Pasta

Vegan Orrecchiette With Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce

Fresh Carrots and their Tops are used in this Orecchiette Pasta with Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce and Carrot Top Gremolata. Vegan and tasty. Give it a go this weekend! ✌🏼

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Vegan Orrecchiette With Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce

A simple delicious vegan recipe for Orecchiette with Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce, topped with a bright and tasty Carrot Top Gremolata (optional) and Toasted Bread Crumbs. Flavorful and healthy!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American-Inspired

Keyword Creamy, Pasta, Recipe, Vegan

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 393kcal

Author Sylvia Fountaine

Ingredients

8–10 ounces orecchiette pasta cooked in salted water, according to directions

Carrot Miso Sauce:

2 shallots rough chopped (or 1/2 an onion)
4–6 cloves garlic rough chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 heaping cups carrots thinly sliced (3 medium carrots)
2 cups water
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons White Miso Paste

Carrot Top Gremolata (optional, but tasty)

1/2 cup carrot tops, tender leaves packed or sub 1/2 cup more Italian Parsley
1/2 cup Italian parsley
1 fat clove garlic
1 tablespoon lemon zest zest from one med lemon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup – 1/2 cup olive oil make sure it is not bitter-taste it!

Instructions

COOK PASTA: Set salted water to boil for pasta, and cook according to directions.
COOK the SAUCE: Heat oil in a medium pot, over medium heat. Saute shallot and garlic until fragrant and golden, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add carrots, cashews, water, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat to low and simmer gently until carrots are fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the 3 tablespoons of miso ( it doesn’t need to dissolve fully) and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
While the carrots simmer make the optional Carrot Top Gremolata and Toasted Panko or Bread Crumbs (see notes!)
BLEND THE CARROT MISO SAUCE: Once the carrots are tender and slightly cooled, place all in a high-speed blender, covering tightly with a kitchen towel, blend on the lowest setting, gradually increasing speed, until fully blended, creamy and silky smooth about 1- 1 1/2 minutes. Take your time here and get it SMOOTH!!!
Drain the pasta and pour the sauce over the pasta, gently warming if needed. Taste and adjust salt. (If you didn’t salt your pasta water, chances are you’ll need salt.)
Divide among bowls, and sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs and spoon the flavorful Carrot Top Gremolata over top.

Notes

Feel free to toss in 1 cup of other veggies into the cooking pasta at the end to steam. For example, sometimes I’ll add a cup of peas to quickly blanch in with the pasta at the last minute.

You can make the sauce ahead, refrigerate and warm up before serving.

Carrot TOP Gremolata:

Place carrot leaves, parsley, lemon zest and garlic in a food processer and pulse repeatedly until finely chopped. Add the salt and oil, pulsing a few more times until incorporated (but not too smooth). Add more oil if you prefer a looser version.
Toasted Bread Crumbs or Panko.

Place a 1/2 -1 cup of bread crumbs or panko in a large skillet over medium heat, and drizzle with just enough olive oil to lightly coat. Add a good pinch of salt and granulated garlic if you like. Stir until golden, about 5 minutes. Let cool.