Mac & Cheez

Whether it’s a kid’s favorite, holiday side dish, or dinner time staple, macaroni and cheese is on most family dinner tables at one time or another. Here’s a delicious plant-based version.

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Print Recipe

Mac & Cheez

Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Servings: 8 servings

Equipment

  • blender

Ingredients

  • 2 cups potatoes peeled and diced
  • 1 cup carrots diced
  • 1/2 cup onion chopped
  • 2 cups veggie broth can use the broth from cooking the vegetables
  • 1 cup cashews
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 16 ounces pasta elbow, rotini, penne, farfalle
  • 1 bell pepper red
  • 2 green onions chopped
  • 1/4 cup vegan parmesan

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, per package directions. Drain, rinse, and put back into the pot.
  • Add the potatoes, carrots, and onions to a pan of boiling water. Cook 6-8 minutes until soft. Drain, reserving 2 cups of the cooking water.
  • Add the cooked vegetables, the cooking water, the cashews, yeast, and seasonings to a blender, and blend until creamy and smooth. This is the cheez sauce. Pour over the pasta.
  • Sauté the bell pepper and green onion for a few minutes. Mix into the pasta & sauce.
  • Transfer the mac & cheez to a serving bowl and top with vegan parm.

Notes

I usually make this full cheez recipe and use half of it with 8 ounces of pasta; I freeze the other half of the recipe.
Also, when I sauté the red bell pepper, I will add other vegetables like broccoli florets or chopped zucchini.

Tofu Nuggets

crispy tofu nuggets
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
resting time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Print Recipe

Crispy Tofu Nuggets

So easy yet a family-friendly dish. Serve with a toothpick for dipping, or add to stir fry.
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese, Vegan
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tofu extra firm
  • 1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs read the label; Japanese panko crumbs are usually vegan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Remove tofu from packaging and wrap with paper towels. Put it on a plate, top it with another plate, add a heavy object to press water out of the tofu. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
  • Unwrap the tofu and cut into about 40 cubes. Put into a bowl, add the tamari, and stir to coat. Let sit for 10-20 minutes.
  • Mix breadcrumbs and seasonings. Add to the marinated tofu and stir to coat evenly.
  • Place the tofu cubes on a non-stick baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

Notes

These delicious nuggets deserve a special dipping sauce, like this one: combine 1/4 cup spicy brown mustard, 2 tablespoons vegan mayo, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon soy sauce.