This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze almondmilk. Happy first week of spring! With summer on the horizon, at least in my still-Austin-based mindset, I really want to be making lighter and brighter food. But then I’m reminded that it still snowed here last week. Sooooo… a creamy pasta bake it is! This veggie-ful dish is hearty yet cheese-less – it won’t weigh you down, but it will fill you up! Instead of a bunch of cheese and cream, I used my secret creamy blender sauce: almonds, Almond Breeze almondmilk, white miso paste, garlic, lemon juice for tang, and a bit of Dijon mustard for the depth you want in a pasta bake. Yes, if you’re a super fan, you may recognize many of these ingredients from the creamy miso pasta recipe in our cookbook… it’s a wonderful combo that I’ve adapted here to make a cozy baked version.
A quick note: I usually keep AlmondBreeze Unsweetened in my fridge at all times, so that’s what I used in this recipe, but their Almond Cashew blend would be deliciously nutty and creamy in this sauce as well. Once the sauce is made, set it aside and cook your Brussels sprouts. Since the sauce doesn’t contain cream or cheese, it has to have a short bake time so that the sauce stays creamy in the oven. This is why I precook the Brussels sprouts – plus they’re always better with a little sear to bring out their flavor.
After the Brussels sprouts are decently browned, combine with the pasta and pour on the sauce. It will seem like a lot of sauce, but we want a creamy pasta bake, so sauce it up!
So saucy!
Once you have everything in the baking dish, you could technically top this pasta bake with a cup of melty mozzarella cheese or a healthy shaving of fresh Parmesan cheese. If you live with picky eaters you may want to go that route. If you’re like me, you’ll top it with a sprinkle of hemp seeds, panko bread crumbs, and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Bake, then top with chives and/or tarragon. Then… dig in!
Love creamy vegan pasta as much as I do? Try these shells with broccoli or this pumpkin penne.
