Creamy Cashew Sauce with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms

I was a Fettucini Alfredo girl as a child. I can even remember the first time I ever tasted it. I have a strange “taste memory” and can even recreate the sights and sounds that surround the first unexpectedly delicious bite that rocks my world. We were at Disney World in Florida. Dinner was in Little Italy in the “It’s a Small Small World” exhibition. The restaurant was a pale lavender with huge windows that looked out over the Magic Kingdom. I might be making this part up, but I remember fireworks. They may have just been in my mouth because when I tasted that creamy goodness I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

As the years went on and I became aware of health and the ridiculous amount of calories in a dish like that, my visits with this favorite food were few and far between. Once, maybe twice a year tops. Then, three years ago, I was diagnosed with a nasty dairy allergy and my Alfredo dreams became nothing but yummy memories. That is, until now……

Holy Macaroni. I thought that cream sauce was gone from my life forever before I made sauce. I have to thank whoever made up ‘cashew cream’ because without you my world would be a duller place. I adjusted it and adjusted it and then…..bells rang…fireworks went off…..Hallelujah!!!! It really tastes just like the cream sauce of my memories. And – drumroll, please – it’s actually good for you.

Made with nutrient dense cashews, gluten-free arrowroot flour, and cold-pressed olive oil, this is not the artery clogging butter and heavy cream of my childhood.

Creamy Cashew Sauce with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms

By Tapp, June 11, 2013

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

cashews - 1 cup-raw soaked for at least 4 hours
Cashews make you feel good and look good. High in minerals, they support your heart ,brain, bone and nerve health. These nuts are good for your skin and nails and are also an effective anti-depressant.
water - 2 cups
arrowroot flour - 2 tablespoons
garlic - 2 cloves
Garlic is a powerful antiviral, antibacterial, and natural antibiotic. Garlic produces a chemical called allicin which promotes the production of white blood cells which help fight against toxins.
olive oil - 1 tablespoon, cold pressed
salt - 1 teaspoon
pepper - dash
asparagus - 1 bunch
Asparagus is as a good detoxing vegetable. It is high in potassium, vitamin A and folate.
shiitake mushroom - 1 cup, chopped
basil - 1 tablespoon, fresh, chopped for garnish
sesame oil - 1 tablespoon

Instructions:

Cook 12oz of pasta as per the directions on the package. I use Tinkyada Brown Rice pasta.

Rinse the cashews under cold water until the water runs clear

Place cashews, water, salt, pepper, arrowroot flour, garlic and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a blender.

Blend until smooth.

Taste- adjust the salt and pepper if you need to.

In a frying pan heat the sesame oil. Add the chopped shiitakes and asparagus and saute for about 5 minutes or until soft. Keep the mixture moving so that the mushrooms don't stick to the bottom of the pan and the asparagus will get evenly cooked.

Pour the cream sauce into the pan with the asparagus and mushrooms. Mix.

Place pasta in a bowl, mix the sauce in, garnish with fresh basil and you're good to go.

So, after I did my victory dance around the kitchen, I proceeded to eat WAY too much and had to unbutton my pants. It's been a long time since anything has felt this indulgent.