This Pasta with Carrot Miso Sauce is creamy, delicious, and completely vegan! Topped with a bright, flavorful carrot top gremolata (optional) and toasted bread crumbs.
We’ve been loving this vegan carrot pasta recipe lately! It features fresh, happy carrots—not just the roots—but the tops too! Orecchiette pasta is the perfect little scoop for the creamy carrot sauce. Pillowy cups of goodness!
The carrot pasta sauce is simple to make. It simmers while the orecchiette pasta cooks—very quickly and efficiently—and then it is blended into the creamiest, silkiest sauce that literally glows with nutrients, with the mouth-feel of mac and cheese. Heavenly!
The vibrant green carrot tops are turned into a tasty, herby Gremolata Sauce. Double the flavor and double the nutrients!
Why You’ll Love Carrot Pasta
- Satisfyingly creamy, yet surprisingly vegan!
- So much depth of flavor, including umami from the miso.
- Gratifying texture and crunch from the toasted breadcrumbs.
- Bright and tangy flavor from the Carrot-Top Gremolata.
- Full of nutrients! Thanks to both the carrots and their tops!
Altogether it is an orchestra of flavors—and basically, it just makes me happy! Try it and see if it makes you happy too. Just curious. 😉
Carrot Pasta Ingredients
- Orecchiette: This pasta shape is perfect for soaking up the creamy sauce, but feel free to use other pasta shells.
- Carrots: Fresh, organic, sweet carrots with their tops! If you can’t find carrot tops, sub-Italian parsley.
- Raw cashews: For creamy, luscious texture -or sub raw hemp hearts.
- White miso paste: for added depth and umami flavor.
- Aromatics: Shallots and garlic cloves add savory flavors.
- Extra Virgin Olive oil: For added richness.
- Italian parsley for vibrant fresh flavor.
- Lemon: Both lemon zest and lemon juice are needed.
- Panko breadcrumbs– for delicious texture!
How to Make Carrot Sauce for Pasta
Step 1: Prep the carrot sauce ingredeints. Slice the carrots thinly for faster cooking!
Step 2: Saute. Warm olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Sauté shallot and garlic until fragrant and golden, 5 minutes.
Step 3: Simmer: Add carrots, cashews, water, salt, and pepper and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until carrots are fork-tender, 15 minutes. Stir in miso and cool 5-10 minutes.
Step 4: Blend carrot miso sauce. Transfer the contents of the pot to a high-speed blender. Secure the lid and place a towel over top. Blend on low, gradually increasing speed until fully blended. For the smoothest texture, blend for 1-1 1/2 minutes!
Make the Carrot Top Gremolata
Make the gremolata by adding carrot leaves, parsley, lemon zest, and garlic to a food processor.
Pulse until finely chopped, add salt and oil, then pulse a few times to incorporate. Add more olive oil for a looser version.
Make the Toasted Bread Crumbs
To make the toasted breadcrumbs, add to a large skillet over medium and drizzle with enough oil to lightly coat. Add a generous pinch of salt and granulated garlic. Stir until golden, 5 minutes. Let cool.
Put it all together!
Combine. Drain the cooked pasta and combine it with the carrot pasta sauce, gently warming if needed. Taste and adjust for salt.
Serve. Sprinkle with the toasted breadcrumbs and the gremolata!
Chef’s Tips
- Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta and gluten-free miso to make this gluten-free. Undercook the pasta a bit to ensure it doesn’t get mushy.
- Slice the carrots thinly: Slice the carrots thinly so they cook faster!
- Carrots should be tender: Make sure the carrots are super soft and fork-tender for a super creamy sauce.
- Add extra veggies: Toss in 1 cup of veggies when the pasta is almost done cooking to quickly blanch them. Peas, broccoli, or asparagus go well! You can also wilt a handful of fresh spinach when combining the sauce and pasta together.
- Meal prep: Make the sauce ahead of time, refrigerate, then gently warm when ready to serve with pasta.
- Add a little spice: Garnish with red pepper flakes for a bit of spicy flavor. This can be added to the gremolata too! Or add a pinch of cayenne to the blender.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. You can add a splash of vegetable broth to help make the sauce creamy again. Store the breadcrumbs separately to keep them crispy. Gently reheat everything on the stovetop or reheat in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this carrot pasta with a light, leafy green salad or a side of green veggies like roasted asparagus or green beans!
FAQs
If you can’t find orecchiette, that’s okay! Use your favorite type of pasta or other shapes with textures that hold creamy sauce well, like shells or fusilli.
When tender, carrots provide a deliciously creamy texture, and their orange color is so vibrant and inviting! Not to mention they’re a great way to sneak in the nutritional benefit of seasonal veggies to your pasta.
