This healthy plant-based Gluten-Free Vegan Pasta with Asparagus and Creamy Mushroom sauce is an easy weekday meal that's made with clean, real food ingredients and is ready in less than 30 minutes.
This post has been updated October 1, 2016, as part of the "5 Affordable Weeknight Dinners from Whole Foods Market" campaign highlighting high-quality ingredients from my recent Whole Foods Market shopping trip.
This Pasta with Asparagus and Creamy Mushroom Sauce is part of the “5 Affordable Weeknight Dinners from Whole Foods Market" theme highlighting recipes made with organic, high-quality groceries using Whole Foods Market 365 Everyday Value brand ingredients and Whole Foods Market fresh, responsibly grown, local and Whole Trade produce. Check out all the details of my shopping trip here.
If you’ve never shopped at Whole Foods Market before or purchased their 365 Everyday Value brand, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality and value. You can be assured when you buy 365 Everyday Value brand foods they will not contain high-fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated fats, and no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners.
Make sure you check out the other 4 dinner recipes you can make using high-quality ingredients at great prices from Whole Foods Market:
- Vegan Spicy Chickpea and Mango Wraps
- Vegan Stuffed Pepper Soup
- Vegan Smoked Paprika and Black Bean Chili
- Blueberry and Mango Salad with Tahini Ginger Dressing
I've also prepared a chart showing how you can use re-use the ingredients from one shopping trip to make all the recipes above.
What Ingredients Do I Need To Make This Vegan Pasta with Asparagus and Creamy Mushroom Sauce Recipe?
This recipe is made with nutrient-dense, real food ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
Try to buy organic ingredients whenever possible.
Whole Foods Market has thousands of items on sale every day! Don't forget to download the Whole Foods Market app and subscribe to the Whole Foods Market newsletter for sales and digital coupons.
While traditional creamy mushroom sauces usually contain butter, heavy cream, and cheese, this healthier version is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, paleo-friendly (using paleo-approved pasta) and Medical Medium compliant.
- Gluten-Free Pasta
- Asparagus
- Shitake Mushrooms
- Baby Bella Mushrooms
- Avocado Oil
- Cashews
- Shallots
- Dried Rosemary
- Garlic
- Ground Black Pepper
- Himalayan Pink Salt
Make sure you visit my "5 Fast Facts of Nutrient-Dense Foods" to see the nutritional benefits of the ingredients I used in this recipe!
How To Make Vegan Pasta with Asparagus and Creamy Mushroom Sauce | Step-By-Step Instructions:
This recipe, Vegan Pasta with Asparagus and Creamy Mushroom Sauce, which is part of the "5 Affordable Weeknight Dinners from Whole Foods Market" theme, is a quick and easy plant-based meal that can be made in the length of time it takes to prepare your pasta.
Step 1: Prepare The Veggies + Pasta (+/- 10 minutes)
- The first thing I do when making this recipe is to start boiling the pasta. It gives me at least 10 minutes to work on the veggie prep and enough time to saute' the asparagus. After deciding which variety of gluten-free pasta you'd like to use (spaghetti pasta, penne, angel hair, etc.), boil it according to the package directions. When it's finished, drain it and set aside.
- While the pasta is boiling, you can dice the asparagus into 1 1/2 inch pieces, dice the shallots and de-stem the mushrooms. When finished, set them aside.
Step 2: Prepare The Sauce (+/- 5 minutes)
- While the pasta is boiling, add all the ingredients for the sauce to a Vitamix and blend until creamy and smooth.
- Adjust the seasonings to your preference.
Step 3: Prepare The Asparagus (+/- 5 minutes)
- Add all the ingredients for the asparagus to a skillet and saute' on medium/high heat for about 4-5 minutes, or until they are soft.
Step 4: Assembly
In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, sauteed asparagus, and mushroom sauce together and gently toss until it is well combined and evenly distributed.
You may want to add everything back into the skillet to re-warm depending on long it took for your pasta to cook and if it cooled down while preparing the rest of the recipe.
That's it...dinner is ready!
Ingredient Substitutions + Tips for Vegan Pasta with Asparagus and Creamy Mushroom Sauce:
Pasta. You can substitute the spaghetti pasta with your favorite gluten-free variety like penne, shells or angel hair.
Mushrooms. Feel free to use your favorite variety or whatever type of mushrooms you have on hand.
Shallot. You can substitute with organic red onion.
Avocado Oil. You can substitute with organic extra-virgin olive oil.
Himalayan Pink Salt. This is my salt of preference, but you can always use sea salt as a substitute.
