A vegan mac & cheese recipe that's totally nut free! Coconut milk is the magic ingredient. Bonus: this creamy mac is super easy to whip up and requires no blending!
- 10 ounces dried macaroni or pasta shells (or your favorite pasta shape)
- 3 cups chopped fresh broccoli
- 1 tablespoon canola oil, or another neutral flavored cooking oil, plus a dash
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup full-fat coconut milk (from a can)
- 1 cup unflavored and unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice (almond, soy, hemp, or non-canned coconut milk all work)
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast flakes
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 2 tablespoons vinegar-based hot sauce, such as Cholula
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Set the timer according to the package directions for cooking the pasta until al dente.
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When the timer gets down to 2 minutes, add the broccoli to the pot and give it a stir.
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When the timer goes off, drain the pasta and broccoli into a colander and return them to the pot. Toss with a dash of oil to prevent sticking.
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Coat the bottom of a large pot with 1 tablespoon of oil and place it over medium heat.
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When the oil is hot, whisk in the flour to form a thick paste. Cook, whisking frequently, until the mixture darkens a bit and begins to smell nutty, about 3 minutes.
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Whisk in the coconut milk and non-dairy milk of choice.
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Raise the heat to high and bring the liquid to a boil. Lower the heat and allow the mixture to simmer, whisking frequently, for about 7 minutes, until it thickens up a bit.
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Whisk in the nutritional yeast, soy sauce or coconut aminos, hot sauce, vinegar, onion and garlic powders, and salt. Taste-test and season with salt to taste. Adjust any other seasonings to your liking.
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Add the pasta and broccoli to the pot with the coconut mixture and give it a good stir. Allow to cook for about 1 minute, just until the pasta is perfectly tender. The sauce should thicken up a bit more during this time.
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Remove from heat and serve.