Quarto Cooks | 3 June 2020Mom’s Baked Mac Uncheese Share article facebook twitter google pinterest My mother used to make a delicious baked macaroni and cheese topped with (accidentally vegan) Ritz cracker crumbs and paprika. The sauce began with a roux to make a rich béchamel and was baked to perfection. Note: The texture of this baked casserole is meant to be firm, not saucy. The optional shredded vegan cheese makes the sauce richer, but it’s delicious without it. Pasta 16 ounces (454 g) elbow macaroniOlive oil or vegan butter, for preparing the baking dish Sauce 4 tablespoons (56 g) vegan butter1/4 cup (31 g) all-purpose flour5 cups (1.2 L) plain unsweetened nondairy milk1 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup (20 g) nutritional yeast, plus more as needed1 teaspoon dry mustard1 teaspoon onion powder1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper1 cup (112 g) shredded vegan cheese (optional) Topping 1 cup (72 g) finely crushed Ritz crackers1/2 teaspoon paprika1 tablespoon (15 ml) melted vegan butter 1. To make the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup (240 ml) of pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and set aside. 2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Lightly grease a 9 × 13-inch (23 × 33 cm) baking dish with olive oil or vegan butter. Set aside. 3. To make the sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. 4. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk. Add the salt. Simmer, whisking occasionally, until thick, about 5 minutes. 5. Add the nutritional yeast, mustard, onion powder, and pepper and whisk until smooth. Cook for 5 minutes until thick. Reduce the heat to low. Taste and adjust the seasoning, as needed. If the sauce is too thick, add as much of the 1 cup (240 ml) of reserved cooking water as desired. 6. Add the cooked macaroni to the sauce and stir to combine. 7. In a small bowl, stir together the cracker crumbs, paprika, and melted butter to combine. 8. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish, top with the cracker crumb mixture, and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top. Makes 4 to 6 servings Vegan Mac and Cheese $22.99$16.99 Buy in UK / Europe Buy in US / Canada Share article facebook twitter google pinterest If you have any comments on this article please contact us or get in touch via social media.