Mac N’ Cheese-less
This classic comfort food is made with a healthy, versatile “cheese” sauce.
1 hr 10 min
About 1 hour 10 minutes to prep and cook
491 cal
491 calories per serving
Serves 6
Serves about 6 people
Overview
Making comfort foods like mac n’ cheese healthy can be challenging. Just remember our favorite trick: “Think about all the things you could have and not what you shouldn’t have.” This recipe exemplifies this perfectly. The “cheese” sauce alone has so many possibilities: Add jalapeno and you have a spicy nacho sauce, or pour the sauce over potatoes for an au gratin. Let your imagination run wild.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 cup raw cashews*
12 oz. 100% whole wheat short elbow pasta
6 cups sweet potato, peeled, cut into ½-inch cubes
4 cups unflavored, unsweetened almond milk
2 tsp. mild hot sauce such as Cholula (optional)
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
¾ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
*Silken tofu may be substituted for cashews, although the taste and texture will be different.
Calories: (491); Fat: (2.2g); Carbohydrates: (79g); Sodium: (441mg); Sugar: (11.8g); Fiber: (10.8g); Cholesterol: (0mg); Protein: (14g)
Directions
Step One
Combine the water and cashews in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Step Two
The next day, drain the nuts and set aside. Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step Three
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until just tender, but still firm to the bite (al dente). Drain the pasta, rinse and drain again. Set aside in a large mixing bowl and cover.
Step Four
Combine sweet potatoes and almond milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer, uncovered, until the potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
Step Five
Strain the sweet potatoes in a bowl, reserving the almond milk. Measure the reserved almond milk and add more, if needed, so that it equals three cups.
Step Six
Cool the almond milk to lukewarm and place in a heavy-duty blender. Add the cashews and blend until the sauce is smooth.
Step Seven
Add the sweet potatoes, hot sauce, mustard, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Process until the sauce is smooth, scraping the container as needed.
Step Eight
Pour the sauce over the pasta and mix well. Place in a 10-by-12-inch casserole or baking pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Chef's Notes:
*Disclaimer: All nutritional information provided is approximate and based on USDA measurements. Actual amounts may vary based on exact ingredients used, how they are prepared and serving size.
- To make the sauce less sweet, replace half the almond milk with unsweetened hemp or soy milk. For a crunchy topping, sprinkle with whole-grain breadcrumbs.
*Disclaimer: All nutritional information provided is approximate and based on USDA measurements. Actual amounts may vary based on exact ingredients used, how they are prepared and serving size.
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