1Cook elbow noodles according to package instructions in a large pot.
2Boil cashews in a small saucepan or pot for about 10 minutes.
3Once cashews are done, drain and rinse them under cold water.
4Add water, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, hot sauce, lemon juice, peppers, nutritional yeast, cashews, and tofu into a high powered blender or blender cups.
5Blend until smooth. It may take 1-2 cycles and you may need to add another 1/2 cup more water to get it very smooth.
6If serving immediately, heat the sauce over the stovetop before adding it to the cooked noodles.
7If prepping out, add the sauce directly to cooked noodles in a baking dish and mix to fully coat.
Ingredients
16 oz large elbow noodles
1 cup water
1 cup cashews
1 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
1.5 tsp salt
1 Tbs hot sauce
1 Juice from lemon
7 oz pimiento peppers
0.5 cup nutritional yeast
1 block firm tofu
Equipment
large potsmall saucepan or pothigh powered blender or blender cupsbaking dish
Tips
Firm tofu is key for thickening the sauce and goes unnoticed once blended.
Boil cashews for about 10 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water before blending to avoid damaging the blender.
Adjust water amount during blending based on blender and cashew boiling time to achieve a smooth sauce.
You can use protein noodles for even more protein.