Creamy Harissa Pasta Vegan (Printable Recipe)
Spicy harissa sauce coats creamy pasta with cashews, bell pepper, and pistachios. Quick, flavorful, and vegan-friendly.
# Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Sauce Base
01 -
110 grams raw cashews
02 -
1 large red bell pepper
03 -
1 medium yellow onion
04 -
2 garlic cloves
05 -
2.5 tablespoons harissa paste
06 -
juice of 0.5 lemon
07 -
240 millilitres vegetable stock or water
→ Pasta
08 -
400 grams dried spaghetti pasta
→ Garnishes
09 -
crushed pistachios, to serve
10 -
3-4 sun-dried tomatoes preserved in oil, finely chopped
11 -
fresh oregano leaves
# Steps to Follow:
01 -
Place the cashews in a bowl of hot water and soak for at least 20 minutes while preparing the other ingredients.
02 -
Preheat the oven to 220°C. Pierce the red bell pepper a few times with a fork or knife, place it on a baking sheet, and roast for 30 minutes, turning halfway, until the skin is charred. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
03 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 250 millilitres cooking water, then drain the pasta and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
04 -
In a frying pan over medium-high heat, warm a splash of olive oil. Add finely chopped onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the finely sliced garlic and sauté for another 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat.
05 -
Drain and rinse the soaked cashews. Peel and deseed the roasted red bell pepper. In a high-speed blender, combine the drained cashews, roasted pepper, sautéed onion and garlic, harissa paste, lemon juice, and vegetable stock. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.
06 -
Transfer the sauce to a large sauté pan or skillet. Add the cooked spaghetti and toss to coat evenly, adding some reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a silky, emulsified consistency.
07 -
Divide the creamy harissa pasta among plates. Garnish with crushed pistachios, finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh oregano leaves. Serve immediately.
# Extra Tips:
01 -
Soaking cashews in advance ensures a perfectly silky sauce texture.
02 -
For gluten-free preparation, substitute spaghetti with legume-based or gluten-free pasta.