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There’s a elephant in the room…

It’s that this recipe is a poser. Allow me to explain.
I’m going to tell you my deepest, most guarded, kitchen secret.
I mean, this is serious. We’re talking code red.
And that is the extraordinary awesomeness that is SOAKED CASHEWS.

OK, pause. Before you scratch your head in confusion, let me explain.
I love cashews. I really do. But I always just buy them raw, grind them up in my food processor and fuggeduhboutit. I mean, I had always seen the recipes that call for “soaked cashews,” but I never had the time or patience to plan ahead, and figured…how much of a difference could it really make? I mean, come on!
The answer? A LOT.

Yesterday, I knew I was going to have some extra time on my hands today. I was being interviewed on a podcast this afternoon, so I’d be around the apartment for at least a couple of hours before dinner. SO I decided to create a little somethin’somethin’Β extra delicious. And I figured, what the heck, might as well try out this whole “soaked cashew” phenomenon.

You. Guys. What happened to these raw cashews was nothing short of amazing. I took a picture to show you.

I soaked them in water for 24 hours. The right cashew is what they started out as. And here they are on the left, TRIPLED IN SIZE!
I couldn’t believe it. They absorbed the water and became creamy and soft – seriously like the consistency of cream cheese or butter.

I’ve seen the light. I’m converted. π
Anywho, given this revelation of the soaked cashew glory, I decided that it was time to tackle one of my former all-time favorite foods: Fettuccini Alfredo. Only this version would be Specific Carb Diet friendly and Vegan!

To all you who are shakin’ your head, or “SMH” as the youths today so eloquently put it, just hear me out: this dish was incredible.
And there’s a super secret ingredient here, folks. One that transforms this into a creamy and rich alfredo sauce. And it’s none other than….
CAULIFLOWER.
Yep! This alfredo sauce is Gluten and Grain Free, Vegan, Specific Carb Diet friendly, AND Paleo!

So then…it must taste like sawdust or cardboard, right?? —- WRONG! It was superb!
Don’t believe me? I dare you to give it a try! π

Here’s what you need: (Serves 2)
1/3 cup raw cashews, soaked in water overnight, or for 24 hours
1 cup cauliflower florets, roasted in 1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup cauliflower florets, steamed
1/2 vidalia onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
salt and pepper
1 grate (or pinch) of fresh nutmeg
Optional: Unsweetened regular almond milk – room temperature
2 zucchini, made into noodles (OR noodle of choice)
Fresh basil, chopped – garnish
TOOLS
Baking Sheet
Tin Foil – I use Non-Stick, and it is seriously a game changer!
Steamer Basket
Food Processor
Veggie Spiralizer – (This is the one I use (just about every day) and LOVE)
Good Chef’s Knife
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
On a tin-foil lined, olive oil – sprayed baking sheet, toss 1 cup of your cauliflower florets with 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), and bake for 25 minutes, stirring once, halfway through.
Meanwhile, steam the other cup of cauliflower florets in a steamer basket, (or in the microwave) until very tender.
Also, sauce your onions and garlic in 1-2 Tbsp of EVOO, salt and pepper, over medium heat until the onions are soft and beginning to caramelize. This will take about 8-10 minutes.
Put your soaked and drained cashews in the food processor and process them until they form a smooth paste. Add your roasted and steamed cauliflower, onions and garlic to the food processor, and process until smooth. It will be thick and creamy. You may need to scrape the sides. I find it best to do this when it is still hot, as the steam helps the sauce “come together.” You may add 1-3 Tbsp plain almond milk if it is too thick. I did not. You may also add a grate of fresh nutmeg if desired.
Finally, with either a spiralizer, mandoline, or sharp knife, make your zucchini into noodles. You may also use any noodle of choice.

To plate, either top your zucchini noodles with the sauce and garnish with chopped fresh basil, or toss your noodles with the sauce and plate.

My goodness, you guys. What a TREAT! Back in my gluten-consuming days, Fettuccine Alfredo was my favorite “special occasion” dinner. And this brought me right back to that “happy place!”

The sauce was so creamy and rich from the cashews. And the combination of the nuttiness from the roasted cauliflower with the onions and garlic made for just a remarkable flavor.

