Description
Make a rich, creamy, dairy-free cheese sauce using sweet potato as the base. This sauce mimics traditional mac sauce texture and flavor using nutritional yeast and spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cooked sweet potato puree (about 1 medium sweet potato)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened plant milk (soy or oat recommended)
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or refined coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pinch of turmeric (for color, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the sweet potato: Steam or bake one medium sweet potato until very soft. Scoop out the flesh and measure 1 cup of puree.
- Combine ingredients: Place the sweet potato puree, plant milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and smoked paprika into a high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth: Blend on high speed until the sauce is completely smooth and creamy. Stop and scrape down the sides as needed.
- Adjust consistency: If the sauce is too thick for your needs, add plant milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
- Taste and season: Taste the sauce and add more salt, lemon juice for tang, or nutritional yeast for a stronger cheese flavor, blending briefly after each addition.
- Heat gently: Transfer the sauce to a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until warmed through. Do not boil.
- Serve immediately over cooked pasta or use as a dip.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce suitable for baked dishes, reduce the plant milk by 2 tablespoons initially.
- If you prefer a less sweet sauce, use slightly less sweet potato or add an extra splash of lemon juice.
- This sauce thickens as it cools; reheat gently with a splash of liquid if necessary.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 4
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 0