From kid’s favourite to grown-up go-to food, the Mac and Cheese is a traditional dish we can’t get bored of. But what about a twist? Let’s make a change and add some ingredients to it. This vegetable Mac and Cheese recipe is easy to follow and will please them all. To enjoy at home, in the office or on the trails. Let’s revisit a classic!
If there is a dish I would have never thought taking on a day hike is Mac and Cheese. But there we go. After seeing a friend bitting warm pasta coated in melted cheese coming out of her insulated food flask on a cold day hike, you can imagine my face looking at my cold salami sandwich. Comfort food on the trails, what else do we need?
All you need to know about Mac and Cheese
You might think you need to learn anything when it comes to Mac and Cheese, but before diving into the actual cooking part, here are some information about this popular dish.
What is “Mac and Cheese”?
Called Mac ‘n’ Cheese in the US or Macaroni Cheese in the UK, this mainstream dish can be eaten as a side or a main and is mainly seen as comfort food.
Believe it or not, the first version of what could be called today a Mac and Cheese was recorded in the fourteenth century in a recipe book in Italy called “Book of cuisine” (pretty straightforward name of a recipe book). However, it is not until 1784 that the first version of the modern one was published in a recipe book called “The Experienced English Housekeeper“.
What can I make Mac and Cheese with?
Over the centuries, the original three ingredients Mac and Cheese recipe of 1784 has evolved. From replacing the original parmesan for cheddar, which is the most commonly used cheese for this dish nowadays, to adding breadcrumbs for the crips or as a pizza topping, the variations will never stop surprising us!
Is “Mac and Cheese” easy to cook?
Yes it is.
From a basic version with 3 or 4 ingredients to a version with a twist like the one below, cooking a Mac and Cheese does not require any cooking skills.
In terms of kitchen tools, no big investment is required either. You will need a big pan if you are doing it on the stove or a pan and an oven dish if you are baking it.
It does not take much time to prepare: mince the garlic and chop the onion and other vegetables you want to add to the mix and that is it! The rest is the cooking time which, for this version of the Mac and Cheese, is around 25 minutes on the stove.
What Is the Vegetable Mac and Cheese Recipe?
From the classic recipe to the revisited one, can you spot the difference?
The classic Mac and cheese
The base ingredients of the Mac an Cheese recipe are:
- Pasta
- Cheese
- Milk
- Butter
- Flour
The usual way to cook it:
- In a pan, cook the pasta in boiling water just under their cooking time
- In a separate pan, melt the butter, add the flour and pour milk over it. Whisk until you get a smooth sauce
- Add the cheese to the sauce and stir
- In a baking tray, place the slightly undercooked pasta and cover them with the cheese sauce.
- Stir to coat the pasta
- Add cheese on top
- Bake for around 20 to 30 minutes depending on appliances
So, in what way is our vegetable Mac and Cheese recipe different?
Huge!
First the ingredients. We won’t be using butter or flour and we are swapping them for much better and healthier options: mushroom and spinach.
Also, we won’t bake our Mac and Cheese and use the stove only. This is ideal because it also means fewer kitchen tools to use, only a big pan, as opposed to 2 pans and an oven dish for the traditional recipe. See, I am saving you washing up time!
And the final difference, and quite an important one: we will not be coating the pasta in a cheese sauce, but instead we will cook the pasta in milk, for a creamy result. Pasta in milk? I know a few of you reading these lines might be rolling your eyes now, but trust me for creamy pasta in no time, this is the best way.
Before we dive in into the step by step recipe, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients.
Vegetable Mac and Cheese recipe ingredients
What do we find in our vegetable Mac and Cheese recipe? Well, pasta (that’s for sure), cheese (makes sense) and vegetables (makes sense again). But is a Mac and Cheese good for you when hiking?
Pasta: It’s a source of carbohydrates that are essentials for your muscles and your brain to work. It is also cholesterol-free, which makes it ideal for people wishing to lower their cholesterol levels. For us when hiking, the most important is obviously the carbohydrates. When exercising your muscles break the carbohydrates into glycogen which is a source of energy. When your body runs low on carbohydrates, you start feeling tired. This is why it is important to fuel your body with carbohydrates before, during and after workouts.
