“Vegan alfredo sauce.” The moment my colleague and friend nonchalantly mentioned that this was, in fact, a real thing, my mind was blown.
As a teenager, I remember the tradition that my father and I had of ordering alfredo sauce to go along side our basket of hot, buttery breadsticks that Olive Garden does so well. I enjoyed each and every bite even as I scolded my dad for double dipping. I also remember the moment I decided to no longer partake in the creamy goodness in fear of “clogging my arteries” — and this was long before I transitioned to a meat-free lifestyle. Since then, it has been years since I’ve had alfredo sauce in any of its many variations, including my favorite: fettuccine alfredo.
Although excited, I was a bit skeptical when I tried it the first time. Popping open Victoria Fine Foods’ Vegan Alfredo Sauce, I expected it to be cakey, grity, and pretty much tasteless. Instead, what I experienced was a smooth, creamy, rich, and as close to tasting like the alfredo sauce I remember from years ago as a meat- and dairy-free alternative could possibly be. I was definitely surprised, happily surprised.
The ingredients that make up this yummy sauce are simple. The main ones include cashew cream, garlic, salt, and black pepper. For me, the best part about this sauce is that, because of its ingredients, it provides a small amount of the bad stuff and a pretty good amount of the good stuff. One-fourth of the sauce has only 70 calories, 5g of fat, and 0 mg of cholesterol while the same serving size provides 3g of protein and 1g of dietary fiber. I really like it when I can eat great food and not feel bad about it afterward.
I have looked for Victoria’s Vegan Alfredo Sauce at a number of the larger grocery stores in the area, including Publix, Whole Foods, and Wal-Mart. The only place that I have been able to find it at is Artichoke Red Vegan Market, which is one of my favorite places to buy and discover vegan products.
I kept it very simple for my first experience with the sauce by simply spooning it over fettuccine. I have since moved on to adding steamed broccoli, carrots, a few pieces of Gardein’s vegan chicken filets, and trading fettuccine for Bionaturae’s 100% Organic Pappardelle.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