Yes! For best results, freeze the carrot pasta sauce on its own, then prepare pasta when ready to serve. Leave plenty of room for the sauce to expand. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating on the stovetop.
Health Benefits of Carrots
Carrots are a nutritional powerhouse and come with a host of health benefits that make them a great addition to any diet. Here are just a few!
- Rich in nutrients: Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins A, K1, and B6, potassium, and biotin. Vitamin A comes from beta-carotene, which supports vision, immune function, and skin health.
- Eye health: Thanks to beta-carotene, eating carrots regularly can help prevent vision decline and conditions like age-related macular degeneration due to its antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.
- Antioxidant benefits: Antioxidant beta-carotene also helps protect against free radicals. The antioxidants in carrots may contribute to reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and certain cancers.
- Skin health: Both vitamin A and antioxidants allow carrots to protect the skin from sun damage and premature aging. Lack of vitamin A can lead to dry skin, so carrots can help keep skin health and vibrant!
- Immune function: Vitamins A and C help support the immune system, and regular consumption of carrots can help the body fight off infections more effectively.
- Digestive health: Carrots are rich in dietary fiber, allowing them to maintain good digestive health and promote a balanced gut.
- Heart health: High intake of the types of carotenoids found in carrots has been associated with a lower risk of heart disease. And the potassium in carrots can help maintain a healthy blood pressure.
I hope you have a beautiful weekend, friends. You’ll find the freshest carrots (and their vibrant green tops) at the farmers market this weekend! So get outside, get some fresh air, and go get some carrots. Enjoy this delicious creamy carrot pasta sauce!
xoxo
More Carrot Recipes you may like
Pasta with Carrot Miso Sauce Video
Pasta with Carrot Miso Sauce (Vegan)
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Category: vegan, pasta
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Pasta with Carrot Miso Sauce is creamy, delicious, and completely vegan! Topped with a bright, flavorful carrot top gremolata (optional) and toasted bread crumbs.
Ingredients
- 8–10 ounces orecchiette pasta, cooked in salted water, according to package directions.
Carrot Miso Sauce:
- 2 shallots, rough chopped (or 1/2 an onion)
- 4–6 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 heaping cups carrots, thinly sliced (3 medium carrots)
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup raw cashews (or sub raw hemp seeds)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons White Miso Paste
Carrot Top Gremolata (optional, but tasty)
- 1/2 cup carrot tops (small tender leaves) packed or sub 1/2 cup more Italian Parsley
- 1/2 cup Italian parsley
- 1 fat garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest ( zest from one med lemon)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup– 1/2 cup olive oil (make sure it is not bitter-taste it!)
- 1–2 teaspoons lemon juice.
Toasted Bread Crumbs
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Set 6-8 cups salted water to boil for pasta, and cook according to directions.
- Make the Carrot Sauce: Heat oil in a medium pot, over medium heat. Saute shallot and garlic until fragrant and golden, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add carrots, cashews, water, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat to low and simmer gently until carrots are fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the 3 tablespoons of miso ( it doesn’t need to dissolve fully) and let cool for 5-10 minutes.
- While the carrots simmer make the optional Carrot Top Gremolata and Toasted Panko or Bread Crumbs (see notes!)
- Blend the sauce: Once the carrots are tender and slightly cooled, place all in a high-speed blender, covering tightly with a kitchen towel, blend on the lowest setting, gradually increasing speed, until fully blended, creamy and silky smooth about 1- 1 1/2 minutes. Take your time here and get it SMOOTH!!!
- Drain the pasta and pour the sauce over the pasta, gently warming if needed. Taste and adjust salt. (If you didn’t salt your pasta water, chances are you’ll need salt.)
- Divide among bowls, and sprinkle with toasted bread crumbs and spoon the flavorful Carrot Top Gremolata over top.
Notes
Feel free to toss in 1 cup of other veggies into the cooking pasta at the end to steam. For example, sometimes I’ll add a cup of peas to quickly blanch in with the pasta at the last minute.
You can make the sauce ahead, refrigerate and warm up before serving.
Carrot top Gremolata:
- Place carrot leaves, parsley, lemon zest, and garlic in a food processor and pulse repeatedly until finely chopped. Add the salt and oil, pulsing a few more times until incorporated (but not too smooth). Add more oil if you prefer a looser version.
Toasted Bread Crumbs or Panko.
