Name: Vegan Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup Potato (diced) (1 medium); 1 cup Sweet potato (diced) (1 small/medium); 1/2 cup Carrot (diced) (1 medium); 1/4 cup Onion (chopped) (1/2 small); 1 clove Garlic; 1/3 cup Sunflower seed (raw, unsalted); 2 Tbsp Nutritional yeast; 1/2 tsp Salt; Pepper; 1 pinch Paprika; 1 cup Cooking water; 1 Tbsp Tapioca starch (optional); 1 Tbsp Olive oil; 3 cup Eggplant (diced) (1/2 medium); 3 cup Oyster mushroom (200g); 2 cloves Garlic; Salt; Pepper

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There are two types of Vegan Mac and Cheese Sauce recipes out there. One is made of different starchy vegetables and nooch (nutritional yeast), the other one is made of most probably cashew nuts, starch of any kind and nooch. Obviously, none of the above versions are an exact match for mac and cheese made of cow milk. However, if you change your expectations, you might in for a nice treat with this delicious, veggie-packed, nut-free (no cashew) vegan mac and cheese sauce recipe.

For a quick look watch our video or for full instructions jump to recipe card.

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This easy vegan mac and cheese sauce requires only 6-ingredients and a good blender or food processor. For our veggie version I actually used only one carrot, one potato, one sweet potato, half onion and one clove of garlic. From these I ended up with a vegan mac and cheese sauce for 6-8 servings. Easy and cheap that is what I call it. As you don’t need much, you can even do a sort of left-over version. You can use up any potatoes or carrots you don’t need for your more intricate main dinner course. 🙂

Looking for a healthy dinner idea? Check out this veggie-packed mac and cheese sauce. #mypureplants

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The other main ingredient is raw, unsalted sunflower seeds. These tiny seeds are packed with surprisingly lot of nutrients. Not to mention compared to cashews or almonds, they are on the cheap side.

According to Cronometer 1 cup of raw sunflower seeds contains an astonishing amount of good plant-based protein (approx. 30g) and healthy plant-based Omega-6 fat (approx. 33g). It is very rich in Vitamin E, B1, B3, B6 and folate and high in minerals like copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc.

Who knew? Read more about sunflower seeds in Healthline’s article about 6 healthy seeds.

Let’s start

This mac and cheese sauce is not only veggie-packed and cheap, but easy to make as well. Not that the original mac and cheese is extremely hard.

First, take two different pots. In one of the pots cook your veggies together until tender. While in the other pot cook your pasta as per instructions on its packaging.

When they are ready, add the cooked vegetables, the sunflower seeds, the nutritional yeast and the seasoning to a good blender or food processor. Blend them until smooth and the mac and cheese sauce is technically ready!

Take two

Now your pasta is cooked and your mac and cheese sauce is ready. The starchy vegetables and the sunflower seeds will give this version a creamy and smooth texture. Optionally, you can add a bit of tapioca starch to make the sauce a bit more gooey, but it is really up to you. The tapioca starch needs to be heated to activate. So add the cooked pasta, the sauce and the tapioca starch to a frying pan on medium heat and heat it up for a couple of minutes. There you go.

Going the extra mile

Now, you have a gooey, cheesy and creamy yellow mac and cheese sauce, which is already great on its own. But how about some topping. We garnished it with sauteed eggplant and oyster mushroom. Yummy!

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This easy mac and cheese sauce is vegan, vegetarian, nut-free and WFPB-friendly (whole foods plant-based). The sauce itself is gluten-free, but make sure to choose gluten-free pasta if it is important for your like this corn quinoa and rice fusilli or a more protein-packed chickpea pasta. I’ve never but love to try this gluten-free chia flour pasta.

What more you need to try them? If you’re ready, watch our short Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese Sauce instructions video on YouTube.

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Easy Vegan Mac and Cheese Sauce - 6-ingredients vegan mac and cheese sauce with sunflower seeds. It is not only veggie-packed and cheap, but easy to make as well.

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5 from 2 votes