The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Servings: 4
Yield: 4 servings

Description

This delicious recipe for vegan mac and cheese made without milk, cheese, or butter features broccoli and pasta dressed in a rich cashew cream sauce.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups whole wheat elbow macaroni
2 potatoes
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 carrot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons water, or as needed
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup cashews
1/4 cup soy milk
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 dash ground paprika
1 dash cayenne pepper
2 cups chopped broccoli florets

Directions

1 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
2 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.
3 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.
4 Transfer potato mixture to a blender. Add 3/4 cup water, cashews, soy milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, paprika, and cayenne. Cover the blender and hold the lid down with a potholder; pulse a few times before leaving on to blend until smooth.
5 Heat remaining 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. Add macaroni, pour in cashew sauce, and mix until thoroughly coated.