It’s hard to believe that this dish is healthy because is tasted so darn decadent!
So, it may not be the belle of the ball as far as appearances go, but what it lacks in color, it definitely makes up for in flavor.
I will DEFINITELY Β be making this again!
What’s your favorite dish to make for special occasions?
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5
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48 responses to “Fettuccine Alfredo!”
The recipe looks super delicious!! π Thanks for sharing, I might try it sometime.
Aw thank you! It really was terrific! Hugs and love xox
I see that you caught yourself a elephant. Great for you. Fettuccine Alfred yum yum yum.
Hahah youβre right I did! Haha πππ Hugs and love xox
Hugs and love back to you.
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Soaked cashews? Never heard of such a thing! This looks absolutely delicious! Nommin’ time!
Soaking them is really a game changer!! Thanks friend! Have a great night! Hugs and love xox
Food looks good!
Thank you so much!! Hugs and love xox
Cashews?! Who knew!! π
Never heard of soaked cashews but don’t cook much. Sounds like a great recipe.
I know!! Itβs such a great cooking hack! Hugs and love xox
Thank you so much! Soaking them gives them such a great texture!! Glad you stopped by!! Hugs and love xox
Yes, looks delicious! I have eaten vegan during Lent a few times and honestly, this causes me to consider it again. It’s a good re-set for healthy eating and good habits (then I start slacking β¦) π
Thank you so much!! Youβre right – itβs a great reset!! Big hugs xx
Madona mia, Caralyn you make me reminisce all of my grandmotherβs home cooking and the kitchen how it would smell with all of those wonderful flavors reaching my taste buds though my breathing when I arrived, then the Siediti per mangiare with fresh baked Italian bread and all of those unbelievable authentic Napolitano meals she made! Cashews are my favorite nut and they are so addictive to me so being around someone that cooks like you these days that makes these fine dishes I would finally gain the weight I never did; having so high a metabolism. That wouldnβt work anymore! Molto bene grazie! Ciao! πππΏ
Awww thank you so much! They really are delicious! I love the smell of home cooking! Hugs and love xox.
Mmmmm, yea so welcome too! Especially if one has a nose like a bloodhound! As a kid I was the one that could find the chocolate bars my dad had been eating watching the late show, then early before anyone had awoken I would tip toe like an elf out of bed and go on my search and destroy (gobble up) mission with 100% success mission accomplished ratio. At least my dad got a kick out of my persistence! Hugs π€£XOπ€£
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Got me “drewling” hehehe. Pity there is acute allergies to nuts in my house. We all love it but have to abstain. Someone gifted me macadamias and I was stiff for a week and could hardly walk. My darlingmost wificle had to fight for her life while I waited outside, blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding within. Ditto seafood.
Hahaha thanks Pete! Oh bummer, Iβm sorry to hear about the allergy. Yikes thatβs so scary about the macadamias!! That makes me so sad!! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and love xox
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I love cashews and have soaked them before to add to oat cereal. Have you tried that with almonds?
Thanks Ian! Ooh that sounds like a delicious cereal addition! I havenβt! But perhaps I will! Hugs and love xox
You make me rethink the usual as usual (I will try the cashew thing), have you tried the trend of making cauliflower risotto (I don’t like cauli rice thing)? I thought it would be awful but Wegmans nails it, they also make risotto “cakes” but for the money they are not worth it even if they rock (their kale cakes are to die for though but do not think they are vegan)
Thanks David! Oooh I havenβt tried cauli risotto but sounds super intriguing!! Thanks for the idea! Hugs and love xox
Amazing! Thank you
Thank you so much Georganna!! Happy New Year! π
I’m more of an almond girl, but this looks delicious and Alfredo is my favorite pasta dish!
Thanks Diana! My favorite too!! Happy New Year! π
You’re welcome, thank you, and same to you as well. π
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Yum – looks great! π x
Thanks so much! π Hugs and love xox
Caralyn, This is a really great post. You have captured the truth in flavor. “Code Red?” You have my heart.
Thank you!! Haha code red for sure π thanks for saying that. Hugs and love xox
You are welcome.
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Literally my favorite food is fettuccine Alfredo thatβs the way to my heart β€οΈ definitely will be trying your recipe and hydrating some cashews too
Thanks so much Ricky! I hope you love it as much as I did!! Hugs and love xox
Delish!!! πΈπΈπΈ
Thank you!! Hugs and love xox
This was one of my favorite dishes to eat when I was a kid! Yum!
me too!!! i loved it!! π