[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Oven Baked Mac-N-"Cheeze"

Category: Main Dishes - Pasta

Suitable for a: vegan diet

Ingredients:

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Rich and creamy with a crunchy baked buttered-crumb top, like Mom used to make (only without the cheese). Since my kids grew up eating this version of Mac-N-Cheese, they'll always think of it as a classic.

Boil water and cook preferred noodles, enough for about 4 people - no exact measurement needed.

Curly noodles work best IMO, but cook whatever you prefer.

When noodles have about 1 minute to go, add 1 1/2 cups of your choice of frozen veggie: chopped brocolli, spinich, peas or mixed veggies.

Cook 'till veggies are done. About another 2 minutes. Drain.

MAKE THE CHEESE SAUCE:

1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes or powder (I prefer powder, and get it in bulk bins)

1/2 cup unbleached flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp - 3/4 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp - 3/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 tsp. mustard (cheap yellow)

1 cup plain/original nondairy milk*

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 cup water

2 Tb, margarine

BUTTERED BREAD CRUMBS:

2 slices while grain bread

buttery spread (EB or your favorite)

Instructions:

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After noodles have been started, mix the above ingredients in a sauce pan.

Stir over heat until thick and well cooked. You'll be able to tell.

Remove from heat, add margarine, and mix well.

Mix in pasta and veggies, pour in a well-greased baking dish.

Make the buttered crumbs: crumble bread or whiz in food processor. Melt 1 Tb. Earth Balance or other spread in a pan. Add crumbs and toss to coat. (add a bit more if needeed) Fry on med-high until light brown and crunchy, stirring to prevent over browning.

Sprinkle over macaroni/veggie mixture in baking pan.

Bake at 350 until hot and bubbly.

*I prefer using plain soymilk in this recipe, but you can use any type of plain milk.

Additional comments:

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Posting a picture. I've added cauliflower to the recipe in this shot... and over-baked it a lot...

 

[Hulasue]

I tried your recipe tonight Tofu'n'Sprouts and loved it

it was even better than the cheezy sauce in Veganomicon

This was my first experience cooking with Vitasoy milk too

I am very pleased with that stuff; its the best soy milk I've ever had

 

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hulasue

it was even better than the cheezy sauce in Veganomicon

Thank you. Good to know.

 

[Wiccanveg]

I made this tonight. It was my first time using nutritional yeast and I was a bit skeptical about the coconut milk. I omitted the mustard, added extra salt and garlic to taste and it kicked some serious arse! I had it on a baked potato earlier, and just made it with some mini penne. I didn't bake it because I realized I don't have a baking dish. But I am definetly going to try that version soon! Thanks for the recipe! Much better then chresse

 

[Earthling]

I just made and ate this, and it's absolutely lovely. Very tasty, very filling, and very similar to Mac and Real Cheese. I used broccoli, leeks and cabbage as my veggies and it looked amazing!

Thanks TNS

 

[*Star*Lass*]

I just made this for tea, with broccoli, courgette and leak for the veg. I halved the quantities for the sauce to make it for 2 people. The sauce was very thick and there wasn't a lot of it (coated everything, but not a visible sauce). Is this what it should be like?

It was very tastey!

 

[Envy]

Vegetables?

In my mac n' cheese?

It's blasphemy I tell ya.

 

[Begonia]

Thank you for the recipe, it looks absolutely scrumptious! Am definately going to try.

Do you use low fat or full fat coconut milk? Is it absolutely necessary, can soy (or other vegan) milk be substituted?

Thanks again!

 

[*Star*Lass*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Begonia

Do you use low fat or full fat coconut milk? Is it absolutely necessary, can soy (or other vegan) milk be substituted?

Thanks again!

I've just made it again tonight (better second time round!). I used a low fat coconut milk this time and it didn't change the taste at all. Next time i'm going to try just soya milk as i think that would work ok. I'd recommend going easy on the salt and pepper (to taste rather than measurements). The sauce turns out quite thick for me so i'm either going to reduce the flour or increase the fluid next time too.

Great tasting and very "cheesey"

My omni boyfriend loved it too.

 

[Begonia]

Mmmmmmmmm!!!

 

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Thanks for the input, I do like this sauce rather thick, add more milk if you prefer is more to be less thick, also, whole grain pasta will absorb a LOT more of the liquid, so keep this variable in mind; and yes, you can use soymilk, but the consistancy of the coconut milk tends to give the finished product a better/smoother texture and not dry out so much... obviously if you prefer no veggies in your Mac-n-Cheese you are welcome to leave them out.

 

[Mardrmsmonster]

Thank you so much for a cheeze recipe without nuts!

 

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mardrömsmonster

Thank you so much for a cheeze recipe without nuts!

You are SO welcome. I need to remember that many people can't eat nuts or just don't care for them...

 

[Wolfie]

Thanks for this! One of only two non-vegan foods I really miss.

 

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Thanks for this! One of only two non-vegan foods I really miss.

So now I'm curious - what's the other non-vegan food you miss?

 

[Wolfie]

Cheese pizza, of course.

 

[delicious]

It's in the oven...

Did you mean yellow salad mustard or dry mustard?

I used ww pasta, so I added an extra cup of water and the sauce still seemed nice and thick.

I doubled the recipe cause a couple friends are coming over. I shouldn't have.

 

[delicious]

Here's my friend's honest opinion of this mac and cheese. "Good, not great. Doesn't taste very cheesy. It's creamy, though."

 

[sam_roach]

This looks quite good! Although I actually eat cheese so will use real cheese he he

 

[Alicia Avocado]

To be honest, I tried this recipe and it was just 'okay' in the opinion of my S/O and I. It's really something to be eaten right after it's made as reheating kind of ruins it. However, perhaps it's just us though as we can be pretty fussy.