Milk: In this recipe, I use cow milk as it contains calcium, magnesium and proteins that are essentials to strengthen the bones and lower blood pressure.
Mushrooms: They are classed as Superfood as they are high in fibre, proteins and vitamins. Eating mushroom helps prevent heart disease, boots the immune system and help with weight loss. For us hikers, mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamin D. Without vitamin D, our bones cannot absorb calcium.
Spinach: It comes with no surprise if I tell you that spinach is full of iron, right? But it is also jammed packed with vitamins and nutrients such as vitamins E and magnesium which bolster the immune system. Eating spinach is also good for your hair and skin.
My tips
What would be a recipe without some tips from the one that made it?
The cheese
First, choose the cheese that you like whether it is mozzarella, parmesan or cheddar, or even a mix of them all! Be bold but stay within what you know you like. There is nothing worse than forcing yourself to eat a dish you don’t like. In this recipe we use cheddar, but feel free to change. The steps remain the same.
Second, grate your own cheese. I know it can be a pain but you will thank me later. The “already grated” packaged cheese you find in your supermarket contains added substances. For a fresher and creamier result, grate it yourself!
The vegetables
Can I swap the vegetable for something else?
Yes, of course, make it your own! However, you might have to change the steps slightly if you go for vegetables (or meat) as they will probably don’t cook well in milk. For a creamier result, everything in this recipe is cooked in milk. So if you want to add bacon, for example, you would need to cook it aside and then add it at the end.
Transport and conservation
If you are planning on eating the vegetable Mac and Cheese up on the hill, or down by a riverbank, use an insulated food flask to keep it warm. I recommend the Thermos Stainless King Food Flask, which keeps your meals warm for up to 9 hours. However, for the office or for school, use a lunch box and microwave it for 2 minutes at medium-high (may vary depending on the appliances).
As this dish contains milk and vegetable I would not advise you to keep the leftovers for longer than 2 days in the fridge. To ensure it stays creamy, add a little bit of milk before reheating it.
So now you know everything about Mac and Cheese, let’s dive into the recipe!
The Vegetable Mac and Cheese Recipe
Vegetable Mac and Cheese Recipe
Equipment
- Big pan
- Chopping board
- Kitchen knife
- Spatula
- Insulated food flask for transport
Ingredients
- 2 cloves Garlic
- 1/2 Onion white
- 1.5 cups Spinach chopped
- 250 g Mushrooms Chestnut
- 1.5 cups Milk
- 1/2 cup Water
- 130 g Macaroni pasta
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper To Taste
Instructions
- Chop the 1/2 white onion
- Mince the 2 garlic cloves
- Wash and slice the mushrooms
- Wash and chop the spinach
- Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a big pan
- Add the onion and the garlic, stir until soft
- Add the mushrooms and stir until partially cooked
- Add 2 cups of macaroni pasta and 1.5 cups of milk and 1/2 cup of water
- Bring it to boil and then stir on lower heat for 15 minutes
- Add water if necessary throughout the cooking process
- Ensure the pasta are cooked and add the spinach
- Stir until spinach is cooked
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until it has melted
- Add some salt and pepper to taste and it is ready!
Notes
- You can do it with other types of pasta
- You can change the cheese
- Go for different vegetables or meat but cook them on the side and add them to the pasta at the end of the cooking process
- Better eaten when just cooked for a creamier taste
- If kept in the fridge overnight, add a bit of milk before reheating it
- Can be kept up to 2 days in the fridge
- Calories
Final Thoughts on the Vegetable Mac and Cheese recipe
Creamy and hearty, the Mac and Cheese will not soon disappear from our comfort food list. Give it a twist and you will never get bored of eating it.
And you, what is your favourite version of the Mac and Cheese?
Like this recipe? Pin it on your Vegetarian food board!
