Vegan Jalapeno Mac and Cheese Recipe

vegan jalapeno mac and cheese recipe in white bowl

Mains, Recipes | February 7, 2016 | By

Before we get to the Jalapeno Mac and Cheese recipe, I want to get one thing straight… I never thought I would live a completely plant-based lifestyle.

That being said, vegetarianism was easy-peasy! I never enjoyed the taste of meat. I simply switched out proteins, dressing the meal up exactly the same. I felt renewed! Digestive woes had begun to subdue, and I lost some excess body fat.

vegan whole wheat macaroni noodlesvegan mac and cheese ingredients

Unfortunately, it was still normal for me to binge eat entire boxes of Cheez-Its (sorry mom!). Each time being reminded of why I never wanted to be a vegan. I grew up smothering cheese on everything!
I’m talking about the giant bags of Costco brand “Mexican Blend” in our fridge 100% of the time!

Turns out, cheese is chock full of naturally occurring chemicals called Casomorphins. These cause a “morphine-like addiction” with symptoms of “sedation, sleep induction, and depression“. This completely explains the feeling of physical addiction. It feels like deprivation at first, but after a few short weeks I was free of the strong desire to smother it on everything.
Going vegan would have been way less intimidating if I had known beforehand!

overhead vegan jalapeno mac and cheese

 

vegan jalapeno mac and cheese

Long story short…

I still love the taste of cheese, especially if I have the munchies 😉 ! Nothing is worse than a bad Vegan Mac and Cheese recipe makeover. It’s practically an insult to call the that typically bland, goopy mess “Mac N Cheese”!! This is why I am completely ecstatic to share this Vegan Jalapeno Mac and Cheese recipe. The creamy, cheesyness of this recipe has yet to be beat! The nutritional yeast and spices do an excellent job turning the soaked cashews into a thick, creamy “cheese” sauce. Jalapenos complete the recipe by adding the perfect amount of heat!

The recipe is actually my partner’s, and luckily the heat is completely adjustable. His recipe originally included one Jalapeno (seeds included) and I could barely tolerate the heat. He stealthily increased the amount each time. Months later I asked why it seemed to be a tad bit hotter, he informed me that a full six jalapeños were used. Woah!

Vegan Jalapeno Mac and Cheese Recipe

Prep Time4 hours
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time4 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 6 -8 Servings
Author: Nick @ ServingRealness.com

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw cashews soaked 4-6 hours (or overnight)
  • 10-12 oz whole wheat macaroni noodles
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth low-sodium
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1-6 fresh jalapeños with seeds (stems removed)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • oil for sautéing and greasing
  • bread crumbs and cheese substitute for topping optional

Instructions

  • Soak cashews for 4-6 hours, or overnight
    soaked raw cashews
  • Preheat oven to 375°
  • Boil macaroni for 5-6 minutes (we don't want it to overcook!)
  • Sauté the onion until translucent
  • Add the soaked (and drained) cashews, cooked onion, vegetable broth, cornstarch, and spices to a high-speed blender
    vegan mac and cheese in blender
  • Process until smooth and creamy
    blended vegan mac and cheese sauce
  • Add the half-cooked macaroni to a baking dish lightly greased with olive oil
  • Pour the sauce mixture over macaroni, and stir to coat noodles
    pouring vegan mac and cheese sauce
  • Finish with the optional bread crumbs and cheeze
    tossing the cheese on jalapeno mac and cheese
  • Bake for 15 minutes, you'll see the mixture bubbling nicely
  • Let cool before devouring!
    vegan mac and cheese

Notes

*I opted for low-sodium Vegetable Broth and completely Organic ingredients
*Start with one jalapeno, feel free to deseed if necessary!

nick abell serving realnessAlso, despite the hesitation, I just celebrated my five-year veganniversary. I have never been so happy in my life 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

2 Comments

  1. Keith @ How's it Lookin?

    February 10, 2016 at 10:28 am

    This looks great. I like the addition of the cashews. Thanks

    Reply
    • Nick

      February 10, 2016 at 11:03 am

      Thanks! The cashews are definitely the reason the sauce is so incredibly creamy 🙂

      Reply

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