Creamy roasted red pepper pasta was on my recipe bucket list for years. I initially spotted the concept in a magazine. Those perfectly twirled noodles had a beautiful blushing hue, but the dish was rich with cream and cheese. Fortunately, I’ve discovered that dairy really isn’t needed to enjoy this insanely delicious meal.
I finally decided to test my own version of dairy-free roasted red pepper pasta when I was experimenting with Ripple Half & Half. It cooked very well in Dairy-free Bechamel Base Sauce, so it seemed like a natural contender to add light creaminess to this sauce. And it didn’t disappoint. The finish was perfectly smooth and rich with bold, complementary flavors.
But you might notice that I have a lot of options for this recipe. I tested this dairy-free roasted red pepper pasta every which way to ensure that almost anyone can enjoy it. And along the way, I also found some flavor variations that we really enjoyed.
Option & Variation Tasting Notes
I use cashews to help thicken the sauce in this roasted red pepper pasta because, like many of you, we can and do eat tree nuts. I think the cashews pair with the Ripple Half & Half to add creamy depth that is hard to match. But since Ripple Half & Half is a top allergen-free dairy alternative, I wanted to include a delicious nut-free option for all.
For the nut-free option, I kept it really simple by using starch. The end result was delicious and retained that nice, smooth finish. But if you prefer a roux, you can add 2 tablespoons of flour with the garlic and crushed red pepper. Saute everything for a minute or two before adding to the blender to smooth out. Let the sauce bubble as needed to reduce to your desired consistency.
For a slightly cheesy variation, I added a nutritional yeast option. Honestly, we loved it both ways. I did find that the flavor of my roasted red peppers varied between batches, even though I used the exact same brand every time. So sometimes the nutritional yeast helped to balance the flavor, but sometimes it was totally unnecessary.
I use jarred roasted red bell peppers in this recipe for two reasons. One is obviously ease. The second is for seamless depth of flavor. If you opt to roast your own bell peppers, you will want to season the dish quite a bit more. And jarred roasted bell peppers can vary quite a bit in taste. I specifically used the Trader Joe’s 12-ounce roasted red bell peppers. If you choose another brand, you might need to adjust the salt and lemon juice to taste.
For that extra touch of brightness, I add just a teaspoon of an acidic ingredient to this recipe. We liked fresh-squeezed lemon juice best, but balsamic vinegar adds its own unique flavor. It actually melded quite well in a batch I made with nutritional yeast.
No dairy-free half & half? I substitute lite canned coconut milk. In a pinch, you can use dairy-free milk beverage, it will just be a little less creamy.
This post is sponsored by Ripple Foods, the makers of dairy-free high-protein milk beverages, half & half, and new Greek-style yogurts! All of their products are also gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, vegan, and top allergen-free. The roasted red pepper pasta recipe, idea, photos, and product opinions shared here are all my own.
Special Diet Notes: Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, optionally gluten-free, optionally nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.
- 12 to 16 ounces dry pasta (use gluten free, if needed; see Pasta Note below)
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or olive oil over medium heat
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- ¼ cup raw cashews (see Nut-free Option below)
- 2 (12-ounce) jars roasted red bell peppers, drained very well (see notes in post above)
- ¾ cup dairy-free half & half alternative (I use Ripple Original; can sub lite canned coconut milk)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (can sub balsamic vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 4 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and saute for 1 minute. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Grind the cashews in a spice grinder until powdered.
- Place the ground cashews, drained roasted peppers, dairy-free half & half, lemon juice, and salt in your blender. Puree until very smooth, about 1 minute.
- Pour the sauce back into your skillet and cook over medium-low heat, whisking often, for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until lightly thickened. If you make it ahead, it will thicken more in the refrigerator. If desired, stir in the black pepper.
- Toss the sauce with your cooked pasta to serve.
- Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nut-free Option: Substitute 2 tablespoons of non-GMO cornstarch for the cashews. Do not overcook the sauce if using starch, as the starch will break down if cooked too long. See the post above for other options.
Cheesy/Depth Flavor Variation: Taste test the sauce, and if more depth of flavor is desired, blend in 1 to 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast, to taste. I often omit it, but sometimes it works nicely to round things out.
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40 Comments
I live in Canada, and we do not have ripple half and half. Is there a substitute that i could use?
Light coconut milk (not coconut milk beverage) would produce the best consistency in this case.
I make something similar, but since we can’t do nuts we don’t have it in it. But, I bet the cashews make it sooo much creamier. And, I really want to try ripple. I keep hearing about it everywhere.
The nut-free version I’ve included (and fully tested!) is still quite creamy Megan! It’s just a wee bit less creamy in appearance, but every bit as rich. I was thinking of you!
I love how you included so many variations! I think I want to try the cheesy one first!
I hope you do get the chance to enjoy the recipe Dianne!
I am dying of this dish! It looks so incredibly delicious that just looking at this, I’ve already planned to make it for Dinner on Thursday! So perfect!
Marvelous! I hope you got the chance to try it this week Madison!
Roasted red peppers are a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavor. I can only imagine how delicious it is in this creamy sauce.
I couldn’t agree more!
This dish is beautiful! It’s great to see how you’re using Ripple in your cooking too. I love the tip about the jarred red peppers. 🙂
The Half & Half works so well in cooking!
This looks so delicious. I wonder if there is something I can use instead of peppers. The sauce looks so creamy…I just don’t like peppers. 🙁
Sure! Sun-dried tomatoes – dried ones hydrated in water for 10 minutes.
This is amazing Alisa! Will be trying this with your nut-free option of course.
It’s all for you Nicole 🙂
I’m so excited to try this! It looks so creamy and delicious!
It really is very creamy and SO flavorful!
This looks so creamy for being dairy free! Love it– red pepper is one of my fav flavors.
Yep, no shortage of creamy here 🙂
This looks so creamy and delicious, I am always so impressed by all of the gorgeous creations that you can make dairy free! I am definitely adding this to my menu planning list!
Aw, thank you Emily!
YUM! This sounds like my kind of meal. I love creamy pasta dishes.
You and me both Joanna!
What a great way to change up pasta! I am thinking some chicken would go great for this!
Yes, I have a few protein options listed! It goes really well with a few different proteins.
So glad you included the nut free option!! My girlfriend has been looking for recipes for her little guy with lots of allergies. Passing along!
yes!! I try to accommodate as many people as possible when it works! I hope this one works for her.
What a beautiful pasta dish! The color is absolutely amazing. I’m sure this roasted red pepper pasta tastes as great as it looks!
It is, it really is 🙂
You are making me wish we were home Valentine’s Day because we would be making this for dinner! This looks amazing Alisa, I cannot wait to make it.
Well I’m jealous that you got to go somewhere for Valentine’s Day!!
Now this is pasta goals right here! This is absolute perfection. This bowl is so full of color and flavor. Looks delicious + I cannot wait to try 🙂
Right? The hue is just as irresistible as the flavor!
This recipe is so perfect for these cold winter days! Looks so hearty and delicious. My husband would love it, too!
Indeed! We’ve had a bit of a chill going through here and this pasta dish was a savior!
this beautiful bowl of pasta sounds SO incredibly good! and I have finally tried Ripple and LOVE it – now I need to find their yogurt!
Yay! So glad you liked it Kristina. This is my favorite recipe that I’ve tried it in so far – just sayin’ 🙂
Creamy, dreamy, pasta perfection. I have been on a major pasta kick lately – can’t wait to try this sauce.
Yes, I promise that this one won’t disappoint! Nutritious, yet so, so flavorful!