Easy creamy vegan butternut squash mac and cheese that is also gluten free, soy free and oil free. Ready in under the 30 minutes, made with whole food ingredients, perfect for a weeknight dinner or to grace your Thanksgiving holiday table.
Soak the raw cashews in hot water for 20 minutes before making the sauce. (If you have a powerful blender like a Vitamin you can skip the soaking process).
3/4 cup raw cashews
Bring a medium stock pot filled with water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and the cubed butternut squash. Cook until tender about 10 minutes or so. Reserve one cup of the water then using a slotted spoon transfer the cooked butternut pieces to the blender. ( I like to save this water and cook the pasta in it).
1 lb butternut squash
Preheat a skillet over medium heat and sautee the onion in a light drizzle of olive oil (or water for WFPB) until softened and it begins to get some color. Transfer to the bowl of the blender together with the cooked butternut, cashews, mustard, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powder, turmeric, sea salt, miso paste and 1 cup pf the reserved water. Blend on the hot liquid setting until silky smooth and creamy.
1 lb butternut squash, 1 yellow onion, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1/4 cup nutritional yeast, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 2 tsp dijon mustard, 1.5 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/2 tbsp chickpea or white miso paste, 1 cup water
Meanwhile in the same water you cooked the butternut boil the pasta according to the instructions on the box until al dente. Drain and toss with the butternut squash cheese sauce until coated all over. Serve hot with freshly chopped parsley or onion chives and a pinch of red chili flakes for heat.
1 lb macaroni pasta
Notes
How can I thin out the sauce?Use a splash of veggie stock or plain plant-based milk of your choosing if desired.
How do I make this nut - free ?Simply replace the cashews in the recipe with a handful of sunflower seeds, sesame seeds or 1/4 cup of tahini.
Can I skip the nutritional yeast? Sure, you can leave it out altogether or replace it with 1 tablespoon of miso paste.
Can I use coconut milk to make the sauce instead of water? Yes if you like the flavor go for it but keep in mind the coconut flavor will surely come through in the final dish and alter the profile.
Do I have to soak the cashews? Not if you are using a high powered blender like the Vitamix. Otherwise make sure to soak them in hot water for 20 minutes before making the sauce.
Butternut Substitutions - If you simply don't fancy butternut squash, feel free to replace it with equal parts sweet potato or your favorite pumpkin instead.