This pasta with arugula in a creamy lemon sauce from Linda Tyler’s cookbook The Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook uses whole-grain pasta, broccoli, arugula, tomatoes, lemon, and cashew cream. The sauce tastes bright and creamy, and the arugula adds a fresh peppery flavor. Broccoli and tomatoes add vegetables to the bowl without making the recipe complicated.
Start with the cashew cream before cooking the pasta. Then cook the pasta and broccoli around the same time, so everything comes together while hot. Garlic seasons the broccoli, and lemon zest and juice bring the sauce to life. A little vegan Parmesan on top adds a savory finish.
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Serve this pasta for dinner when you want a quick meal with greens and a creamy sauce. The whole-grain pasta, broccoli, arugula, tomatoes, cashews, and lemon make it a lighter plant-based option. Leftovers keep in the fridge for a few days, but add a splash of water when reheating because the sauce can thicken.
This recipe was reprinted with permission from Linda Tyler of Gracious Vegan and excerpted from The Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook. You can find her website here and her YouTube channel here.
How to: pasta with arugula in a creamy lemon sauce

Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews
- ¾ cup water
- 8 ounces uncooked whole-grain pasta such as fusilli spirals, penne, or other shape
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 3 –4 cups broccoli florets
- 5 ounces fresh baby arugula
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes halved
- Zest and juice from 1 lemon
- ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- ¼ –½ cup vegan Parmesan see graciousvegan.com for a recipe
Instructions
- Make the cashew cream: Soak the cashews in water for 2 hours, or pour boiling water over them, cover, and let soak for about 20 minutes. Drain. Put the cashews in a blender with the water and blend on high for 30 seconds or longer, until smooth. Set aside.
- Make the pasta: Cook the pasta in a saucepan according to package directions. When done, drain the pasta.
- Cook the broccoli: While the pasta is cooking, cook the broccoli and garlic in a Dutch oven or other large pot, covered, with several tablespoons of water, for 3–4 minutes, until tender.
- Complete the dish: Add the cashew cream, arugula, tomatoes, lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper to the broccoli and garlic. Stir together and cook a few minutes more until the cream is thickened and the arugula has wilted. Add water if needed.
- Combine with pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, toss together, and transfer to a serving dish or dishes. Serve with vegan Parmesan sprinkled on top.
- The dish will keep in the refrigerator for a few days, though you may need to add water when reheating. It does not freeze well.
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