Vegan Mac and Cheese
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
3 to 4
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Vegan Mac and Cheese
Description
The Vegan Mac and Cheese recipe centers on a dairy-free cheese sauce made by boiling Yukon Gold and sweet potatoes until tender. These cooked potatoes are blended with raw cashews, garlic, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, onion powder, salt, olive oil, and water to create a smooth and creamy cheese substitute. The sauce's flavor relies on subtle savory and tangy elements from garlic and vinegar along with the nutty depth of nutritional yeast and cashews.
Elbow macaroni is cooked until just al dente, then drained and mixed into the vegan cheese sauce, with reserved pasta water added as needed to reach the preferred consistency. This results in a comforting and creamy pasta dish with a mild cheesy flavor suited for those avoiding dairy.
This mac and cheese variant works as a satisfying main or a side dish. Its plant-based ingredients provide a different texture and flavor profile compared to traditional versions, useful for vegan or dairy-free diets.
Ingredients
For the vegan cheese sauce
- ¾ cup potato Yukon Gold variety, peeled and diced
- ¾ cup sweet potato peeled and diced
- 2 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup cashew nuts raw
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt sea salt
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup water
For the mac and cheese
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni
- salt to taste, sea salt
Instructions
- Make the vegan cheese: Place the Yukon Gold potatoes and sweet potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water by 1 inch. Add a few pinches of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until fork-tender, 8 to 12 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and transfer to a high-speed blender with the garlic, cashews, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, onion powder, salt, olive oil, and water. Blend until smooth.
- Make the mac and cheese: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare the pasta according to the package instructions, cooking until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Drain and transfer the pasta back to the pot. Stir in the vegan cheese sauce, adding up to ½ cup pasta water to loosen the sauce, as necessary. Season to taste and serve.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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