Dairy-Free Homemade Mac and Cheese
Indulge in the creamy, comforting goodness of Dairy-Free Homemade Mac and Cheese, a plant-based twist on the classic comfort food. This recipe features a velvety, flavorful "cheese" sauce made from nutrient-rich cashews, nutritional yeast, and a blend of aromatic spices like garlic powder, paprika, and turmeric. The sauce comes together effortlessly in a blender and is simmered to perfection with unsweetened almond milk, creating a luscious coating for tender elbow macaroni. With a prep time of just 10 minutes, this quick and easy dairy-free mac and cheese is perfect for weeknight dinners while being entirely vegan and kid-friendly. Whether you're following a plant-based diet, avoiding lactose, or just looking to try something new, this recipe is sure to become a household favorite. Pair it with a crisp side salad or steamed veggies for a well-rounded, wholesome meal! Keywords: dairy-free mac and cheese, vegan mac and cheese, plant-based comfort food, easy vegan pasta recipes.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup Raw cashews
- 1.5 cups Water
- 0.5 cup Nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 0.5 tsp Paprika
- 0.5 tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.25 tsp Ground black pepper
- 1 cup Unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
Instructions
Boil a pot of water and cook the elbow macaroni according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, place the cashews in a bowl and cover them with hot water. Let them soak for at least 10 minutes, then drain well.
In a blender, combine the soaked cashews, water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the cashew mixture and almond milk, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the olive oil until well combined.
Add the cooked macaroni to the saucepan and mix until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
Serve immediately while hot and enjoy your dairy-free mac and cheese.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2247 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 85.7 g | 110% | |
| Saturated Fat | 14.6 g | 73% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2564 mg | 111% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 305.3 g | 111% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 17.9 g | 64% | |
| Total Sugars | 17.0 g | ||
| Protein | 72.5 g | 145% | |
| Vitamin D | 2.2 mcg | 11% | |
| Calcium | 576 mg | 44% | |
| Iron | 14.9 mg | 83% | |
| Potassium | 1903 mg | 40% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
