Description
This Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese recipe is a nutritious twist on the classic comfort food, incorporating roasted vegetables blended into a creamy, flavorful cheese sauce. Perfect for sneaking in extra veggies, it offers a wholesome, dairy-free option with whole wheat pasta and a rich blend of spices and tahini.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Spices
- 1 yellow or white onion, chopped
- 3 large garlic cloves
- 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 2 cups butternut squash, chopped
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp sea salt
Cheese Sauce
- 3 tbsp tahini
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 3 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
Pasta
- 16 oz whole wheat macaroni, cooked
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Veggies: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the whole wheat macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water to use later in the cheese sauce.
- Roast Vegetables: Place the chopped onion, garlic cloves, cauliflower florets, red bell pepper, butternut squash, and carrot on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with paprika, garlic powder, and sea salt. Roast in the oven for 40 minutes, until all the vegetables are soft and tender.
- Blend the Cheese Sauce: Once the roasted vegetables have cooled enough to handle, transfer them to a high-speed blender. Add vegetable broth, tahini, coconut milk, reserved pasta water, hot sauce, and nutritional yeast. Blend until smooth and creamy, adding more vegetable broth as needed to achieve desired sauce consistency. Taste and adjust salt to preference.
- Combine and Serve: Pour the desired amount of the cheese sauce over the cooked macaroni and stir well to coat. Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture. Any leftover sauce can be repurposed as a flavorful dip for nachos or crackers.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help thin the sauce and improve texture.
- You can adjust the hot sauce quantity to control the heat level.
- This recipe is dairy-free, making it suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals.
- Use whole wheat macaroni for added fiber and nutrients.
- Leftover sauce freezes well and can be thawed for later use as a dip or sauce.
