10 Minute High Protein Mac and Cheese Recipe (Vegan)
This simple recipe makes the ultimate comfort food– High Protein Mac and Cheese! An easy way to make a vegan version of everyone’s favorite dish. Complete with a cheesy, creamy sauce, protein-packed noodles, and delicious flavor. Easy to meal prep or make for a weeknight dinner, this 10-minute recipe is perfect for the whole family!
Servings: 2 -3 servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta of choice I used chickpea based elbow shaped pasta
- 1 1/4 cup silken tofu
- 1/3 cup carrots diced and steamed (more if desired)
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp white miso paste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp white pepper optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- garnish
- cracked black pepper
- chives
- salt and pepper to taste
- extra vegan cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot, prepare pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, start to prepare your sauce.
- To prep sauce, add all ingredients to a blender and blend until completely smooth, scraping down sides if needed. Taste and adjust seasoning and spices until desired result is achieved.
- When pasta is ready, strain and return to pot over low heat. Add sauce and fold until sauce is heated, and evenly distributed. Add garnish of choice and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Secrets to Success
- It's important that you use silken tofu when preparing this recipe. Make sure the package of tofu explicitly reads "silken." The texture should be something similar to a pudding--difficult to pick up with your hands and super duper soft. You can find tofu at Whole Foods Market, most health food stores, and any Asian grocery store (where you'll probably also get the best price!).
- When it comes to a classic, nostalgic recipe like mac and cheese, I think a big key to success is keeping true to the way you used to enjoy it. I've said it before, but visuals matter, and flavors do too! Did you always garnish your mac with chives? Perhaps extra parmesan cheese or bacon? Peas, spinach, or other veggies? Hot sauce? How about truffle? Well, I recommend you do the same to your vegan mac. Throw chives, truffle, vegan parmesan, vegan cheddar cheese, or a little bit of vegan bacon on top--whatever you need to do to recreate the feeling.
- If you don’t have a blender, a food processor will work as well.
- For the same reason, we added the carrots to the sauce because colour matters! And finally, I chose to use elbow noodles because they're the classic macaroni shape. Use your favorite type of pasta!