Healthy Mac & Cheese
A lighter version of your favorite mac & cheese, but make it vegan and gluten free!
Why I love this recipe
This decadent mac & cheese recipe is one that will fool all of your friends & family this thanksgiving! It is totally vegan, gluten free, dairy free and plant based. The “cheese” sauce is made with a simple ingredient. Perfect to fit everyone's dietary needs this thanksgiving!
Pasta cooking tip
Ever find that your pasta is mushy after cooking it? Well they don’t tell you this on the box but I like to cook my pasta 2 minutes shy of the box directions!
Need an example? Box directions say cook for 8 minutes, I set my timer for 6 minutes, then drain the pasta at 6 minutes!
No need to rinse your pasta either! The cooking water is great for the sauce to glue onto that pasta!
Healthy Holiday Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 cup starchy pasta cooking water
- 1 cup gluten free breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8-10 oz of gluten free pasta, I used shells
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Boil about 1 ½ cups of water, then soak 1 cup of raw cashews in that boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat a big pot of water to boil over the stove. Add in 1 teaspoon of salt as an option to season the pasta pasta water. This is your one change to add seasoning to your pasta!
- Once the pasta water has come to a boil, add your 8-10 oz of pasta and boil according to the package directions. Tip: I like to set my timer 2 minutes short of the box directions, as it comes out the best when it’s al dente.
- Once pasta is cooking, reserve 1 cup of your starchy pasta cooking liquid in a mug or cup. Set it aside to add to the cheese sauce in the next step.
- Drain your cashews, then add them to a high powered blender along with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of mustard, ½ of a lemon that is juiced, ¼ cup nutritional yeast and 1 cup of starchy pasta liquid. Blend on medium/high speed for 30 seconds - 60 seconds until it is smooth.
- At this point drain your pasta and add it back into the pot. Add the blended sauce on top!
- You can serve it just like this or elevate it by baking it!
- To bake the pasta, transfer the cheese and pasta mixture into an oven safe baking dish of any size. I like to use a brownie pan!
- In a small bowl, mix together 1 cup of gluten free bread crumbs, 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix until it is well combined.
- Top the breadcrumb mixture on the pasta evenly. Bake at 375 Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes until it is golden brown on top.
- Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes, then dig in!
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @jazzleaf on instagram and hashtag it #jazzleafeats
WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL:
A simple video tutorial on how to make a vegan and gluten free Mac and cheese, perfect for your thanksgiving dinner!
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