The short answer
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. When you come back late from work, feeling too lazy to cook but needing something to cheer you up, mac and cheese is there for you! It's easy to make, super comforting, and only requires a few staple ingredients you already have. Even though traditional mac and cheese is baked, we all know we don't have time for lazy nights 😴. My stovetop version is made in just 20 minutes.
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The Only Two Ingredients You Need for Mac and Cheese
The first ingredient you need is the pasta. As the dish suggests, we are using macaroni. You can also use any pasta with holes, as it helps to coat well and ensures each piece carries a good amount of comforting cheesy sauce.
Which brings me to the second ingredient: the Mornay sauce. This sauce is basically a béchamel sauce with added cheese. In this plant-based version, I use nutritional yeast. It's cheesy, flavorful, and enough to make your pasta delicious.
Elevating Your Mac and Cheese
Add an Acidic Touch
To make the sauce extra delicious, adding a tangy note and balancing the nutritional yeast, I add a splash of balsamic vinegar and apple cider vinegar.
Give It a Vibrant Yellow Color
I like to add a teaspoon of turmeric to give it the typical yellow color of mac and cheese.
Add a Ladle of Pasta Water to the Sauce
When the pasta is ready, add the pasta and a ladle of the pasta water to the sauce. Stir well. This step will make the dish extremely creamy, turning it into the ultimate comfort food.
Add some greens.
The easiest option to add greens is to mix peas and spinach directly into the sauce as it cooks.
Personally, I prefer to pair the dish with a simple green side salad. It takes just 2 minutes to prepare and provides a refreshing contrast. When plating, I also add fresh chives to brighten the dish.
Feel free to be creative and try different greens, you can’t go wrong!
The Recipe
Stovetop Vegan Mac and Cheese
Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food for lazy nights. With all the ingredients already at home, you only need 20 minutes to make it!
Prep time
5
mins
Cooking Time
15
mins
Servings
4
people
Ingredients
- 400g Macaroni Pasta
- 15grams Olive oil
- 15grams Flour
- Unsweetened Soy Milk
- 5 tbsp Nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp Vinegar
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook 400g of macaroni pasta according to the package in salty water. Keep them al dente.
- Warm up 2 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan, then add 2 tbsp of flour and whisk to create a white roux.
- Gradually add the unsweetened soy milk, whisking continuously until you achieve a smooth texture.
- Stir in 5 tbsp of nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, 1 tsp of turmeric, and any other spices you fancy.
- Adjust the texture by adding more soy milk if needed.
- Transfer the cooked pasta into the sauce along with 1 cup of pasta water. Stir well until the pasta is well coated.
Notes
- Serve with a simple green side salad
- Optionally, add some peas and spinach for more greens.
