Continuing with the new food testing we have been exploring lets talk Cheese or rather cheese alternatives. Family and myself at times have had issues with dairy so I thought we could experiment. Creating the best Vegan Mac and cheese dish was my first step into the Vegan world.
We have subsequently tested out beyond Meat burgers and a tasty Vegan Chili. I am realizing the plant based life style is not as bad as I thought. Yes, it is true I was skeptical about the concept but I am a partial convert. Living life making better choices cannot hurt right?
Cheese Alternatives Yea or Nah
I read an interesting comment about non-vegans trying cheese alternatives and their “disappointment”. Now lets explore that concept shall we? Vegans love cheese alternatives but then again what are they comparing it too? Can you get the flavour without the real thing?
For us Cheezies, there is no true alternative. Now do not misunderstand me with this recipe I get the right consistency and a tasty flavour. But and its a big but folks not what I call a true Cheddar flavour. As a person who gets really bad reactions from dairy this is a tasty substitute though. The look and feel of a favourite comfort food.
This does have a true ooey gooey sauce and is a rich flavour.
Baked or Boiled Mac and Cheese
Our first experiment we went the full baked casserole route. Created a Mac and Cheese dish, tossed it in a casserole dish and covered with some bread crumbs. It was tasty but as with most baked dishes some of the noodles can get crispy. The sauce was absorbed into the noodles. And if you are like me, I like a saucier dish.
My preference, I think I prefer the fresh from the pot, hot and steamy sauce. Baking is a nice alternative but I will stick with the basics for a bit.
What we Need for Mac and Cheese
Time to gather the ingredients we will need to create the best Vegan Mac and Cheese. Honestly as a cheesatarian I found this tasty and a worthwhile substitute. This has been added to our regular meal rotation
- 10 ounces dried macaroni or about 2 2/3 cups
- 1 cup peeled/diced yellow potatoes or russets
- 1/4 cup peeled/diced carrots
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 3/4 cup water preferably use liquid from pot of boiled veggies
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional
- 1 pinch paprika
Step by Step to awesome Vegan Mac and Cheese
- boil the macaroni al dente, (usually requires boiling for 6-8 minutes in salted water), drain, and set aside.
- Bring several cups of water to boil in a small pot.
- Place chopped potatoes, carrots, and onion in the boiling water, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and soft enough to blend. Cooking time will vary slightly, based on how small you have chopped your veggies. SAVE THE WATER
- When veggies are soft enough to blend, use a slotted spoon to remove them from cooking water, and place them in your blender.
- Add 3/4 cup of that cooking water to your blender, along with your remaining ingredients (including cashews).
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour sauce over your cooked macaroni noodles in a dish of your choice, taste for salt, and serve immediately.
Alternative: place macaroni mixture in a baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, or until crumbs are turning golden brown.
The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- pot
- food processor
- strainer
- slotted spoon
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dried macaroni or about 2 2/3 cups
- 1 cup peeled/diced yellow potatoes or russets
- 1/4 cup peeled/diced carrots
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 3/4 cup water preferably use liquid from pot of boiled veggies
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional
- 1 pinch paprika
Instructions
- Boil macaroni al dente, usually requires boiling for 6-8 minutes in salted water, drain, and set aside.
- Bring several cups of water to boil in a small pot.
- Place chopped potatoes, carrots, and onion in the boiling water, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and soft enough to blend. Cooking time will vary slightly, based on how small you have chopped your veggies SAVE THE WATER.
- When veggies are soft enough to blend, use a slotted spoon to remove them from cooking water, and place them in your blender.
- Add 3/4 cup of that cooking water to your blender, along with your remaining ingredients (including cashews).
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour sauce over your cooked macaroni noodles in a dish of your choice, taste for salt, and serve immediately.
- Or, place macaroni mixture in a baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, or until crumbs are turning golden brown
Notes
Nutrition
Notes
The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dried macaroni or about 2 2/3 cups
- 1 cup peeled/diced yellow potatoes or russets
- 1/4 cup peeled/diced carrots
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 3/4 cup water preferably use liquid from pot of boiled veggies
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper optional
- 1 pinch paprika
Instructions
- Boil macaroni al dente, usually requires boiling for 6-8 minutes in salted water, drain, and set aside.
- Bring several cups of water to boil in a small pot.
- Place chopped potatoes, carrots, and onion in the boiling water, and cook for about 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and soft enough to blend. Cooking time will vary slightly, based on how small you have chopped your veggies SAVE THE WATER.
- When veggies are soft enough to blend, use a slotted spoon to remove them from cooking water, and place them in your blender.
- Add 3/4 cup of that cooking water to your blender, along with your remaining ingredients (including cashews).
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour sauce over your cooked macaroni noodles in a dish of your choice, taste for salt, and serve immediately.
- Or, place macaroni mixture in a baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, or until crumbs are turning golden brown
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