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+ servings
Mac and cheese in a skillet and being served between 3 other bowls.

Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

The BEST Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese you’ll ever taste! Made with simple ingredients like canned pumpkin purée, nutritional yeast, and cashews. This vegan cheese sauce is super creamy, indulgent, and comforting.
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Author: Liv King

Ingredients
 

  • 12 ounces Cellentani Spiral Pasta or pasta of choice
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • ½ Large Sweet Onion diced
  • 3-5 Garlic Cloves minced
  • ½ cup Cashews soaked
  • 1 cup Pumpkin Purée
  • 1 cup Unsweetened Plant Milk
  • ½ cup Nutritional Yeast
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
  • 2 teaspoons White Miso Paste
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Mustard Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
  • Toasted Breadcrumbs optional

Instructions

  • Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the cashews to a heat-safe bowl and pour the water over them. Let soak for at least 20 minutes.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook 12 ounces of pasta according to the package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water.
  • Heat a frying pan to medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Dice the onion and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until soft and starting to brown. Add in the minced garlic cloves and cook for another 2 minutes or until fragrant.
  • Add the soaked cashews, the onion mixture, and the remaining ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.
  • Mix the pasta and pumpkin cheese sauce together and use the reserved pasta water to thin out the sauce as needed. You might not need the entire ½ cup.
  • Taste and adjust the following: Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  • Divide the pasta into serving bowls and top with toasted breadcrumbs. Enjoy!

Notes

Soak the cashews. This will ensure that you end up with a smooth and creamy sauce rather than a gritty sauce with pieces of cashews. I typically touch the sauce and rub two fingers together- if there is any texture, keep blending.
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