve immediately with chopped cilantro and vegan parmesan.

Recipe FAQs

Other amazing vegan pasta sauce recipes

• My vegan sweet potato pasta features an amazing veggie-based sauce!
• Hummus pasta is easy to make and comforting.
• Make vegan bolognese for a cozy and flavorful dinner.
• Vegan garlic butter pasta requires just a few simple ingredients
• My roasted red pepper pasta is an all-time favorite!

If you give this vegan cacio e pepe recipe a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies) so I can see your creations, and leave your feedback in the comments below together with a star rating!