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 mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
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
- 1½ cups walnut tofu meat (recipe below)
- 2 cups cheese sauce
- reserved pasta water
- chili flakes, shaved parm, sea salt and cracked pepper.
"MEAT" INGREDIENTS
- 1½ 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
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