Chef Chloe's Best-Ever Vegan Baked Macaroni And Cheese

4.5 from 11 ratings

First breaking onto the culinary scene as the only vegan chef to capture the top prize on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, Chef Chloe Coscarelli has since been recognized for bringing vegan cuisine to mainstream as an award-winning chef, successful restaurateur, and best-selling cookbook author. Debunking the myth that vegan cooking is bland and visually unenticing, Chloe shares her bright, colorful and tasteful recipes using fresh, healthy ingredients. She has published three best-selling cookbooks, Chloe’s Kitchen, Chloe’s Vegan Desserts and Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen. Learn more about Chef Chloe at her website www.chefchloe.com "I love the sound of mac ‘n’ cheese. There’s nothing like the sweet sound of suctioning noodles as you mix them with the cheesy sauce. Of course, the taste is even better. Mmmm, brings me back to my childhood when mac ‘n’ cheese gooey goodness was a way of life!The consistency of this sauce is enhanced by a roux, a mixture of fat and flour that is cooked over low heat until it is bubbling and the raw starchy taste has cooked out. Roux is used to thicken soups, stews, and sauces."-Chef Chloe Coscarelli

Servings

servings

Ingredients

1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup vegan margarine
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour)
3 cup soy, almond, or rice milk
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
2 tablespoon tomato paste
2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon agave
2 tablespoon seasoned breadcrumbs

Directions

Make-Ahead Tip:
Unbaked macaroni and cheese can be refrigerated up to 2 days in advance until ready to bake.
1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9- x13-inch pan.
2) Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions. Drain and return to pot.
3) Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, make a roux or paste by whisking the margarine and flour over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add nondairy milk, yeast, tomato paste, salt, and garlic powder to the saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking frequently.
4) Reduce heat to low and let simmer until the sauce thickens. Adjust seasoning to taste and stir in lemon juice and agave. Toss noodles with the sauce and transfer to the prepared pan.
5) Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top of the pasta and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and crisp. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.