Is it bad to be obsessed? Like maybe it’s an obsession with food so that makes it better? Let’s go with that. Better. Because food. But, honestly, how can one NOT be obsessed with a cauliflower sauce that is reminiscent of traditional Alfredo sauce? Dairy-Free Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce is here today. Right here on this blog for all of us to enjoy. It’s also ridiculously easy to make and encapsulates another personal obsession. Cashew cream.
It’s not possible to not be obsessed. Just simply not possible.
You know how you get into a routine of eating the same three or four foods for every meal, and finally one day you think to yourself, there have to be other foods out there worth trying? Well, with a finicky eater or two in the house, we were totally there.
And then I thought, what if I could create a super simple and terribly delicious sauce to go with…stuff? That’s a technical culinary term. Stuff.
Dairy-Free Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce that tastes like dairy and counts as a vegetable is a sauce I want on ALL OF MY FOODS. K-Hubs isn’t any calmer about this. He’s all, “PLEASE PASS THE CAULIFLOWER SAUCE, DEAREST!” And then he proceeds to glop it on whatever it is he’s eating.
You’re dying to dine with us, aren’t you? Just prepare yourself for a classy meal, complete with manners and upturned pinkies. What do you pair this with? Pasta, vegetables, chicken, seafood, burgers. I’m not totally convinced you couldn’t also use this as a gravy, if you were so inclined. Also, a spoon. Just the spoon, because, Spiriteds, it’s that tasty.
Have I mentioned yet this sauce is a vegetable that doesn’t taste like a vegetable? I did? Good. Because it counts as a vegetable without the sense of guilt, doom, and responsibility that comes with having to remember to eat enough leafy greens and carrots in a day. Not to mention the realization that, no, potato chips don’t count as a vegetable.
But let’s get back to other reason this recipe is so awesome. Cashew cream is where it’s at. Other milk alternatives just aren’t going to be as thick or as dairy-esque.
Here is a link to make your own cashew cream. It’s really quite simple, I promise. I like to use raw, organic (if possible) cashews. And I choose to soak them first, although if you are crunched for time, I think you can get away with not doing that. To create the thick cream, I use a 2:1 ratio of cashews to warm water, which seems to do the trick. Dairy-esque is another culinary technical term. Right up there with stuff. Toodle can’t get enough of this dairy-esque stuff. Cashew cream is her new obsession.
So does Dairy-Free Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce taste exactly like traditional Alfredo sauce? Again, no lies. It does not taste just like traditional Alfredo sauce. It definitely has a cauliflower flair to it. But I think you’ll enjoy it if you do three, maybe four, things:
- Decide whether you like/love cauliflower. If you decide you do have an affinity for it, then I think you’ll enjoy this.
- Know that it is going to taste like cauliflower. I began to enjoy many healthier alternatives when I stopped expecting them to taste like the foods they were replacing. You know me. I’m a reluctant 21-century cavewoman. I wouldn’t be eating this way if three out of three family members had health reasons for going paleo and autoimmune protocol. But I do love me some of this sauce. My biggest challenge, however, is finding enough foods to put it on. Because so much yum.
- Add more cashew cream and seasonings. If you are still unsure, or family members are on the fence, increase the amount of cashew cream you add. Seriously, that concoction is my reason for living. Black pepper and fresh herbs are also a win here.
I’ll just leave this here so you can go off and concoct this dollop of goodness for yourself. Because of Dairy-Free Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce, those four foods you eat for dinner every week just got a whole lot better!
Dairy-Free Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: approximately 4-5 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 8 cups cauliflower florets
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
- 1/3 cup cashew cream
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- Dash of pepper
Instructions
- Steam cauliflower florets until fork-tender.
- While cauliflower is steaming, sauté garlic pieces in olive oil for approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Add olive oil and garlic mixture to food processor and add steamed cauliflower.
- Pour in cashew cream.
- Blend olive oil, chopped garlic, steamed cauliflower florets, and cashew cream together on low to medium speed, using tamper if your food processor comes with one.
- As mixture softens and blends together, increase blending speed to medium/high until mixture is smooth.
Notes
To make the cashew cream, click on the picture in this blog post for additional details. Alternately, you could soak cashews in warm water using a 2:1 ratio. For example, I typically make cashew cream in larger batches, so I will soak approximately 4 cups raw cashews in warm water (enough to cover all cashews) and use 2 cups of that water to blend with the 4 cups cashews. 2 measurements of cashews : 1 measurement of water.
Can’t wait to make this and the cashew cream!! Actually soaking the cashews now! One thing I did want to help with (it doesn’t effect the outcome of the recipe, just a common mistake) is the recipe is for cauliflower but I’m the instructions it says broccoli. I’ll come back and leave a comment for how well it turns out!! Thanks for sharing 💖
Omigod!!!! 😂😂😂 I totally did write broccoli instead of cauliflower. And actually just last week I was working on content for a cauliflower recipe and still kept calling it broccoli. Apparently, I really like my broccoli! It takes a village. Thanks for being a part of mine. And, yes, let me know what you think!