Description
Everyone adores this rich and creamy stovetop healthy Mac and Cheese with cashew cream sauce. Readers agree "this recipe has it all...looks, texture, and taste!" The ultimate one-pot comfort food meal on the table in 25 minutes. Enjoy right out of the pot or bake with buttery breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Add broccoli for a dose of veg and serve with hot sauce!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 8 oz elbow pasta
- 4 cups broccoli florets, chopped (from 2 medium crowns broccoli)
- 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp fine sea salt (more to taste)
- 1/2 tsp turmeric (optional for yellow color)
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp hot sauce (like Frank's Red Hot)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice*
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- Optional: 2 cups spinach (or greens of choice)
Instructions
- Place cashews in a small bowl and cover with very hot water. Set aside.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. When 2-3 minutes are remaining, add broccoli. Once pasta is al dente, drain and return to pot.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt and cook for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add garlic powder, salt, turmeric, and paprika, stirring for a minute. Carefully transfer onion mixture to a blender.
- Add greens to same pan, sautéing over medium heat for a couple minutes or until wilted. Set aside.
- Add drained cashews, hot sauce, lemon juice, water, and nutritional yeast to blender (I used my Nutribullet) and blend until very smooth and creamy.
- Pour sauce into pot with pasta and broccoli. Stir in cooked greens if using. Taste and add salt if needed (I add another 1/4 tsp). I love serving with plenty of Frank's hot sauce! Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
Baked mac and cheese: Pour mac and cheese into baking dish of your choice sprayed with cooking spray. Whisk together 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs with 1 tbsp melted butter and sprinkle onto mac. Bake at 375F for 10 minutes, until golden and crispy!
*I like to use 2 1/2 tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 tbsp hot sauce for an extra kick and tang!