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Vegan Chipotle mac and cheese. Roasted Tomato Chipotle Mac and Cheese with Cauliflower sauce. Vegan Soyfree Recipe. Can be Gluten-free and Nut-free. Jump to Recipe
I was thinking of posting a bread today, then decided to make some cheesy pasta for lunch instead and hence the post. mmmm.. mmmmm.. Most days my confort food is things like Gobi Aloo or daal chawal(daal and rice) or rajma chawal( red kidney beans curry and rice).. but there are days when I or hubbs get a pasta craving.
I did not even like mac and cheese before, but the vegan mac and cheese from Bang Bang Cafe (which is 1 block from my house) is delicious and off I went to the kitchen to make me some.
Hubbs and me both were never too fond of cheese and most of our pasta preps usually are a way to eat more veggies. But now with no need for the real cheese, the fresh creamy sauces can be taken to a whole new level with a little twist here and there!
This cheesy sauce feels light on the tummy, has cauliflower cream, some caramelized cherry tomatoes and onions, smoky chipotle pepper flakes and nutritional yeast for the cheese flavor. The mild smoky chipotle peppers and the roasted tomatoes make this one delicious sauce. Adjust the peppers, nutritional yeast, salt to taste. Make more or less sauce per preference.
I am out of elbows, so this is a colorful shells mac and cheese. Use gf pasta for a gf version.
Cherry tomatoes caramelizing with red onions below. sizzle!
Chipotle pepper flakes, Cauliflower and water added to the tomatoes..
Vegan Chipotle Mac and Cheese. Roasted Tomato Chipotle Mac n Cheese with Cauliflower sauce.
Vegan Chipotle mac and cheese. Roasted Tomato Chipotle Mac and Cheese with Cauliflower sauce. Vegan Soyfree Recipe. Can be Gluten-free and Nut-free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked Pasta, I used spinach and tomato shells
- 2 teaspoons organic canola oil
- 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, or regular chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion slices
- 1-2 teaspoons chipotle pepper flakes, to taste, add mroe later if needed
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder , or 2 cloves of garlic chopped
- 1/3 heaping cup grated Cauliflower
- 3/4 cup water, substitute half with non dairy milk for creamier sauce
- 1.5 Tablespoon ground raw cashew, or use other thickening options, a few Tablespoons cornstarch or flour for a nutfree sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast, (less or more to taste)
- Topping: 1 Tablespoon coarsely ground raw cashew or bread crumbs mixed with nutritional yeast flakes to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to instruction.
- In a large pan, add 2 teaspoons oil and heat on medium high.
- Drop in halved cherry tomatoes, or cubed regular tomatoes and onion slices.
- Arrange them in one layer and cook for 8-10 minutes until caramelized to your preference. (You can also roast the tomatoes in the oven at 450 degrees f / 230ºc for 20+ minutes. * To make oil-free, dry roast the tomatoes and onions in the oven till slightly caramelized. Or you can cook them on medium heat in evoo for a non scorched taste. )
- Add chipotle pepper flakes, garlic powder and black pepper to the pan and mix for a few seconds.
- Add the grated cauliflower, salt and water and bring to a boil. (add more grated cauliflower for thicker sauce. You can also use small chopped cauliflower. Cover and cook till tender)
- Let the mixture cool a bit. (If using flour or starch, add to the boiling mixture and mix well).
- Blend this mixture with ground cashew and nutritional yeast, into a smooth paste and return to the pan.
- Add the pasta, toss, taste and adjust salt, spice, nutritional yeast, mix and bring to a boil on low-medium.(2 minutes)
- Remove from heat. Let it sit for a minute before serving.
- Top with coarsely ground cashew or bread crumbs mixed in with nutritional yeast for a cheesy sprinkle or any non dairy cheese before serving.
- You can also add roasted veggies, blanched broccoli or greens to make this a complete meal
Notes
Nutritional values based on one serving
Nutrition
Calories: 246kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 349mg, Potassium: 325mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 180IU, Vitamin C: 18.6mg, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 1.9mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this recipe? Rate and comment below!
Some Smiles for the rest of the week.
Chewie, Our adopted fluffster: Hey, I just met you..
Simo, our first foster .. I hope he is being loved and cuddled.. I cried for 3 days when he got adopted..
Tuggie: Our third foster (rescue from a puppy mill).. he pooped in my jacket pocket :). he found a great home with a shih tzu mix to help him learn hid doggy ways.
Chewie loves to get a chest rub!
4 out 5 of our foster dogs(2009-2010), were from Death row dogs in CA. They were picked on the day they were to be put to sleep and put on a plane to Seattle. Can you believe that!
These pretty faces, super adoptable breeds, even puppies, are euthanized in high kill CA shelters with kill rates as high as 60%. #AdoptDontShop
That really looks awesome! I will be definitely trying it out.
Thanks Karen! do let me know how it works out!
That sounds really tasty! I can’t eat cheese because of a dairy allergy, so this would be great! Thanks for sharing!
Do let me know if you do try!:)
I haven’t had Mac n’ Cheese in years! It always sounds way too heavy for me these days, but I love that you’ve lightened it up a bit with cauliflower, and then added those gorgeous little tomatoes! Looks so good!
I love all your little fur babies! I want so badly to foster dogs, like, only 9 or 10 or so. 😉 My Samantha, however, is an old crotchety lady and not interested in having canine roommates,. Oh well- I’m happy to know there’s people like you taking them in. 🙂
i know. the only reason i want a bigger house(apart from the need for a bigger kitchen and an extra room for photography, which is not so urgent) is that i want a yard where i can foster a bunch of pups all the time!
yup the sauce is quite easy on the tummy!
yum yum yum richa. though i do not like pasta, but i can the one you have made here. your pets are simply adorable and cute.
Thanks Dassana. my dad doesnt like pasta either, but he eats some when its spiced up and has a ton of veggies:)
Very interesting recipe. I love mac and cheese and sometimes, I want to have some cheese free version handy for kids with allergies. thanks for sharing.
Thanks Srimathi. Hope this works out for you!
This sounds really good! I like that you added cauliflower to keep it creamy but light! And chipotle is always a good flavour in my books.
Your puppies are just adorable. I’d come over and hug and squeeze them any day 🙂
i know right.. chipotle works everytime. i like light sauces too! my pom is tired of my sueezes.. but he doesnt mind squeezes from new faces.. so drop on by.:)
Cool I love the idea of using a cauliflower cream…must try this.
Thank! do let me know when you do!
wow very nice recipe…..luv it! cute pets!
“SYF&HWS – Cook With SPICES” Series
“South Indian Cooking” (SIC) # 1 (July 15th to Sep 15th)
“Cooking with Whole Foods” – BROWN RICE (June 10th to Aug 10th)
Thanks Anu!
love the addition of cauliflower for vegan creaminess in pasta. Looks absolutely divine.
Thanks. yep the cauli and cashew make this a wonderful and flexible sauce.
this mac and cheeze looks delicious! i love the little bits of “cheese” throughout the pasta. it reminds me of parmigiano cheese! this is such a great alternative to vegan mac and cheeze recipes full of oil/earth balance, flour, etc. DEFINITELY giving this a try 😉
and i love the pics of chewie and your foster children. you have such a beautiful soul, richa <4
Let me know when you try it! i dont like to use most of the alternate processed stuff if i can help it… the coarse flavord cashew is soft enough to pass on as a quick parmigiano. Though i dont really remember the orginal cheese taste anymore.. i am super happy with this creamy concoction.:)
i need to start fostering again. though it is really tough physically and mentally, i miss seeing the faces go from sad to happy:)