Vegan Mac with Cauliflower Béchamel
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
You could also add your favorite vegetables to this casserole.
Author:
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
pasta
  • 12 ounces of cooked pasta (4-5 cups cooked)
béchamel
  • 1½ tablespoons vegan butter (+ 3 teaspoons for topping)
  • 1½ tablespoons flour
  • 1½ cups of non-dairy milk
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1½ tablespoons dry yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • ½ teaspoon red cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
cauliflower
  • 1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 1½ tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Breadcrumbs
  • 5 slices of vegan bread, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
Garnish
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to directions keeping it somewhat firm and not mushy.
  2. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
  3. Spread cauliflower in a single layer on a baking sheet lined in parchment paper or aluminum foil.
  4. Place baking sheet on the middle rack of the oven and cook for 30-35 minutes until soft and lightly brown, occasionally stirring. Put cooked cauliflower, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper into a food processor and process until the cauliflower becomes tiny crumbles. Set aside.
  5. Rinse and dry food processor and place cut bread and garlic into it and process until you have breadcrumbs. Set aside.
  6. Lower heat to 350 F
  7. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan heat the flour and butter until smooth and bubbly but not brown.
  8. Slowly whisk in the non-dairy milk. Add the dry mustard and bay leaf. Continue whisking until it becomes a thick sauce. Remove from heat. Remove the bay leaf. Add the ground cauliflower, salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg and red cayenne to the béchamel.
  9. Combine cooked macaroni and béchamel sauce and stir until all the pasta is coated evenly.
  10. Put into a 9 x 9 casserole dish that has been lightly greased with vegan butter.
  11. Spread breadcrumbs over the top. Dot with 3 teaspoons of vegan butter.
  12. Put it in the oven at 350 degrees F and cook for 20-25 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Recipe by Ordinary Vegan at https://ordinaryvegan.net/vegan-mac-n-cheese/