It’s another reason why you should never eat cookie dough that isn’t approved to eat raw. If you didn’t already know, flour cannot be eaten raw. Toasting the mixture is key to removing any gritty texture the flour might have and as well cooks it. A roux is a cooking method where you often would have browned butter, added a certain ratio of flour depending on the thickens you wanted, and then toasted that mixture on low to medium-low heat. To make our vegan mac and cheese recipe without cashews we need to make a roux. We wanted to make a vegan mac n cheese recipe that could be made at a moment’s notice, be allergen-friendly, and still have those key flavors a classic mac n cheese would have. Stir in thawed frozen peas, spinach, or steamed broccoli for a bright pop of green.While we’re all for a good cashew based cheese sauce, we recognize that cashews aren’t always the most economically feasible ingredient and often require more preparation and planning ahead to cook with. Pour the noodles into the greased baking dish. Of course, this vegan mac and cheese tastes good on its own, but adding extra veggies certainly doesn’t hurt. Add the boiled noodles to the skillet with the cheese sauce. Use your favorite gluten-free pasta! I like to use brown rice elbow macaroni. Make spicy vegan mac and cheese by pureeing the sauce with 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeños or a chipotle pepper from a can of chipotles in adobo. Or, for texture, stir in a handful of crumbled tempeh bacon bits! Blend 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, to taste, into the vegan cheese sauce for a smoky twist. An equal amount of diced carrot or butternut squash would work just as well. If you don’t have sweet potato on hand but you still want to try this recipe, don’t worry.
Next, add the plant milk, shredded vegan cheese, all of the dry seasonings to the saucepan to make the cheese sauce. Serve the vegan mac and cheese with a simple veggie side dish like roasted broccoli, roasted Brussels sprouts, lemon green beans, or roasted cauliflower. Once it has completely melted, add the flour and whisk it into the melted butter to form a roux. Bake at 425F (220C) for 20 minutes, or until breadcrumbs appear golden-brown and toasty. Pour the mac and cheese into a casserole dish and top with seasoned bread crumbs (recipe below). Cook the sauce and pasta until the cheese melts but before sauce fully thickens. Stir to combine, adding the reserved pasta water, as needed, to loosen the sauce. Yes Add a little extra vegan cheese to the sauce. Finally, toss it all together! Return the cooked macaroni to the pot and add the cashew cheese.Before you drain the pasta, set aside 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. It's really easy as well and the best mac n cheese I've had in almost six years. Cook it according to the package directions, until al dente. Next, cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta.
Then, drain them, and add them to a blender with raw cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, water, and olive oil. Then slowly pour the warm milk into the paste, whisking after each addition until smooth. Slowly add the flour, whisking until a paste forms.
When I’m craving comfort food, this vegan mac and cheese recipe is the first thing I make.