Mac No Cheese
Arguably better than real mac and cheese, but I’ll let you be the judge of that!
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
2.5c butternut squash (1cm diced)
1tbsp olive oil
1tsp smoked paprika
180g smoked streaky bacon (finely diced) *roughly 6-7 strips of bacon
500g macaroni
1tbsp flakey sea salt
No Cheese Sauce
1/3c nutritional yeast
1/2c natural cashews (soaked)
1/4c pasta water
2tbsp olive oil
1/2c almond milk
1/4tsp turmeric
1/2tsp salt
1/2tsp garlic powder
3/4tsp onion powder
1tsp fresh cracked pepper
Optional Crispy Topping
1c panko bread crumbs
1/2c parmigiano reggiano
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan-forced). Chop the pumpkin into cubes, then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with paprika. Spread the cubes on a baking tray and roast for about 20 minutes, or until soft.
Fill a large pot with water, add sea salt, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, following the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Finely dice the streaky bacon and cook it in a frying pan over medium-high heat until crispy, creating bacon bits. Transfer to a plate with paper towel to absorb excess fat and set aside.
Add the roasted pumpkin and all the sauce ingredients to a blender. Blend on high until smooth and well combined. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Pour the sauce over the cooked macaroni and stir to coat evenly. Mix in the crispy bacon bits. Serve as is, or if you would like a crispy topping, follow the next step.
Preheat the oven to 200°C (roast). Transfer the pasta to a casserole dish. In a small bowl, mix together breadcrumbs and parmesan, sprinkle over the pasta. Bake for 5-10 minutes, or until the topping is golden and crispy.
Extra Info
This recipe has been created with friends and family in mind, it can be easily adjusted to avoid intolerances like milk & egg or catered to different diets like vegan/vegetarian.
Soaking Cashews - This isn't neccesary but if you have the extra time soak cashews for a minimum of 4 hours before making; this will create a creamier texture to your sauce.
Almond Milk - This can be swapped for regular dairy milk or any alternative milk of your preference.
Bacon - Bacon is not a primary ingredient and can be removed if you do not eat pork or are vegan/vegetarian.
