Last Updated on April 2, 2023
This Vegan Macaroni and Cheese is not at all like the macaroni and cheese that we all knew and loved in our childhood.
Back then you made mac and cheese from a box with the powdered cheese or if you were lucky it was made from real cheese and milk.
A lot has changed over the years with all the creative experimenting and learning new alternatives.
I thought I would never say this but, back in my day, we had know idea that there was a way to make a plant based cheese and it would actually taste good!
Today there are many different plant based cheeses that are so easy to make and use simple ingredients.
But for me, cashew cheese is my favorite!
I love it so much I use this cashew cheese for everything and on anything.
But the best part is, is that I have the control over everything I add to this cheese.
If I want a little more spice, I add sriracha, if I want a little more or less sodium, add more salt or cut the vegetable broth and add water.
You get the idea, alter for your own taste.
Even though not everyone in my family is vegan, they all love this simple cheese just the same.
They love the smooth creamy texture and the flavor of this vegan cheese and especially in this Vegan Macaroni and cheese.
It has now become our favorite comfort food/meal.
Ingredients needed for this dish
- Cashews – Use raw cashews for this cheese. The raw cashew has a very neutral flavor and will give the cheese a incredible creamy texture.
- Oil – In this recipe I have used olive oil and avocado oil. Keep in mind that both of these oils will give a slightly different flavor to the cheese. Olive oil will add a slight bitterness, while the avocado oil is mild with a slight buttery flavor.
- Tomato Paste – The tomato paste will thicken the cheese and add a deep tomato flavor to the cheese.
- Mustard – In this recipe I used a yellow mustard. Any variety of mustard will work and can change the flavor of the cheese. The mustard adds the right amount of tanginess for a cheese flavor and it also adds color.
- Tomato Sauce or Pasta Sauce – Personally I like to add plain tomato sauce to my cheese, but if you don’t have any on hand, your pasta sauce will work in a pinch. The tomato sauce adds a touch more of a tomato taste and color to the cheese.
- Seasonings – Salt, Italian Seasoning for flavor and turmeric for color.
- Garlic – In this recipe I used minced garlic.
- Onion – A small onion of your choice or onion powder can be used for flavor in this cheese sauce.
- Pepper – A red bell pepper adds a sweetness to the cheese.
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch is added to thicken up the cheese sauce. Giving the sauce a thickness to coat the macaroni.
- Vegetable Broth – Vegetable broth adds flavor and liquid to the cheese.
- Pasta – Your favorite pasta for mac and cheese.
How to make Vegan Macaroni and Cheese
In a small mixing bowl, add water to the raw cashews and leave them to soak for 4 to 6 hours.
Clean and chop the red pepper and small onion.
In a medium sized skillet, saute the red pepper, onion, minced garlic in oil until soft about 8 minutes. When done set aside to cool.
After the cashews have soaked, drain and rinse.
Pour the cashews into the blender with oil, tomato paste, mustard, tomato sauce, and all the seasonings.
Next add the cooled sauteed vegetables to the blender.
Measure the vegetable broth in a large measuring cup along with the cornstarch.
Mix until there is no lumps.
Slowly add the vegetable broth mixture to the blender as you turn on the blender to a low speed.
Once all the broth is added to the blender, continue slowly increasing the speed to the highest setting.
Continue at the highest speed for about 1 minute.
Now slowly decrease the blender speed until it is off.
Continue blending if the cheese isn’t smooth.
After the cheese is well blended and smooth, pour into a medium sized sauce pan.
Cook and stir on a medium heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese has thickened.
Cook the pasta of your choice to package instructions.
Drain the pasta and place it back into the pot.
Pour the vegan cheese over the cooked pasta and stir until the pasta is covered.
Serve this Vegan Macaroni and Cheese with a side of a favorite veggies and enjoy!
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Vegan Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Raw Cashews
- 2 tsp Oil Avocado or olive oil.
- 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Mustard I used a yellow mustard.
- 1/8 tsp Turmeric
- 1/4 Cup Tomato Sauce or Pasta Sauce
Saute these 4 ingredients together.
- 1 Tbsp Oil Avocado or olive oil.
- 1 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 Red Pepper Chopped
- 1 Small Onion Or 1 tsp. Onion Powder
Mix the broth and cornstarch together until well blended.
- 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 1 1/2 Cup Vegetable Broth
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, add water to the raw cashews and leave them to soak for 4 to 6 hours.
- Clean and chop the red pepper and small onion.
- In a medium sized skillet, saute the red pepper, onion, minced garlic in oil until soft about 8 minutes. When done set aside to cool.
- After the cashews have soaked, drain and rinse.
- Pour the cashews into the blender with oil, tomato paste, mustard, tomato sauce, and all the seasonings.
- Next add the cooled sauteed vegetables to the blender.
- Measure the vegetable broth in a large measuring cup along with the cornstarch.Mix until there is no lumps.
- Slowly add the vegetable broth mixture to the blender as you turn on the blender to a low speed.
- Once all the broth is added to the blender, continue slowly increasing the speed to the highest setting.
- Continue at the highest speed for about 1 minute.
- Now slowly decrease the blender speed until it is off.
- Continue blending if the cheese isn't smooth.
- After the cheese is well blended and smooth, pour into a medium sized sauce pan.
- Cook and stir on a medium heat for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese has thickened.
- Cook the pasta of your choice to package instructions.
- Drain the pasta and place pasta back into the pot it was cooked in.
- Pour the vegan cheese over the cooked pasta and stir until the pasta is covered.
- Serve this Vegan Macaroni and Cheese with a side of a favorite veggies and enjoy!
