Sunday, February 25, 2007

Tonight's Dinner: Vegan Alfredo





This might be easier to make than real alfredo. Note that I've never actually had real alfredo, so it might be better to think of it as just a cream sauce -- but either way, it's pretty good.

(all measurements very approximate, this is one I usually eyeball too)

• 1/4 tsp miso paste (a little more if you're using mild) dissolved in about 2 tsp water
• 3-4 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1/4 c water
• 1 clove garlic, minced (more or less according to taste - it's somewhat garlicky with one clove)
• 3 shakes soy sauce
• 1 pkg firm or extra firm silken tofu, drained
• 3-4 tbsp margarine
• salt and pepper to taste

In a medium-sized bowl, stir the miso and the 2 tsp water to dilute (this will make it combine easier). Add the nutritional yeast, water, garlic, and soy sauce and stir. Add the tofu, breaking into chunks as you do, and the margarine; stir to combine. Spoon mixture into blender and blend until smooth (if it won't blend smooth, add a little more water). Add salt and pepper to taste. When it's a thick, alfredo-y consistency, return to the bowl and stick it in the fridge for about fifteen minutes so the flavours can combine.

That's the hard part. With that done, I set the water for the pasta on to boil, and chopped some broccoli florets and shiitake mushrooms. While the pasta was cooking, I sauteed the mushrooms in a little bit of olive oil and soy sauce, and just stuck the broccoli in the microwave for a minute and a half. When that was done, I just heated up the sauce in the microwave for a couple minutes, stirring every thirty seconds or so.

Put some pasta on a plate, followed by some veggies, top with some sauce, and enjoy.

This is really easy to make, and although it's not particularly healthy, it's nowhere near as bad as real alfredo, and it's quite good.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

ahh nutritional yeast. You really can make anything with it cant you!
-Amy

miss suzanne said...

mmm! can't wait to try it. i love alfredo and the thought of making it a little healthier excites me. thought of you 'cause i'm having a dinner party on friday and my entree's vegan. too bad you can't stop by and tell me if i rocked it or not. :(

suz

p.s. tell me more about nutritional yeast. is it different then the normal kind?