Mac & Cheese
Rich, creamy, dreamy, dairy-free mac & cheese.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 4 quarts water
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 8 ounces macaroni
- 4 slices bread (omit if desired)
- 2 tablespoons non-hydrogenated margarine or coconut oil (only if using bread)
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons shallots peeled and chopped
- 1 cup red or yellow potatoes peeled and chopped
- 1/4 cup carrots peeled and chopped
- 1/3 cup white onion peeled and chopped
- 1 cup water or vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup raw cashews (or hemp seeds to make it nut-free)
- 1-2 teaspoons sea salt (start with one, add more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
Instructions
For the Pasta
- Bring the water and salt to boil in a large pot.
- Add the macaroni and cook until al dente.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- If making the bread crumbs, tear the bread into large chunks. Place the bread and margarine in a food processor and pulse until it is a medium-fine texture. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
For the Sauce
- In a saucepan, add the shallots, potatoes, carrots, onion, water or broth, and bring to a boil.
- Cover the pan and simmer the vegetables until they are very soft.
- In a blender, process the cashews or hemp seeds, salt, garlic, mustard, lemon juice, black pepper, and cayenne.
- Add the softened vegetables and cooking water to the blender and process until completely smooth.
- In a large bowl, toss the pasta and cheeze sauce. Press into a 9x13 baking dish.
- Top with breadcrumbs, dust with paprika, and bake 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbling and top is golden brown.
Notes
Recipe Adapted from VegNews Best Ever Vegan Macaroni & Cheese Recipe: https://vegnews.com/2018/7/vegnews-best-ever-vegan-macaroni-and-cheese
The Sauce can be made own it's own and is excellent over veggies like broccoli, asparagus, and potatoes. It also makes a great dip.