Perfect side dish for a family dinner: Mac and cheese is a classic side dish and perfect for large gatherings. You won’t feel like you’re missing out, I promise. Nut/Cashew free: If you are allergic to nuts or just cashews this is a great option for you to try. Gluten-free: If you have a gluten sensitivity, this recipe is perfect for you. It’s also a perfect staple to pack in their lunch bags for school or any outing. Kid-friendly: Children will love this recipe and it’s a great way to increase the number of vegetables they have in their diets. They had no idea that they were eating veggies and not actual cheese. They cleaned their plates without hesitation and even asked for more. When I finally got the recipe right, I made it for my seven and ten-year-old non-vegan neighbors and they absolutely LOVED it. I was determined to make a mac and cheese recipe that not only I would love, but others too. I must admit that I was skeptical about making a ‘cheese’ sauce out of potatoes and carrots but, when done right, it can blow minds.

So, after the transition, I was very excited to try making it plant-based.

I was obsessed with all things cheesy and dreamy, and macaroni and cheese was at the top of my list.

What were the main ingredients you used before? I think going for 1:1 vegan replacements in a traditional mac and cheese recipe would be the safest bet if you don't want to experiment.Mac and cheese was one of the hardest things I had to give up when changing my diet. I have found that cashew mac can dry out in the oven if you want to bake it, so I usually add a bit of olive oil or melt some vegan cheese into the sauce to prevent it from drying. I'm sure those are a good way to trick kids into eating veggies, but as a mac and cheese connoisseur I really don't think that type of vegan mac and cheese matches up against the original version.

I'd also avoid any recipes that use pureed squash/carrots/potatoes. A lot of recipes I see online say to add tumeric for colour but that was disgusting to me the one time I tried it (maybe that's what you used that caused the weird yellow colour?). I don't have a recipe because I just eyeball them, but I think the best vegan mac and cheeses use either cashew based sauce or a traditional bechamel type of sauce with 1:1 vegan replacements for butter, milk/cream, and cheese.

Best vegan mac n cheese