Dairy-Free Cauliflower Mac and Cheese | CookOS

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Name: Dairy-Free Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 oz elbow macaroni; 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, plus extra to serve; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp soy sauce; 2 cups unsweetened almond milk; ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp onion powder; 2 tsp dry mustard powder; ¾ cup raw cashews, chopped; 2 cups cauliflower florets, less than 1″

This dairy-free cauliflower mac and cheese replaces traditional bechamel with a velvety cashew-almond sauce enriched by nutritional yeast and umami spices, delivering creamy, cheesy flavor without dairy or eggs.

🌍American 🥗Vegan 🥗Vegetarian 🥗Dairy-Free 🏷️Cauliflower 🏷️Mac and cheese Nutritional yeast

About·Privacy·Terms

🏷️

Total

1h 40m

Servings

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$20–$33

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Recette Magazine

Ingredients

1 oz elbow macaroni
2 tbsp nutritional yeast, plus extra to serve
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp soy sauce
2 cups unsweetened almond milk
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
2 tsp dry mustard powder
¾ cup raw cashews, chopped
2 cups cauliflower florets, less than 1″

10 Ingredients

Delivery in as fast as one hour.^*

Prices vary by store

^*Service fees apply. Instacart^® and the Instacart logo are registered trademarks of Maplebear Inc. d/b/a Instacart.

Instructions

1
Place 12 oz elbow macaroni in the Suvie starch strainer set within the Suvie pasta pot (green handles). Cover pot with lid and place inside the Suvie Starch Cooker, ensuring pot is centered on the hot plate. Input settings and cook now or schedule. Suvie Starch Cooker Settings: Pasta, 4 cups, 10 minutes
2
In a Suvie pan, whisk together 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 2 tbsp olive oil,1 tsp soy sauce, 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, 2 tsp dry mustard powder. Add ¾ cup cashews and 2 cups cauliflower florets. Place pan in the bottom zone of Suvie, input settings, and cook now or schedule. Suvie Cook Settings: Bottom Zone: Slow Cook High for 1 hour and 30 minutes
3
After slow cooking, transfer cauliflower mixture to a blender. Process mixture on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
4
Remove pasta from Suvie Starch Cooker, drain well, and transfer to a large bowl. Pour cauliflower sauce over the pasta, stirring to combine. Season to taste with salt, pepper and extra nutritional yeast. Serve warm.

Was this recipe helpful?

Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Soak raw cashews in hot water for 10–15 minutes before blending to ensure a silky, lump-free sauce.
Toast the dry mustard powder in the pan with olive oil for 30 seconds before adding almond milk to bloom its pungent, tangy flavor.
Cut cauliflower florets under 1 inch so they cook evenly and don't overpower the delicate pasta-to-vegetable ratio.
Taste the sauce before mixing with pasta and adjust soy sauce or garlic powder incrementally—umami builds quickly and is hard to undo.

Substitutions

almond milk → oat milk or soy milk (maintains creaminess; avoid thin milks like rice milk)
cashews → sunflower seed butter, 2 tbsp (blend with almond milk; slightly less creamy but still smooth)
nutritional yeast → miso paste, 1 tbsp (adds umami; use less soy sauce to avoid oversalting)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring in 1–2 tbsp almond milk to loosen the sauce.

Common Questions

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

Yes. Blend and cool the sauce, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently with a splash of almond milk to restore creaminess before tossing with pasta.

What can I use instead of nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast is key for the cheesy flavor. There is no direct substitute, but increasing soy sauce by ½ tsp adds more umami depth.

Why do I need to blend raw cashews?

Blending raw cashews into the warm almond milk creates a smooth, emulsified sauce mimicking the texture of traditional bechamel. Soaking cashews first softens them for easier blending.

Can I use roasted cashews instead of raw?

Raw cashews are preferred because they blend into a neutral, creamy base. Roasted cashews add flavor that may compete with the nutritional yeast and spices.