Zucchini season is in action and there's still time to make this absolutely amazing and succulent mac and zucchini casserole. When I made this dish the first time a couple of months ago, it instantly became me and my boyfriend's favorite. It is really "cheesy" thanks to the full fat coconut milk and nutritional yeast combo. Zucchini adds a lot of juiciness but remains pretty modest when it comes to the taste. So my bet is the kids will love it too, because I don't know a child who doesn't like cheesy macaroni! And I promise you, this is one of the best mac and cheese you have ever eaten. But enough of the advertising, lets get cooking!
serves 4 - 6 people (12x9 inch / 32x24 cm
baking dish)
Preparation time: 20 minutes active, 20 minutes passive. Full: 40 minutes.
Check out other delicious zucchini recipes.
Check out other delicious zucchini recipes.
- 17 ½ oz / 500 g uncooked macaroni
- 3 Tbsp oil
- 1 bigger onion
- 1 huge or 2 medium zucchinis (35 oz / 1 kg)
- 2 x 14 oz / 2 x 400 g full fat coconut milk (fat percentage at least 17 %)
- 2 ½ tsp salt
- 6 Tbsp nutritional yeast flakes (you can skip it, but it will make the dish more cheesier)
- 1 Tbsp paprika powder
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Boil the macaroni in slightly salted water until soft. Drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 F / 200 C. Grease a medium-sized deeper baking pan. Heat up a larger and deeper pan or a thick bottomed pot. Add oil, chopped onions and ½ tsp salt. Cook the onions until slightly golden. Wash the zucchini and grate it with peel left on into medium shreds. Add grated zucchini to the cooking onions. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes until the zucchini has shrinked a lot and there's not much liquids left. Add the coconut milk, rest of the salt (2 tsp), nutritional yeast, paprika powder and soy sauce. Stir and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Mix the macaroni with the cheesy zucchini sauce and pour everything into a greased baking pan. Sprinkle some nutritional yeast flakes on top. Cook for 20 minutes at 400 F / 200 C. Since it is a very hearty dish, I recommend serving it with a fresh salad and a dash of spicy and sour sauce.
