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Creamy Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese Recipe Perfect for BBQ Gatherings

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A rich, creamy, and smoky dairy-free mac and cheese made with cashews and nutritional yeast, perfect for BBQs and crowd-pleasing side dishes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces elbow macaroni pasta, cooked al dente
  • 3/4 cup raw cashews (about 100 grams), soaked for at least 2 hours or overnight
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast (20 grams)
  • 1 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk (300 ml)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or dairy-free butter (optional)

Instructions

  1. Soak the cashews in warm water for at least 2 hours or overnight. For a quick soak, use hot water for 30 minutes.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook until just al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. Drain the soaked cashews and add to a blender. Add almond milk, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper. Blend on high until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes. Add more almond milk if sauce is too thick.
  4. Pour the sauce into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil or dairy-free butter if using. Stir constantly for about 5 minutes until sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
  5. Transfer cooked macaroni to a large mixing bowl. Pour hot sauce over pasta and stir gently to coat evenly.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed.
  7. Serve warm immediately.

Notes

Soak cashews properly for a creamy sauce; blend thoroughly to avoid grittiness. Avoid overcooking pasta to maintain texture. Adjust seasoning gradually as nutritional yeast can be salty. Reheat leftovers gently with a splash of plant milk to maintain creaminess.

Nutrition

Keywords: dairy-free mac and cheese, vegan mac and cheese, creamy mac and cheese, BBQ side dish, cashew cheese sauce, plant-based mac and cheese

Find it online: https://islatable.com/creamy-dairy-free-mac-and-cheese-recipe-perfect-for-bbq-gatherings/