- Place a 1/2 -1 cup of bread crumbs or panko in a large skillet over medium heat, and drizzle with just enough olive oil to lightly coat. Add a good pinch of salt and granulated garlic if you like. Stir until golden, about 5 minutes. Let cool.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: without bread crumbs or Gremolata
- Calories: 393
- Sugar: 6.7 g
- Sodium: 201.3 mg
- Fat: 12.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 59.7 g
- Fiber: 5.4 g
- Protein: 11.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
I made this recipe with the suggested toppings, it came out delicious! My 2 year old who loves “noodles” thought it was great too. I just want to say, we’ve been cooking 3-4 recipes from feasting at home every week, and they all are so good. I’m so happy to have a go to spot with such healthy AND delicious recipes to choose from. Thank you Sylvia 💕
Awww… love hearing this Lacey!!
i actually cannot believe i made this, and that it turned out so good! my finished dish looked just like the photo and it was magnificent! i didn’t have any bread so i used crumbled pita crackers that i sauteed in garlic and olive oil. it’s such a beautiful looking dish that makes you feel good from how healthy it is! thank you sylvia!
Yay, glad it was a success. Love the cracker idea!
The whole family loved this; my granddaughter requested that I make it for her birthday. The gremolata adds a fabulous taste touch.
Wonderful Cheryl!
My family loved this! The Gremolata is a must!
Glad you gave it try Nicole!
mmmmmmm so good!
yay!
This was fantastic. Wondered if you can tell me if this recipe can be turned into a pasta & beef casserole for my not vegan husband but cannot have dairy. Would the sauce become too dry in the oven? Thanks
Hi Fran- I am not sure? the cashews may keep it from becoming overly dry- but have not tried, so not positive here!
This was so unbelievably easy to make and sooooo delicious! I have given this recipe to a few others all coming back with rave reviews!!!
Thanks Charlene!
I added a package of silken tofu to the sauce for some added protein and you can’t tell the difference!
Nice! I bet that made it ultra creamy.
This has become a staple vegan comfort meal that I crave! Because I’m lazy, I use 2-1/4 C unsweetened oak or hemp milk instead of cashews and water. It turns out great!
That is good to know! Glad you are enjoying.:)
This was so delicious!!! I wonder if the sauce would be good drizzled over a vegan pizza or nachos? Have you tried this? Thanks for another winning recipe!
Hi Diane- glad you enjoyed and funny you should say this- something very similar coming out this week!
Can you use red miso paste instead of white one ? Thank you, can’t wait to try it!
Yes, that should be fine!
so good – new staple
Great to hear!
This was great! Luckily someone else does the dishes. I used a full pound of pasta and the sauce was the right amount.
That is the BEST when you have a clean up person! Glad you enjoyed!
Yet another home run Sylvia! I didn’t want to run to the store, so I started searching pasta. I had carrots, garlic and shallots so off I went. I had mezi rigatoni which worked beautifully and gave it some texture. I used Dave’s english muffin for the panko and I had leftover parsley gremolata from last week. I noticed this morning that there was an ad over the note about the veggie add-in on my tablet, but the peas would have looked beautiful.
Love it Lynn, so glad it worked out!
I just made this for the first time tonight and literally licked my plate clean. So delicious and light. The perfect comfort food. I was a little short on carrots so subbed in about 1/3 of a yam which worked well. Love the flavor combo with the gremolata.
Great to hear Alysha!
Excellent!
Hi there! Is it possible to freeze this sauce?
Hi Dewi, I havent tried freezing the sauce, but I think it should freeze ok?’
This is one of my favorite recipes. I return to it year upon year, and look forward to it every time. It’s deliciously healthy and the gremolata is a win. Recently when I was purchasing carrots, the check out clerk offered to cut the tops off and I was appalled! Since then it’s been harder to find carrots with the tops left on… 🙁 but regardless, well worth the effort.
Thanks and happy you liked this!
Hello! I am very excited to try this! Curious if anyone has substituted the miso paste for anything else, like tahini? Also, thoughts on substituting spinach for the carrot tops in the gremata?
The miso really adds depth here- and tahini won’t not give it that. It does have plenty of richness with the cashews already. Spinach may not be the most flavorful swap- flat leaf parsley would be a good sub!
Absolutely delicious! Recipe makes plenty of sauce. I made the sauce and pasta as written but did not use oil. Also did not make Gremolata or add breadcrumbs. This dish is a winner!
Glad you enjoyed this!
Absolutely delicious! Made the sauce and pasta as written but did not use oil. Also did not make the gremolata or the breadcrumbs. Recipe makes plenty of yummy sauce. This dish is a keeper!
Great to hear Terri!
I have enjoyed so many of your recipes, especially the Vegan varities. Many thanks
So nice to hear this Marge!
Loved this, especially with the toasted bread crumbs!!
Great to hear!