Recipe

This Creamy Vegan Mac n' Cheese is Better Than the Real Thing

By Chloe Paglia at Spoon HQ

Macaroni and cheese has always been my favorite go-to dish since I was a kid. It's warm, gooey and rich. What else could anyone possibly want in a meal?

There's only one problem: mac and cheese usually has...Cheese. And as anyone who follows a vegan lifestyle will tell you, the dairy industry maintains practices that are problematic at best. Luckily, there are endless deliciously dairy-free recipes that won't leave you missing a thing, and this spicy vegan mac is one of them.

With a smooth-blended flavorful sauce packed full of onions, garlic, cashews and cumin, you'll take one bite and ask, "Cheese who?"

Creamy Vegan Mac and Cheese

  • Prep Time: 4 hrs
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 4 hrs 20 mins
  • Servings: 8
Ingredients
  • 14 ounce elbow macaroni
  • 1 cup soaked raw cashews
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth
  • 4 ounce canned green chiles
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 bunch cilantro to garnish optional

Photo by Chloe Paglia

Step 1

Soak cashews in room temperature water for 4-8 hours.

GIF by Chloe Paglia

Step 2

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

GIF by Chloe Paglia

Step 3

Sauté onion until translucent and add garlic, salt and pepper before removing from heat.

GIF by Chloe Paglia

Step 4

Add the cashews, onion mixture, and the rest of the ingredients (sans noodles) into a blender. Puree until smooth.

GIF by Chloe Paglia

Step 5

Pour into a sauce pan and let simmer until warm. Fold in macaroni so that noodles are evenly covered.

GIF by Chloe Paglia

Step 6

Serve and enjoy!

GIF by Chloe Paglia