Indulge in a tantalizing culinary journey with our exquisite Vegan Thai Mac N' Cheese, a harmonious blend of East-meets-West flavors. This innovative dish combines the comforting familiarity of classic mac and cheese with the vibrant spices and exotic ingredients of Thai cuisine. Immerse your taste buds in a symphony of textures and flavors, from the creamy, cashew-based sauce to the tender macaroni and the medley of colorful vegetables. Accompany your main course with a delightful Thai-inspired side dish of crispy tofu satay skewers, marinated in aromatic coconut milk and spices, then grilled to perfection. For a refreshing and tangy complement, prepare a zesty cucumber salad with a spicy peanut dressing, balancing the richness of the mac and cheese and satay. Complete your culinary adventure with a sweet and luscious dessert – our delectable mango sticky rice, featuring glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and served with fresh mango slices and a drizzle of sweet coconut sauce. Each recipe promises an explosion of flavors, creating a memorable and authentic Thai dining experience right in your own kitchen.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
VEGAN MAC AND CHEESE
Many creamy vegan pasta recipes call for an arsenal of expensive ingredients, but this one relies on more approachable ones, like cashews and almond milk for richness, nutritional yeast for tang and soy sauce for complex saltiness. Sautéed onions do double duty: They serve as a thickener and help offset the sweetness of the cashews. This simple stovetop pasta is wonderful on its own, but feel free to add roasted vegetables, fresh herbs, spices, harissa or hot sauce. For a quick-baked version worthy of Thanksgiving dinner, pile the prepared mac and cheese into a casserole dish, top with panko and more nutritional yeast, and broil for a few minutes until golden brown.
Provided by Alexa Weibel
Categories dinner, weekday, pastas, main course, side dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
- Meanwhile, add the cashews to a large nonstick skillet and heat over medium, stirring frequently, until fragrant, toasty and slightly golden, about 4 minutes. Transfer cashews to a blender and add the almond milk. Wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
- Add the oil to the skillet and heat over medium. Add the onion, garlic, onion powder, ground turmeric and mustard powder, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until onions are very tender, 8 to 10 minutes, lowering the heat as necessary to avoid scorching. Remove from the heat, stir in 1/2 cup nutritional yeast and the tamari, then transfer to the blender.
- Blend the cashew mixture on high until thick and creamy, about 2 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed. (This works best with a high-power blender, but any blender will work - just keep blending the mixture 1 to 2 more minutes after the mixture looks creamy; it will emulsify further.) You should have about 1 1/2 cups.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water. Drain pasta, then return cooked pasta to the pot. Stir in the cashew cream, then add the pasta cooking water 1/4 cup at a time until you achieve desired sauciness. Season to taste with salt, pepper and additional nutritional yeast, if desired. Serve immediately. (The sauce thickens significantly as it sits. If it starts to coagulate, or if you have any leftover macaroni and cheese, stir in a splash of the remaining pasta cooking water to loosen.)
- If you'd like a little crunch on top, prepare the optional panko topping: Heat the broiler. In a small bowl, add the panko, olive oil and 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast. Pinch the mixture together gently to combine thoroughly; season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the prepared macaroni to a lightly oiled 9-by-13-inch baking dish, arrange in an even layer and sprinkle the panko mixture on top, if using. Transfer to the oven on the shelf nearest to the broiler and broil until just golden on top, about 2 minutes. (The panko toasts quickly, so you'll want to keep an eye on it.) Serve immediately.
THE BEST EVER VEGAN MAC 'N' CHEESE RECIPE BY TASTY
Whether you're lactose intolerant or just looking to cut back on dairy, this creamy, dreamy mac stands up to the real thing. Made with velvety cashew milk and roasted garlic, you'll be going back for seconds and thirds.
Provided by Rachel Gaewski
Categories Sides
Time 5h40m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Add the cashews to a medium bowl and cover with warm water by 1 inch (2 ½ cm). Soak for 3-4 hours, until the cashews are softened and plump, then drain.
- While the cashews are soaking, make the roasted garlic: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cut off the top ½ inch (1 ¼ cm) of the head of garlic and drizzle the exposed cloves with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Replace the top of the head of garlic and wrap tightly in foil. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until the cloves are easily pierced with a fork. Unwrap the garlic and let cool completely. Once cooled, squeeze all of the cloves from their skins.
- Add the soaked cashews, roasted garlic cloves, and cold water to a high-powered blender. Blend on high speed until completely smooth. 30-60 seconds. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a 12-inch (30 G) cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the panko, paprika, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Stir with a spatula to coat the bread crumbs in the oil. Toast, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes, until the bread crumbs are lightly golden brown. Transfer the bread crumbs to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the skillet.
- In the same skillet, melt together the vegan butter and remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until fragrant but not browned. Whisk in the flour, making sure there are no clumps. Cook the roux for 3-4 minutes, whisking continuously, until the flour is golden in color and fragrant.
- Add the blended cashew mixture to the skillet and whisk well to combine with the roux. Add the nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, pepper, and the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes, until slightly thickened. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and pool when drizzled, but not so thick that it is gloppy. If the cheese sauce is too thick, add more water, 2 tablespoons at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Add the elbow noodles to the sauce and toss until well coated.
- Sprinkle the toasted bread crumbs on top of the pasta in an even layer.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling around the edges of the skillet and the bread crumbs are deep golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh minced parsley and serve.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 615 calories, Carbohydrate 83 grams, Fat 23 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 17 grams, Sugar 4 grams
Tips:
- Use a good quality vegan cheese: This will make a big difference in the flavor of your mac and cheese. Look for a cheese that is creamy and flavorful, and that melts well.
- Cook the pasta al dente: This means that the pasta should be cooked until it is just tender, but still has a slight bite to it. This will help to prevent the pasta from becoming mushy when you add the cheese sauce.
- Make sure the cheese sauce is thick and creamy: You can do this by adding more nutritional yeast or cornstarch, or by simmering the sauce for a few minutes until it thickens.
- Add your favorite toppings: Once your mac and cheese is cooked, you can add your favorite toppings. Some popular options include cooked vegetables, chopped nuts, and bread crumbs.
Conclusion:
Vegan Thai mac and cheese is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover rice. With its creamy, cheesy sauce and flavorful spices, this dish is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.
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