Creamy, comforting and flavourful dairy-free Mac & Cheese made with pumpkin or squash puree! The addition of kale gives a touch of green but is totally optional.
It's Autumn and you know what that means? It's pumpkin time.
You might not think it, but it turns out pumpkin is the perfect addition to Mac ‘n’ Cheese. It’s smooth, creamy and adds a sweet but earthy flavour to create the silkiest, tastiest pasta sauce!
Now, I know I called this “Mac ‘n’ Cheese” but there isn’t any actual cheese in this. Not even any fake cheese.
But somehow, this combination of ingredients creates a familiar, cheesy taste and texture.
Ingredients
- Pumpkin - You can use a tin of pumpkin puree or you can make your own using fresh or leftover pumpkin.
- Dairy-free milk - I use coconut milk here because it's rich and creamy, but oat or soy milk works great too.
- Olive oil
- Corn starch - Or arrowroot powder
- Pasta - You can use classic dried macaroni or any other small pasta shapes you prefer.
- Seasonings - Nutmeg, turmeric, onion and garlic powder, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Mustard
- Nutritional yeast - For a cheesy flavour
- (optional) Kale - for some added green goodness
Making the sauce
- Starting with cooking the oil in a pan and dissolving the starch into it, to create a roux.
- The pumpkin, milk and seasonings are all added and cooked to create a smooth, thick, creamy texture.
- Then you simply cook the pasta, as you would normally, stir the sauce into it, adding some cooked kale if you want some added greens.
- That's it! You now have a super rich, creamy but healthy vegan mac and cheese.
More Vegan Pasta Recipes
One-Pot Courgette, Lemon & Pea Pasta
📖 Recipe
Vegan Pumpkin Mac 'n' Cheese
An autumnal twist on a classic. Super creamy mac 'n' "cheese" with pumpkin and kale.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp cornstarch, or arrowroot powder
- 120 ml / ½ cup full-fat coconut milk, or other unsweetened dairy-free milk
- 150 g / 5 oz pumpkin puree*
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- A pinch of salt & pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes*
- 200 g / 7 oz dried pasta
- 100 g kale, washed and chopped (optional)
To serve
- 2 tbsp mixed seeds, (optional)
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a medium saucepan on medium heat. Stir in the starch and mix with a wooden spoon until dissolved.
- Stir in the milk until well combined and it begins to thicken. Then mix in the rest of the ingredients, except for the pasta. Stir until you have a thick, glossy, smooth mixture and remove from the heat.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the packet's instructions until al dente.
- Optional: During the last two minutes of cooking, add the kale to the water.
- Drain the pasta and kale, if using, then mix with the sauce for a minute until well combined. Top with the seed mix and nutritional yeast (for an extra cheesy flavour) and serve!
Notes
*You can buy this tinned or use home cooked pumpkin or squash, mashed or blended
*Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast, used to give a cheesy flavour to dishes. It can be found in most supermarkets, health stores or online.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size bowlAmount Per Serving Calories 261Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 5mgSodium 88mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 4gSugar 6gProtein 10g
Anna says
My partner and I have recently moved from a vegetarian to fully vegan diet and are always looking for great recipes. This one is delicious and so easy. Thank you!!
Aimee says
So pleased you liked it, Anna!
Danny says
I tried this yesterday as an alternative to my usual staple of pasta or noodles and have now found a new comfort food. So simple to make and super satisfying. It tasted so good I could've merrily polished off my husband's portion if he was to have left any and still wanted more.
Aimee says
Makes me very happy to hear that! Thank you, Danny :)
Meera says
Absolutely delicious!! And garlic and onion powder will now be a staple in my spice rack. Such an easy way to add flavour.
The recipe was great however I found the pasta to sauce ratio sas off for me. Not nearly enough sauce for 500g dried pasta weight.
I used half the pasta for the same quantity of all the other ingredients and it sas perfect.
Will definitely make this again :-)
Aimee says
Thanks for your feedback, I will revisit the recipe next time and see if I need to adjust the pasta amounts! Glad you enjoyed it though :)