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Vegan Mac and Cheese with Cashew Sauce
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This homemade Vegan Mac and Cheese with Cashew Sauce is a rich, velvety, and utterly delicious dairy-free meal. Perfect for satisfying comfort food cravings with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb elbow macaroni or small pasta (approx. 450g)
- 1.5 cups raw cashews (approx. 200g), soaked
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (approx. 25g)
- 1.5 cups unsweetened plant-based milk (approx. 360ml) (almond, oat, or soy work best)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (approx. 60ml)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (approx. 15ml)
- 1 tsp garlic powder (approx. 5g)
- 1 tsp onion powder (approx. 5g)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (approx. 2.5g)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Cashews: Place your raw cashews in a bowl, cover them completely with boiling water, and let them soak for at least 30 minutes. If you’re planning ahead, you can soak them overnight in cold water.
- Cook Pasta: While your cashews are soaking, cook your chosen pasta according to the package directions until it’s perfectly al dente. Drain it really well and set it aside.
- Blend Cashew Sauce: Once the cashews are soft, drain them. Combine the soaked cashews, plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a high-speed blender. Blend until it’s completely smooth and wonderfully creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. If it seems too thick, add a splash more plant milk.
- Combine and Serve: Pour the warm, velvety cashew sauce over the cooked pasta in a large pot. Stir gently until all the pasta is evenly coated. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or a sprinkle of extra paprika if desired.
Notes
- Always use raw cashews – roasted cashews won’t blend as smoothly for our creamy sauce.
- Good quality nutritional yeast is crucial for that distinct cheesy taste.
- Choose a neutral-flavored plant-based milk (like almond or oat) that doesn’t overpower the sauce.
- Optional Add-ins: Stir in steamed broccoli florets or sautéed spinach, use gluten-free pasta, add a pinch of turmeric for color, a dash of Dijon mustard for zing, or roasted butternut squash for creaminess.
- Nutrition data is an estimate as exact figures were not provided in the original article.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 75g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Vegan Mac and Cheese, Cashew Sauce, Dairy-Free, Plant-Based
