EASY BROCCOLI MAC AND CHEESE RECIPES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, add the pasta, follow package directions, but cook 1 minute less than the package states. Drain.
• Meanwhile, make the creamy vegan cheese sauce. Melt the vegan butter in a large high-sided pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter and whisk the butter and flour together and around the pan until they smell toasted and look light brown; 2 to 3 minutes.
• While whisking, slowly pour in the warm non-dairy milk. Continue to cook, constantly whisking until the sauce simmers and thickens. (The sauce only thickens after it has reached a simmer.)
• Turn the heat to low, then stir in the nutritional yeast, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. For a bit of spice, stir in the cayenne pepper and stir in the turmeric for some extra 'cheesy' color. Both cayenne pepper and turmeric are optional.
• When the sauce is smooth and velvety, stir in the cooked pasta. If the sauce looks wet/thin, don’t worry, the pasta absorbs some of the extra moisture as it cools. Turn the heat off, and then cover with a lid. Leave for 5 minutes, stir once more, and then serve.
• For baked mac and cheese, after adding the pasta to the sauce, spoon into a large baking dish, scatter breadcrumbs (optional) on top. Bake, uncovered, in a 375-degree Fahrenheit oven until it is bubbling and browned on top; 25 to 30 minutes.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
  2. Trim, halve and wash the leek and peel the garlic, then finely slice with the broccoli stalks, reserving the florets for later.
  3. Place the sliced veg in a large casserole pan over a medium heat with the butter, then strip in the thyme leaves and cook for 15 minutes, or until softened, stirring regularly.
  4. Stir in the flour, followed slowly by the milk, then simmer for 10 minutes, or until thickened, stirring regularly.
  5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water for 5 minutes, then drain.
  6. Grate the Parmesan and most of the Cheddar into the sauce, and mix well. Tip into a blender, add the spinach and whiz until smooth – you may need to work in batches.
  7. Season to perfection with sea salt and black pepper, then stir through the pasta and broccoli florets, loosening with a splash of milk, if needed.
  8. Transfer to a 25cm x 35cm baking dish, grate over the remaining Cheddar and scatter over the almonds. Bake for 30 minutes, or until beautifully golden and bubbling.