Between my dog and myself, we have a host of dietary hurdles to overcome. He can’t digest protein or citrus; I can’t have gluten or dairy. We’re a hot mess, he and I, yet we make it work. I diligently make him banana and potato biscuits every week, and for myself, I indulge in the most verboten dish of all for the lactose and gluten-averse: mac ‘n cheese.
Add the non-dairy creamer and the almond/rice milk. Continue to whisk to blend well on medium heat. You should have a nice white sauce. Add the Daiya cheese. Stir until completely melted (no lumps). This may take longer than expected-Daiya cheese takes much longer to melt entirely than real cheese. Creamy Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese with Stovetop & Casserole Options. This easy, cheesy, recipe is not only dairy-free, it’s also vegan, soy-free, and optionally gluten-free. The sauce is made without any type of soy and is completely free of flours and starches. The cashews act as a natural thickener while providing a rich, creamy finish. This creamy cheese sauce is not only dairy-free, but extremely yummy and a great base recipe. You can do just about anything with it! Add a dash of cumin for that smoky Cheddar taste for mac and cheese.
I like this recipe for a lot of reasons. It’s super easy, fast, cheap, and allows for endless customization. But best of all, it reminds me of the blue-box version my mom used to make when I was young. We all know this box. Delicious when you’re age 8, but tastes more like chalky nostalgia in your 20s.
Baked Mac And Cheese
The process is exactly the same for this recipe, only I’ve substituted high quality, diet-friendly ingredients for stuff in the box. The starchy pasta water helps everything bind together without the need for milk. I can usually tolerate a small amount of butter without my body staging a coup d’etat, but if your dietary sensitivities are more severe, a substitute like Earth Balance works fine. I like using Daiya vegan cheese and use a combination of 60:40 cheddar to mozzarella to add a clingy thickness to the sauce, plus gluten-free noodles, but the recipe is essentially a template. Modify however you see fit — regular pasta, different varieties of vegan cheese, add blanched peas or sautéed kale…the world is yours.