Makes 4-5 servings
So, I love cheese but I’m trying to cut out most (if not all) dairy by-products out of my life. I already stopped drinking straight dairy, but finding other alternatives for cheese is expensive and where I live it’s not particularly convenient. I’m pretty damn lucky to afford vegan cheese because it isn’t cheap, but I can’t afford it all the time! So, I’m super happy how this mac and “cheese” turned it. Most of the ingredients are fairly easy to get, although “nutritional yeast” might be a little harder – I have to get these at speciality stores (and it’s also available in bulk where I live).
>1 large white potato (or about 1 cup cut up)
>1 medium carrot
>1/2 a small brown (or red) onion
>1 tsp of miso paste
>1/2 cup of nutritional yeast (I started off with 1/4 cup but wanted a more cheesy taste)
>1/4 tsp smoked paprika
>1/2 garlic powder
>1/2 tbsp dijion mustard
>1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
>1 cup of raw cashews (these need to be soaked overnight)
>1/2 cup of homemade oat milk (I find using oat milk makes the “cheese” more gluey in texture, which is what you want)
>1 cup of water (ideally from the water where you cooked the veggies)
>salt and pepper to taste
>breadcrumbs
>Italian herbs (optional)
>3 cups of elbow macaroni
Soak cashews overnight.
Boil the white potato, carrot and onion in a pot of water. The potato and carrot will be ready when you can easily put your fork through it.
Boil elbow macaroni until just slightly underdone (you will be putting this oven, and it will cook further in the oven).
In a high powered blender, blend: cashews, potato, carrot, onion, yeast, paprika, garlic powder, mustard, lemon juice, water, oat milk, salt and pepper; until smooth. Have a taste here. Does it need more salt? More pepper?
In a baking pan, stir through macaroni and sauce until evenly covered. Cover the top with bread crumbs and add a little salt, paprika and Italian herbs on top.
In the oven bake until crispy on top. Keep in mind the longer you leave it in the oven, it won’t be as gooey. So, cook to your desired textured.
Enjoy!
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