Name: Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 28 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 3 cup elbow macaroni ((12 oz/340g)); 1 tbsp oil (any oil works, I love olive oil here (12.5g)); 3 null garlic cloves (minced); 1 cup raw cashews (soaked in water overnight, then drained OR just easily boiled for 5 minutes*); 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp sea salt; 0.5 tsp ground black pepper; 1 tsp dry ground mustard; 1 tbsp lime juice (or juice of 1 lemon); 0.5 tbsp soy sauce (or liquid aminos or tamari or lite soy sauce or miso paste); 0.5 cup nutritional yeast; 2 tsp paprika; 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg; 1.5 cup vegan milk (you can use any, I love canned full fat coconut milk cause it's so creamy); 1 cup vegan shredded cheese (0.75 cup for the sauce, 0.25 cup up to any amount you'd like for the top (optional)); 1 cup breadcrumbs (gluten free if needed); null null salt & pepper to taste; 3 tbsp melted vegan butter (or oil)

Instructions

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1

Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
2

Prepare elbow macaroni (3 cup) according to package directions. Drain in a colander until ready to use.
3

In a large high-speed blender, add the raw cashews (1 cup), garlic cloves (3 clove), garlic powder (1 tsp), onion powder (1 tsp), sea salt (1 tsp), ground black pepper (0.5 tsp), dry ground mustard (1 tsp), lime juice (1 tbsp), soy sauce (0.5 tbsp), nutritional yeast (0.5 cup), paprika (2 tsp), ground nutmeg (0.25 tsp), vegan milk (1.5 cup) and vegan shredded cheese (0.75 cup) (cheddar is optional but adds great flavor).
4

Blend together for about minutes (3) on high speed, until sauce is completely smooth and incorporated. If needed, blend longer until smooth. Taste and add more [salt & pepper to taste] if necessary.
5

Add the [macaroni] to a cast iron skillet or other similarly sized oven-safe pot or container (about 8 to 9 inches). Pour the sauce over the [macaroni]. Stir to combine until fully coated.
6

In a small dish, mix breadcrumbs (1 cup), [salt & pepper to taste] and melted vegan butter (3 tbsp) with a small whisk or fork until combined. If using the remaining vegan shredded cheese (0.25 cup), gently mix it in here too. Sprinkle over the top of the Mac and Cheese, covering completely.
7

Bake for minutes (15) until the Mac and Cheese is set, then broil for a few minutes until the top is golden brown.
8

Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly then serve and enjoy!