Sometimes, ya just need a little comfort food. And, knowing that there’s cauliflower hiding in it somewhere just makes it all the more guiltless.
A few weeks ago, I tried my hand at a potato and carrot based “cheese” dip. It was a smashing success. Then I got to thinking… Supposedly cauliflower is super duper healthy. Why not try subbing cauliflower instead of potatoes? Then add some starchy pasta (gotta have some starch, right?), and there ya go. Vegan comfort food at its finest–with less guilt–because we’re eating cauliflower, right?
Anything with cauliflower in it has got to be good for you.
Yep.
While you gawk at pictures of semi-healthy vegan mac and “cheese,” just imagine you’re curled up on the sofa on a rainy day eating a big bowl of this stuff. I’m making myself hungry just thinking about it…
Before the recipe, I need to get some ideas from you real quick.
Obviously, it has been way too long since we’ve had a dessert recipe on Vegan Yumminess. What are your favorites? What dessert have you always dreamed of having a vegan recipe for? I’m excited to find out.
In addition to more desserts coming up, I am contemplating sharing my vegan testimony, if you will. I always love a good vegan story, even it if it’s a long one (and this one is). How, when, why did I go vegan? Coming soon…hopefully in the next week or so. :)
Vegan Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Equipment
- medium sized pot or saucepan
- baking dish (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 lb dry macaroni pasta cooked according to package instructions in salted boiling water
- 1 Large cauliflower head or 2 cups cooked and mashed cauliflower
- 2 Large carrots peeled and cut in 1 in pieces
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions in salted boiling water and drain.
- In a large pot, bring 6-8 cups of water to boil.
- While you’re waiting for your water to boil, cut the florets off of your cauliflower and peel and cut your carrots. Place cauliflower florets and carrots in the pot of boiling water, and allow them to cook for about 15 minutes, or until cauliflower is soft enough to mash with a fork.
- Remove vegetables from pot and drain off any excess water.
- Mash cauliflower with a fork and place 2 packed cups of mashed cauliflower in a high-speed blender. (I use Vitamix.)
- Add carrots, oil, water, lemon juice, yeast flakes, and seasonings to your blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Pour cooked pasta back into a pot or bowl from your strainer. Pour all of your “cheese” mixture over your pasta and gently fold it together. At this point, you could serve your macaroni and “cheese,” or you could take it a step further.
- Spoon macaroni and “cheese” mixture into a 9 X 13 baking dish, and sprinkle Panko bread crumbs over the top. Place your dish under the broiler in the oven for about 1 to 2 minutes, tops. You just want the Panko bread crumbs to get nice and golden brown.
- Serve hot.
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I just finished making the “Mac & Cheese” and it was tasty. I did however make a few additions. First I added 1/2 a small onion with the veggies to the boiling water. Then I cooked the pasta in the veggie’s water while I prepared the sauce. While the pasta was cooking I steamed some broccoli and sautéed mushrooms and the other 1/2 of my onion. I took your advice and mixed it all together and baked it off with Panko. I think it’s a good alternative to “cheesy pasta” for vegans and 1/2 C. of nutritional yeast was just right.
We tried this tonight and it was pretty good. I did only add 1 tbsp of nutritional yeast, and to be honest, I think we have decided we don’t like the taste of nutritional yeast at all. Next time I think I’m going to add an onion or onion powder instead. Thanks for the recipe.
Just made it with the panko crust and I’m in love! The texture is perfect, tastes good but a little bland: I added sriracha and cajun spices for some kick and voilà! Added to my rotation. I’ll try with other spices soon :) Thank you!
Great recipe! Very creamy and delicious. I wasn’t going exactly for a cheese taste because I didn’t have nutritional yeast, but I added a little bit of pepper and garlic and it became one of the best sauces I’ve eaten, vegan or not!
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Not bad! It was even better the next day, reheated! I didn’t have any nutritional yeast, so I substituted with Daiya Cheddar shreds. It seemed to work out pretty good! I added some extra spices also. Thanks for the recipe!
i really like this! for me, it needs a fair bit of salt, but i’m a salt-a-holic. i find some of the comments here funny because i found myself thinking, “hmm maybe next time i’ll add a bit MORE nutritional yeast!” could also be that my bulk-bin nutritional yeast isn’t as fresh as others. at any rate, a winner!
oh and i had it over steamed broccoli tonight instead of noodles.
This recipe looks absolutely amazing I cannot wait to try it out. I love the food for thought at the end. Feed your body as well as your soul. Very awesome!
