Puerto Rican Mac and Cheese (Print-Friendly Version)

Savory Puerto Rican-inspired mac with sofrito, plantain chips, and creamy dairy-free sauce.

# What You’ll Need to Make This:

→ Mac and Cheese Base

01 - 2 tablespoons vegan butter or vegetable broth
02 - 2 tablespoons organic flour
03 - 480 millilitres coconut milk
04 - 3 tablespoons poultry seasoning
05 - 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
06 - 30 grams nutritional yeast
07 - 320 grams diced tomatoes
08 - 240 millilitres tomato sauce
09 - 16 Follow Your Heart American cheese slices
10 - 350–440 grams cooked pasta noodles
11 - 80 grams Follow Your Heart Parmesan shreds
12 - 2–3 cups crushed plantain chips
13 - 4 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

→ Sofrito

14 - 60 grams green bell pepper
15 - 60 grams red bell pepper
16 - 40 grams white onion
17 - 3 tablespoons fresh garlic
18 - 35 grams green Cubanelle, Cuban, or Italian frying pepper
19 - 1 aji dulce, habanero, or sweet chili pepper
20 - 20 grams fresh cilantro
21 - 20 grams fresh recao

# How to Prepare:

01 - In a large pan over medium heat, sauté green and red bell peppers, white onion, fresh garlic, Cubanelle or similar mild green pepper, and aji dulce or habanero with a pinch of salt and a splash of oil until softened and browned.
02 - Transfer cooked vegetables to a food processor with fresh cilantro and recao. Add a splash of vegetable broth, then process until combined and the mixture resembles a thick salsa. Set aside; freeze any extra sofrito for later use.
03 - In a large pot, melt vegan butter. Incorporate 1–4 tablespoons of prepared sofrito to taste.
04 - Gradually whisk in organic flour while pouring coconut milk. Continue stirring to achieve a thick, cohesive sauce.
05 - Add diced tomatoes, poultry seasoning, smoked paprika, nutritional yeast, and tomato sauce to the pot. Stir thoroughly to integrate.
06 - Introduce Follow Your Heart American cheese slices, stirring to melt fully into the sauce and achieve a creamy consistency. Adjust seasoning and sofrito, salt, or pepper as desired.
07 - In a baking dish, mix cooked pasta noodles with 4–6 cups of the cheese sauce, ensuring noodles are well coated.
08 - Spread Follow Your Heart Parmesan shreds and crushed plantain chips over the pasta. Bake in a preheated oven at 215°C for 10–18 minutes, periodically misting the top lightly with water to enhance cheese melting.
09 - Remove from oven and garnish liberally with fresh chopped cilantro before serving.

# Extra Tips:

01 - Reserve extra sofrito by freezing for use in future dishes.
02 - Mist the pasta surface with water during baking to encourage optimal melting of non-dairy cheese.
03 - Adjust the quantity of sofrito in the sauce according to preferred spice and herb intensity.

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