Vegan garlic mac & 'cheese'
7
Points®
Total time: 35 min • Prep: 15 min • Cook: 20 min • Serves: 2 • Difficulty: Easy
Nutritional yeast should be on every vegan's pantry shelf. It is not only nutritious, as its title advertises, but brings a cheesy flavor to any dish in which it is used. This stovetop mac and cheese for two is made super delicious and nutritious by combining the creamy texture of puréed cauliflower with the “cheesy” umami flavor of nutritional yeast. Add toasted garlic and roasted red peppers and you’ve got a highly satisfying vegan meal.
Ingredients
Cooking spray
2 spray(s)
Kosher salt
½ tsp, plus more for salting water
Cauliflower
½ pound(s), (about 1/4 large head), broken into florets
Uncooked macaroni
¼ pound(s), (about 1 heaping cup)
Garlic clove
3 clove(s), or 4, thinly sliced
Nutritional yeast
¼ cup(s)
Plain unsweetened almond milk (vitamin and mineral fortified)
3 Tbsp
All-purpose flour
1 Tbsp
Roasted red peppers (packed in water)
1 Tbsp, chopped
Fresh lemon juice
2 tsp
Onion powder
½ tsp
Dry mustard
¼ tsp
Black pepper
¼ tsp, coarsely ground
Smoked paprika
⅛ tsp, (1 pinch), plus more for garnish
Cayenne pepper
1 pinch(es)
Instructions
1
Bring large pot of water to boil. Generously salt boiling water. Add cauliflower and cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Using small mesh strainer or slotted spoon, scoop out cauliflower, shaking off excess water. Transfer cauliflower to food processor or blender. Return water to boil. Add macaroni to boiling water and cook according to package directions. Drain macaroni, reserving 1⁄2 cup cooking water.
2
Meanwhile, coat large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and heat over medium-low. Add garlic and stir until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to food processor. Add yeast, almond milk, flour, red peppers, 2 tsp lemon juice, onion powder, mustard powder, black pepper, pinch of paprika, pinch of cayenne, and 1⁄2 tsp salt to processor and blend until smooth. Transfer purée to skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously, until thick, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in macaroni, adding reserved cooking water to thin sauce if needed. Garnish with more smoked paprika.
3
Serving size: 1 generous cup
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