I am mostly vegan myself. I came across this recipe while searching for a way to use some of the cauliflower I bought. To be honest, I thought this dish would be just “okay” but to my surprise it was delicious. I will definitely be making it again. Thanks for sharing! :)
This was fantastic! I read all the comments and only added a couple more ingredients, other than that I made the recipe as written. Added chopped green chiles, because we love ’em. Cooked a half an onion with the other veggies and added 1 tsp. dried mustard. Seriously so many possibilities. I had left over cheese because my macaroni box had only 13 ounces in it. Thinking of making nachos tomorrow with the leftovers. My whole family loved it! Thank you so much for this delicious and nutritious recipe.
I don’t have yeast flakes. Will it still come out good if I don’t use them?
This has become a staple in my house. Even my kinda picky omnivore 12 year old loves it. Thanks for such a great recipe!
I am new to vegan eating, and I love using Pinterest to find different varieties of food. I came across this recipe, and I wasn’t sure what to think of this at first. When I had the cauliflower and carrots cooking, I was sure that I wasn’t going to like this because of the smell. I added all of the ingredients to the blender, and when I got a nice consistency I tried the sauce and was really surprised. I did sprinkle some daiya cheese on top with the panko crumbs. This dish is soooooooo good!!!!! I loved it, even my very picky son ate two plate fulls!!!! I didn’t tell him what is in it, because he might not eat it again lol. I am so glad I found this recipe and tried it, even though I was a bit scared lol.
Can i leave out the oil, and add more broth instead? Having a low fat diet, so was wondering if this is an option?
This Cauliflower Macaroni and “Cheese” is said to be Vegan comfort food, at its finest. Perhaps I am missing something here, but doesn’t pasta have eggs in it? I thought vegans didn’t eat eggs and I am looking for a good recipe for when a vegan friend comes for dinner.
Hi Laura,
Great question! Actually, there are many pasta varieties that contain no eggs. I’ve never had any trouble finding egg-free pasta at regular supermarkets. Just check the ingredients list to be sure. Best wishes!
Since becoming vegan two years ago I have tried several mac n cheese recipes. None compared to this one! Even my carnivore daughters and friends love it!
1 lb. pasta
1 1/4 cups non-dairy milk (I use Coconut or Almond, original flavor
1 cup filtered water
1 Tbsp. Lemon juice
2 Tbsp. Tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. turmeric
3 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. Sea salt
1/2 tsp. Dry mustard
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
pinch of Cayenne pepper (optional)
While pasta is cooking put all remaining ingredients in a blender, blend until mixed well, 1 minute. Drain pasta and return to pan. Pour ‘cheese’ sauce over and cook on medium-low heat until thickened, Stirring constantly. I add baby Kale, peas and/or shredded cabbage. You can sprinkle with panko crumbs. ENJOY!! This is so delicious and simple to make.
I really liked it overall. I think it would have been a bit bland had I not added more spices but over all it was great. If I were to do it again, I think I would use stock instead of water and add onion, garlic, and cumin to the sauce. I would also use a little less nutritional yeast.
This is Aamazing! My daughter surprised us in coming for dinner. She is a meat/dairy eating lover so when I said we were having macaroni and cheese, she had no idea. I would highly recommend this! I made it exactly as printed with no modifications.
Hi there! I made this tonight for my brother and myself. I typically like most vegan dishes so I wasn’t too nervous. It’s not easy mac, stouffers or Marie Calendars, but it tastes good and healthy. I only used 1/3 c of Nutritional Yeast. I wanted to conserve what I had and I didn’t want it to be too overpowering. I also added turmeric for taste. I will definitely keep this recipe around. Thank you. :)
This is awesome! I only used 1/3 cup nutritional yeast also, as my little one doesn’t like too much of it, but everyone loved it! I added a few other spices too, but just b/c I love spices!! Thanks for the recipe. I like it with potatoes too!
Made this yesterday for the first time. I baked it since I like the crispy pasta at the edges. It was okay but I really missed the tangy tast of using extra sharp cheddar cheese. Any suggestions?
Wow, this is good. And I don’t love nutritional yeast. I used 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp and it is perfect to my taste. Plus I added three carrots. Thank you very much! My husband loved it too. Now for the kids to try. We greatly appreciate your sharing. I only discovered your page today, and you know I subscribed and FB it!
I really like this recipe, but I usually find it’s too bland as is. I usually add more salt, onion powder and garlic powder, and probably an extra heap or two or nutritional yeast. Someone else mentioned tumeric, which I’ve thrown in. And I’ve added paprika.
I’ve made many variations of vegan mac and cheeze and I think this one is my favorite!!