A quick recipe for vegan mushroom and spinach pasta that is ready in under 30 minutes. Loaded up with sautéed balsamic mushrooms and fresh spinach, all tossed in a heavenly creamy cashew sauce.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Total time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American, Italian

Ingredients

  • 8 to 10 oz orichetti

For the Mushrooms:

  • 2 tsp oil
  • 1/2 cup onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 8 oz mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp white wine
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp of soy sauce (or 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce)

For the Sauce

  • 1/2 cup cashews (soaked for at least an hour or do a quick soak by boiling them for 5 minutes)
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp garlic powder (or 6 cloves of roasted garlic)
  • 1/4 tsp each sage, thyme and oregano
  • 1/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tsp nutritional yeast (optional - use a tsp of miso instead)
  • 3-4 oz fresh spinach

Method

  1. Cook pasta according to the instructions on the pack.
  2. Heat 2 tsp of oil in a frying pan. Cook the minced onion, garlic, and mushrooms with a pinch of salt for 7 to 8 mins until they are golden brown.
  3. Add balsamic vinegar, white wine, 1/2 cup water, thyme, and smoked paprika along with your soy sauce. Cook partially covered for another 10 mins.
  4. For making the creamy pasta sauce, blend all the ingredients listed under sauce in a blender or food processor (except the spiach). Bring the sauce to a boil in a medium-sized pan. Carefully taste and adjust salt and flavor of the sauce. Add the cooked pasta and toss. Add the fresh spinach and mix it in until wilted.
  5. Take the saucepan off the heat.
  6. Top with the sauteed balsamic mushrooms and serve

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.