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Meaty Vegan Mac and Cheese

Teri-Ann Carty
When you're craving a Meaty Mac and Cheese but you're vegan you can get pretty creative with your ingredients! ENJOY!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Servings 2

Equipment

  • oven
  • stove
  • food processor or blender

Ingredients
  

BUTTERNUT SQUASH "MEATY" MAC & CHEESY SAUCE INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • pinch of chilli flakes
  • 2 cups butternut squash (roasted)
  • ½ cup cashews (soaked and rinsed)
  • 1 cup cashew milk
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 1-2 cups hot pasta water
  • 1 tsp sea salt & cracked black pepper

PASTA INGREDIENTS

  • 1 bag short noodle of choice
  • ½ onion (diced)
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • ½ bunch rapini (chopped)
  • 2 fistfuls spinach
  • cups walnut tofu meat (recipe below)
  • 2 cups cheese sauce
  • reserved pasta water
  • chili flakes, shaved parm, sea salt and cracked pepper.

"MEAT" INGREDIENTS

  • cups walnuts
  • 1 package extra firm tofu
  • 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder & oregano
  • ½ tsp each ground cumin, cayenne, smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp olive oil and maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp tamari
  • 1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste

Instructions
 

BUTTERNUT SQUASH "MEATY" MAC & CHEESY SAUCE INSTRUCTIONS

  • Sauté onion, garlic & chili flakes. Set to the side.
  • Add squash, drained soaked cashews, milk, nooch, turmeric, Dijon, onion & garlic to a blender.
  • Pulse to combine. Turn on high adding pasta water to thin out to your desired consistency.
  • Season well.

PASTA INSTRUCTIONS

  • Boil pasta in salted water.
  • In a large pan add olive oil, chili flakes, garlic and onion. Sauté for several minutes. Add rapini and tofu meat.
  • Cook until rapini starts to soften. Add cheese sauce and spinach.
  • Drop pasta into the pan tossing everything together.
  • If needed, add pasta water to thin out.
  • Season with sea salt pepper and cheese.

"MEAT" INSTRUCTIONS

  • Crumble walnuts in the food processor until pea sized.
  • Mash tofu with fork (or hands!) until pea sized.
  • Whisk wet and dry ingredients together and combine with walnut and tofu mix.
  • Spread on baking sheet and bake at 350 F for 35 min, stirring at half way to ensure even baking.
Keyword cheesy, dairy free, gluten free, mac and cheese, meat alternative, meat free, plant based