Fall Series: Jambalaya Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup raw, unsalted cashews

• 1 Tbsp garlic powder

• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast

• 1/3 cup full-fat oat milk

• 4 vegan chicken patties, cooked according to package directions and sliced into 1 in pieces (I used Gardein chick’n breast fillets)

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 green bell pepper, chopped

• 1 red bell pepper, chopped

• 4 vegan spicy sausage links, sliced into bite-sized pieces (I used No Evil Foods brand Italian sausage)

• 1.5 tsp “cajun seasoning” OR

  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder

  • 1/4 tsp onion powder

  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (+ more to taste if you like a spicier sauce, like me!)

  • 1/4 tsp oregano

  • 1/4 tsp thyme

  • 1/4 tsp chili powder

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 6 cups veggie “no chicken” broth (I like Imagine brand)

• 1 can diced tomatoes (15-oz)

• 1 package (10 oz) farfalle pasta

• 1 cup vegan cheddar

• 1 cup vegan parmesan cheese (+ more to garnish)

• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped (+ more to garnish)

• Red pepper flakes, to garnish, if desired

Instructions:

1. Place cashews in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit, uncovered, for 1 hour. Drain, and add to the bowl of a food processor.

2. Pulse together cashews, garlic, nutritional yeast, and oat milk until well blended. Set aside.

3. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat and add onion, green bell pepper, and red bell pepper. Cook until soft.

4. Add sausage pieces and cook until browned.

5. Add Cajun seasoning, salt and pepper, veggie “no chicken” broth, canned tomatoes, and uncooked pasta to the pot and stir well. Cook until pasta is soft and liquid has cooked down (about 20 min)

6. Stir in cashew cream sauce followed by vegan cheddar and vegan parmesan. Stir continuously until cheese is melted.

7. Stir in cooked vegan “chicken” pieces, cover and cook over low heat for an additional 5 min.

8. Take off heat, and stir in fresh parsley.

9. Garnish with extra parsley, vegan parmesan, and red pepper flakes and serve.

10. Enjoy!