This Milk Free Mac and Cheese is not technically dairy free, although it can be made dairy free by using vegan butter & cheese substitutes. I have made a bechamel for my Mom using these substitutions. She loves it! But let’s face it, it’s better with real butter and cheese, if you tolerate them!
This may seem silly but I am so very excited about this Milk Free Mac and Cheese! I haven’t eaten macaroni and cheese for at least 30 years!
It never really dawned on me to use the vast array of lactose free milks available now in the grocery stores, partly because they didn’t exist 30 years ago.
Even 10 years ago the only choice was soy milk and the flavor of a nice creamy white sauce suffers. It is just not thick enough and lacks the neutral flavor of cow’s milk (or cream), in my opinion.
So, on a trip to the grocery store last week I saw a plain Cashew milk on the shelf. I thought that it was about time to eat Mac and Cheese again.
What is Cashew Milk?
The cashew milk is much smoother and creamier than the Almond milk varieties that have become widely available. Lending itself perfectly to the white sauce.
Obviously, this is not lactose free but I can eat butter and hard cheeses! I am sure that there are many others who can’t drink cow’s milk but can easily deal with the hard cheeses.
The Method for Milk Free Mac and Cheese
Measure the flour, and grate the cheese. Use gluten free flour and vegan cheese substitute to render dish vegan, gluten free and lactose / dairy free.
In a separate pan, over medium high heat, heat the cashew milk, (This step cuts down your stirring time by at least 75% as opposed to using cold milk.)
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. (Use vegan margarine for vegan and dairy free)
Add flour all at once.
The milk should be bubbling.
Stir or whisk until very smooth. (Full disclosure; this picture is not representing all of the flour incorporated. I can’t manage to get a good picture with all the flour mixed into the butter. You have to work quickly.) Check out our YouTube video for full instructions on Easy Foolproof Cheese Sauce.
The milk can be added all at once or in a few additions. This version of cheese sauce is very forgiving. Don’t panic if you get lumps of flour beading up at the start! Keep stirring and smash the lumps of flour against the side of the pot.
Add pepper. ( I usually use white pepper but I was out today, so I subbed black pepper.) Wait until cheese is added to add salt. Different cheeses have different salt content.
Once sauce has started to thicken, add cheese about 1/2 cup at a time so that the temperature of the sauce doesn’t drop too quickly.
Keep stirring constantly after cheese is melted until you see a few bubbles at the edge of the pan. Now is when it will start to thicken quickly so don’t leave it at this stage. The sauce should coat the spoon when it is thick enough. Taste to adjust spices now.
Now Cook the Pasta for Milk Free Mac and Cheese
Bring water to boil in a separate pan and add macaroni. Cook according to package directions until al dente.
Then drain.I always add the pasta back to the pan it cooked in. Saves an extra bowl to clean up!
Add Cheese sauce to moisten all the pasta. Pour all the pasta and sauce into an oven safe casserole. Add the rest of the cheese sauce and top with bread crumbs, if desired. I also like crushed corn flakes for a change.
Bake for 30 minutes or so until edges are bubbly.
Honestly, I’ve tried this recipe on numerous separate occasions to make sure that I wasn’t crazy.
The pickiest eater of all is my 14 year old. His comment (of course I didn’t divulge the substitution) was “Mom, this is the best Macaroni and Cheese you have ever made!” High praise from this self proclaimed Mac and Cheese Connoisseur!
So, I believe, to my good fortune, I now can indulge on creamy and scrumptious Milk Free Mac and Cheese in the near future! SWEET! Hope you enjoy! Our next post uses nut milks also! Check out Lactose Free Blueberry Smoothie!
Other Delicious Pasta Recipes on Binky’s Culinary Carnival
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Easier on those who have an allergy to milk!
- 1 lb elbow macaroni , use GF to make recipe gluten free
- 4 Tbsp margarine or butter , use vegan to make recipe vegan, dairy free
- 4 Tbsp flour , use GF all purpose to make recipe gluten free
- 3 c cashew milk unsweetened
- 2 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 c Shredded mild or sharp cheddar , swiss, gruyere or a mixture of your favorite, use vegan to make recipe vegan, dairy free
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs or corn flakes , if desired
- Heat cashew milk in a medium high saucepan over medium heat,
- Heat 4 quarts of water in a large pot over high heat for macaroni
- Melt butter in a separate medium saucepan. When melted, stir in flour, until smooth.
- Add the cashew milk about 1 cup at a time and stir after each addition until nice and smooth. Don't panic if you get lumps after the first addition, it's very common. Smash any lumps of flour against the side of the pan. Keep stirring, it will smooth out. After the sauce is smooth, increase heat to medium high
- Add salt and pepper.
- Stir constantly, until the sauce is bubbly. (depending on the heat level, 10 to 15 minutes.)
- Heat oven to 350°F.
- Add Macaroni to the boiling water. Cook according to package directions.
- Add cheese about 1/2 cup at a time so that the sauce doesn't loose temperature.
- When cheese is fully melted, the sauce should stick nicely to the back of a spoon.
- Drain pasta. Once drained, replace pasta back to the same pot it was cooked in.
- Cover the pasta with most of the cheese sauce, stir.
- Transfer to at least a 4 quart baking dish. Add the rest of the sauce, if needed. Freeze leftover sauce, if applicable.
- Top with bread crumbs, if desired,
- Bake 30-40 minutes, until bubbly.
- Serve with a side salad.
- Enjoy!
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Originally Published 3/6/2015
Donna
Hey! Maybe I could eat this one too! I can eat hard cheeses!
Binky
I don’t see why not, you eat cheeses all the time!