Description
This Gochujang Carbonara (Vegan) features a creamy, spicy sauce made with cashews and gochujang, paired with crispy marinated tofu. Perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz super firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari)
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced (whites and greens separated)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large shallot, minced
- Oil for sautéing
- ⅓ cup raw cashews, soaked
- ⅔ cup water
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons gochujang
- Black pepper
- 1 lb spaghetti
- ¼–½ cup vegan parmesan cheese
- Black salt (kala namak), to taste
- Additional salt and black pepper
- Toasted sesame seeds
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Soak cashews in boiling water for 20 minutes or overnight to soften for blending.
- Cut tofu into small cubes and marinate in a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, and salt for at least 10 minutes.
- Heat oil in a skillet, then sauté scallion whites, shallot, and garlic for 3-4 minutes.
- Drain cashews and blend with sautéed mixture, water, nutritional yeast, black pepper, and gochujang until smooth.
- Heat more oil in the skillet and cook marinated tofu until browned and crispy, about 8-10 minutes.
- Boil salted water, cook spaghetti until al dente, reserving 2 cups of pasta water before draining.
- Combine the pasta with carbonara sauce, vegan parmesan, and black pepper, tossing well.
- Add reserved pasta water gradually, until the sauce reaches desired creaminess.
- Season with black salt for an eggy flavor, along with additional salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve carbonara topped with crispy tofu, sesame seeds, basil, and scallion greens.
Notes
For an extra creamy sauce, add more reserved pasta water as needed.
Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables or proteins.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 0mg