Super Fast Vegan Mac & Cheese
Yesterday I needed lunch…like now. I was starved. When this happens, I’m not usually craving a salad…too much chopping, picking green veggies from the garden, and then I usually like to make a homemade dressing…and frankly, when I’m about to faint from starvation I crave something a little more hearty than a salad.
This is why we should make healthy, light meals for ourselves when we’re not hungry and have a small snack in the afternoon. People like me tend to be much more sane about food choices when we’re not about to claw someone’s eyes out (I swear that’s just a figure of speech!).
Anyway, for those moments when you’re vulnerable to chow down on the first food you see, I have a solution! Super Fast Vegan Mac & Cheese. It’s a nice and hearty comfort food, but it’s healthy and it’s not too high in calories.
Super Fast Vegan Mac & Cheese
- 1/2 cup uncooked whole wheat noodles
- ½ red bell pepper
- ½ tsp. sea salt (opt)
- 1 tsp. Braggs soy sauce
- 1/8 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/8 cup nutritional yeast
Boil up your whole wheat noodles. While your noodles are cooking, blend the rest of the ingredients in your high-speed blender. You can gently warm the sauce on the stove, if you want (I liked it as is). Once your noodles are cooked, rinse, and put in a bowl. Pour the “cheese sauce” onto your noodles. There. You may now devour.
Feel free to add additional veggies to this dish! I was in a hungry hurry so I just added a few fresh peas from the garden, but I think this would be great with some other sautéed veggies added in! Pair with a protein for a complete meal. Serves 1.
Nutritional Info (for sauce): Cals: 100, Fat: 4g, Sodium: 944mg, Carbs: 9.5g, Fiber: 6g, Protein: 10g
And…if you have a couple minutes of extra time you can grab this Raw Vegan Cheddar Dip…it’s amazing! I love it on noodles or dipped with veggies! Best dip evvvaaa!
Today: As you know I’ve been upping my protein in my diet, so here’s a glance at what I’ve been having today. No workout today because I have a bad cold (sniff, sniff), but if I muster up the energy I might have a short walk later and/or play some volleyball with friends tonight.
Breakfast: 1 Protein Pancake w/ plain organic yogurt & maple syrup, 1 nectarine
Lunch: A green salad w/ homemade dressing & 2 homemade tuna burgers (SOOO amazing! I will post the recipe soon!)
Snack: Iced Coffee w/almond milk & 2 stalks celery w/organic PB & raisins
Dinner: Not quite sure…but probably a green salad/a protein/veggies
Snack: Probably yogurt or cottage cheese (I like to have a light protein snack before bed)
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What is your fastest “to-go” lunch? Do you plan your meals?
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Category: Dairy Free, Main Dishes, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian | Tags: dairy free mac and cheese recipe, easy vegan macaroni and cheese recipe, healthy macaroni and cheese recipe, kid friendly healthy mac and cheese, noodles, vegan mac and cheese, whole wheat mac and cheese recipe 19 comments »
This looks unbelievably good. I have a serious craving for mac and cheese right now.
Just started following you. Blessings yum. Thank you,
Super fast & vegan? Great mac n’ cheese recipe. Love the use of sunflower seeds.
That looks awesome. I once tried a “cheese” sauce similar to this and it was my first time trying nutritional yeast and I thought it was gross! Now I love nooch so I’m super excited to give it another try :D
Looks very delicious! I love pasta, so I will try it for sure, I’m currently out of vegan ideas for the sauce…
The afternoon snack is a must, I eat it around 16:00 too and it helps me get to dinner easily :) I usually snack a raw dessert or some fruits, things I always have in the fridge :)
My sister is vegan but used to love mac n cheese (never saw a kid eat it every day religiously like she did) – I’ll have to pass this on to her. I may even sneak a bite :)
Tasty. I like how you brightened it up with the red pepper. My mom always would put tomatoes in hers.
I am in love with your blog! I just clicked around and it is BEAUTIFUL! With SO MANY great recipes. You have an awesome thing going here, Charissa. Seriously. In love!
This recipe is so simple and hearty sounding. Awesome.
simply delicious..loved it
Yum, comfort in a bowl! This looks dee-licious!
I love quick meal ideas like this and mac ‘n cheese is always a favorite. I’m excited to try a vegan version.
I love your pictures!
[…] vegan mac and cheese […]
Where do you find nutritional yeast? I have always wanted to make vegan mac and cheese but am clueless on where to get the materials!!!
Sarah, try your health food store! Or Whole Foods….some generic stores like Superstore even gave health aisles now, so you even try there! I get mine at the health food store.
The recipe is delicious! I say it’s even better than regular mac and cheese! Thanks so much. I just started following you a couple weeks ago and every recipe I’ve made has been great.
I just picked up some nutritional yeast to try this recipe out for dinner tonight. So I just put the dry flakes in with the other ingredients? I guess it just seems a bit strange since they’re so dry. I’m guessing the peppers and soy sauce will make it saucy (soy sauce—of course!?) ? Sorry if this is a dumb question :x
Blanca~ Yes, just blend all the sauce ingredients together….you can substitute the sunflower seeds for raw cashews which makes it even creamier.
You can also use this raw cheesy dip recipe as a sauce (which is a little more decadent) http://www.colourfulpalate.com/2011/02/16/raw-vegan-cheddar-dip/
[…] RECIPE: Super Fast Vegan Mac & Cheese […]