Avoiding Lactose? How to Make Creamy Dairy Free Mac and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is the undisputed king of soul food.  Diving into a warm bowl of cheesy, creamy goodness doesn’t get much more comforting (or satisfying).  However, mac and cheese is made up primarily of, well, cheese, and those who are lactose intolerant have learned to steer clear of this dairy-rich dish.

For years, lactose-free folk and vegans alike have struggled to match the flavor and consistency of traditional mac and cheese by combining elbow pasta with ingredients such as nutritional yeast, mustard and flour variations, but nothing has come close to the original.  However, it’s a new dawn for cheese lovers everywhere, thanks to a product called Daiya, and mac and cheese can now be devoured by all.

Daiya (pronounced "dayaa") is a product made from tapioca and arrowroot flours, and non-GMO canola, safflower and coconut oils.  It is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free, and contains no egg, corn, rice, or wheat.  It also contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives or animal products.  Daiya can be found at most health food stores for around $5.00 a package (about 2 cups).

Here is a great new spin on a down-home favorite.  This recipe serves 2-4 people, and comes together in about 25 minutes. 

Ingredients:

Here is what you will need:

• 8 ounces elbow pasta. You can make this dish entirely gluten-free by using rice or quinoa pasta instead of wheat.

• 2 cups Daiya cheddar shreds

• 2 cups unsweetened soy/rice milk

• 1 tablespoon flour. Again, to make dish gluten-free, use gluten-free flour.

• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

• ¼ teaspoon paprika

Preparation:

Cook pasta as usual and drain thoroughly when done.  In a large saucepan, combine milk and Daiya and cook over low heat until the ingredients begin to melt.  Next add the pepper, garlic powder and flour, and continue cooking over low heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.

When the cheese sauce has thoroughly melted, stir in the macaroni and mix all together.  Transfer to a casserole dish, preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 15-20 minutes uncovered, or until the top starts to brown.  Remove from oven, sprinkle with paprika and serve immediately.

To add texture and flavor to this dish, you can add bread crumbs on top (gluten-free if you prefer) about 5 minutes before the dish comes out of the oven.  You can also season with lactose-free Parmesan cheese before serving.

This dairy-free version of mac and cheese has much less fat than the original, it’s easy to prepare, and can fool even the pickiest of traditional mac and cheese connoisseurs.  If you have been missing mac and cheese in your diet, raise your spoons and rejoice!  And as a bonus, Daiya can be used to make yummy grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas and lactose-free pizza.