Vegan Mac Cheese Sauce
Creamy, rich, and completely dairy-free, this Vegan Mac Cheese Sauce is a game-changer for plant-based comfort food lovers. Made with wholesome ingredients like raw cashews, nutritional yeast, and a splash of lemon juice for tang, this luscious sauce delivers all the cheesy flavor you crave without any cheese. The blend is brightened by hints of Dijon mustard and warm spices like garlic and onion powder, while a touch of turmeric adds a lovely golden hue. Ready in just 15 minutes with minimal prep, this velvety smooth sauce is perfect for tossing with your favorite pasta, drizzling over veggies, or using as a dip. The optional addition of pasta water or plant-based milk ensures your desired consistency every time. Whether you're vegan, dairy-free, or just looking for a healthier alternative, this easy-to-make recipe will win over your taste buds!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raw cashews
- 1.5 cups Unsweetened almond milk (or other plant-based milk)
- 4 tablespoons Nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 0.25 teaspoon Turmeric powder (for color, optional)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Paprika (optional)
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper
- 0.5 cup Cooked pasta water (optional to adjust consistency)
Instructions
Soak the raw cashews in hot water for at least 15 minutes or boil them for 10 minutes to soften. Drain and set aside.
In a blender, combine the softened cashews, unsweetened almond milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric powder, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
Blend the ingredients on high speed until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the blender as needed to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt, lemon juice, or nutritional yeast as needed.
Transfer the sauce to a medium saucepan and heat over low-medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Heat until warm and slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, add a few tablespoons of cooked pasta water or additional plant-based milk to reach your desired consistency.
Toss the warm sauce with freshly cooked pasta of your choice or use it as a dip, drizzle, or topping.
Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious vegan mac cheese!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
799 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 54.3 g | 70% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.9 g | 44% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2779 mg | 121% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 54.8 g | 20% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 10.6 g | 38% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.7 g | ||
| Protein | 35.6 g | 71% | |
| Vitamin D | 3.8 mcg | 19% | |
| Calcium | 737 mg | 57% | |
| Iron | 11.1 mg | 62% | |
| Potassium | 1496 mg | 32% | |
*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.
