If you're a fan of creamy and cheesy mac and cheese but want to enjoy a dairy-free version, you're in luck! Vegan mac and cheese is a delicious and satisfying dish that's easy to make at home. With the right combination of plant-based ingredients, you can create a dish that's just as creamy, cheesy, and flavorful as the traditional version. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to finding the best recipe for creamy vegan mac and cheese, taking into account factors such as flavor, texture, and ease of preparation. From choosing the right vegan cheese alternatives to selecting the perfect pasta shape, you'll learn everything you need to create a delicious and satisfying vegan mac and cheese that will become a favorite in your kitchen.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
THE BEST VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE
This delicious creamy mac and cheese recipe is 100% vegan, free of any oil, and made with no-fuzz ingredients in just 15 minutes or less! Kids and omnivores love it, guaranteed.
Provided by nutriciously
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 1h5m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Peel and finely chop potatoes when cool enough to handle.
- Combine potatoes, onion, carrot, and garlic in a small pot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons water and cook until soft enough to blend and water is mostly evaporated, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer sauce to a blender. Add 3/4 cup water, cashews, soy milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, paprika, and cayenne. Cover the blender and hold lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend until smooth.
- Heat 2 tablespoons water in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add broccoli and cook until soft but still a little crunchy, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Pour sauce in and mix until thoroughly coated.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 325.6 calories, Carbohydrate 51.8 g, Fat 9.2 g, Fiber 8.6 g, Protein 14.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 586.1 mg, Sugar 3.9 g
CREAMY VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE
Steps:
- Cook macaroni al dente, according to package instructions (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.
- 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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 289 kcal, Carbohydrate 45 g, Protein 10 g, Fat 7 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sodium 402 mg, Fiber 3 g, Sugar 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving
THE BEST EVER VEGAN MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Whether you're lactose intolerant or just looking to cut back on dairy, this creamy, dreamy mac stands up to the real thing. Made with velvety cashew milk and roasted garlic, you'll be going back for seconds and thirds.
Provided by Rachel Gaewski
Categories Sides
Time 5h40m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Add the cashews to a medium bowl and cover with warm water by 1 inch (2 ½ cm). Soak for 3-4 hours, until the cashews are softened and plump, then drain.
- While the cashews are soaking, make the roasted garlic: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut off the top ½ inch (1 ¼ cm) of the head of garlic and drizzle the exposed cloves with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Replace the top of the head of garlic and wrap tightly in foil. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until the cloves are easily pierced with a fork. Unwrap the garlic and let cool completely. Once cooled, squeeze all of the cloves from their skins.
- Add the soaked cashews, roasted garlic cloves, and cold water to a high-powered blender. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. 30-60 seconds. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 12-inch (30 G) cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the panko, paprika, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir with a spatula to coat the bread crumbs in the oil. Toast, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, until the bread crumbs are lightly golden brown. Transfer the bread crumbs to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the skillet.
- In the same skillet, melt together the vegan butter and remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until fragrant but not browned. Whisk in the flour, making sure there are no clumps. Cook the roux for 3-4 minutes, whisking continuously, until the flour is golden in color and fragrant.
- Add the blended cashew mixture to the skillet and whisk well to combine with the roux. Add the nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, pepper, and the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes, until slightly thickened. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and pool when drizzled, but not so thick that it is gloppy. If the cheese sauce is too thick, add more water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Add the elbow noodles to the sauce and toss until well coated.
- Sprinkle the toasted bread crumbs on top of the pasta in an even layer.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the edges of the skillet and the bread crumbs are deep golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh minced parsley and serve.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 615 calories, Carbohydrate 83 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 17 grams, Sugar 4 grams
Tips for Making the Best Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese:
- Use a good quality vegan cheese. There are many different brands and types of vegan cheese available, so be sure to choose one that you like the taste of.
- Cook the macaroni al dente. This means that it should be cooked until it is tender, but still has a slight bite to it.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of flour and butter (or oil) that is used to thicken sauces. For this recipe, you will need to make a roux with cornstarch and vegan butter.
- Add the milk and cheese. Once the roux is made, you can add the milk and cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Season the sauce to taste. You may want to add salt, pepper, garlic powder, or other spices to taste.
- Add the macaroni and stir to combine. Once the sauce is made, add the cooked macaroni and stir until it is evenly coated.
- Serve immediately. Creamy vegan mac and cheese is best served hot, so be sure to serve it immediately after it is made.
Conclusion:
Creamy vegan mac and cheese is a delicious and comforting dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make the best creamy vegan mac and cheese that you have ever tasted.
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