Want More Healthy Plant-Based Vegan + Gluten-Free Meal and Entrée Recipes?
Check out these:
- Clean Eating Zucchini Boats with Creamy Garlic Sauce
- Spaghetti Squash with Creamy Lemon Garlic Sauce
- Creamy Vegan Vegetable Minestrone Soup
- or my CLEAN EATING Cookbook with over 100+ healthy, plant-based gluten-free + vegan recipes made with real food ingredients just like this one that you will love!
Gluten-Free Vegan Creamy Mushroom Asparagus Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 box 365 Everyday Value organic gluten-free pasta* (16-ounce box)
For the mushroom sauce:
- 2 cups organic shitake mushrooms
- 2 cups organic baby bella mushrooms
- 1 1/2 cups organic raw cashews
- 1 1/2 cups water (filtered/purified) (filtered/purified)
- 4 cloves organic garlic
- 1 bulb organic shallots (quartered)
- 1 tablespoon 100% pure avocado oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons 365 Everyday Value organic dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- 1/2 teaspoon organic ground black pepper
For the asparagus:
- 12 stalks organic asparagus (diced into 1 1/2-inch pieces)
- 2 teaspoons 100% pure avocado oil
- 2 cloves organic garlic freshly crushed
- 1-2 pinches organic ground black pepper
- 1-2 pinches Himalayan pink salt
Instructions
Prepare the veggies + pasta:
- Prepare the veggies by dicing the asparagus into 1 1/2-inch pieces, cutting the shallots into quarter pieces and de-stemming the mushrooms.
- Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, then drain.
Prepare the mushroom sauce:
- While the pasta is boiling, add all the ingredients for the mushroom sauce to a Vitamix and blend until creamy and smooth.
- Tasta and adjust seasonings to your preference and water to the consistency you prefer.
Prepare the asparagus:
- Add all the ingredients for the asparagus to a non-toxic skillet and saute' on medium/high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the asparagus is soft.
Assembly:
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, sauteed asparagus, and mushroom sauce together and gently toss until it is well combined and evenly distributed.
- Return to the skillet to reheat if you prefer.
- Best when served immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
Hi, I'm Karielyn! I'm the published cookbook author of CLEAN DESSERTS and content creator of The Healthy Family and Home™ website since 2012. I specialize in creating easy, healthy plant-based and Medical Medium® compliant recipes that are gluten-free + vegan and made with clean, real food ingredients that you can feel good about eating.
Rhonda says
Your sauce is outa this world! I added 3+ Tbls. of nutritional yeast. It makes 3-4 cups of sauce enough to feed 12 people. You could cut the recipe in half. I will make it again..... Thanks
Karielyn says
Hi there Rhonda! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe and thanks for sharing the tip about adding the extra nutritional yeast...you can never add too much nutritional yeast IMO!
I appreciate you trying it out and taking the time to let me know you liked it 🙂
Rachel D. says
Yummm was soooo amazing and super healthy! I made it at my boyfriends apt because he has a Vitamix, but I don't 🙁 and I want to make it again! Do you think I could make it at home if I don't have a vitamix?
Karielyn says
Hi there Rachel! The only thing I'd be worried about is the cashews in the mushroom sauce. If you have a high-powered blender (other than a Vitamix) that could process the cashews into a creamy texture, it would work.
However, you can still make it without a Vitamix (or even try a food processor) but would need to soak the cashews in advance. Keep in mind the texture would be a little different.
Soak the cashews in filtered/purified water for 30-60 minutes, then drain and rinse them. This will soften the cashews and make them easier to blend. The mixture will not have a creamy and smooth texture as with a Vitamix but it will taste the same.
Thanks for the question and I hope that works out and you are able to make it again at home 😉
Carl says
Hey Karielyn, great receip. Pasta is one of my favourite dishes but had never tried mixing mushrooms but this dish was delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Karielyn says
Hi there Carl! Thanks so much and I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
April says
Made this today and served it with lots of veggies (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots). It was delicious! Thanks for the recipe! (:
Karielyn says
Hi there April! I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it and I love the combination of veggies you used...the more the better!
Thanks for trying out the recipe and for taking the time to let me know you like it 😉
Cindy S. says
Your mushroom sauce was perfect for pasta!
Karielyn says
Hi there Cindy! Thanks so much and thanks for stopping by 😉
Peter says
this was great. wonder if I could use bella mushrooms only next time?
Karielyn says
Hi there Peter! Yes! Feel free to you whatever variety/combination of mushroom varieties you prefer.
Thanks so much for your question and for stopping by 😉