Vegan Macaroni Casserole

This one of those go-to casseroles, when you need something fast but are too tired to think of what that might be. You may easily adjust the spices, reducing the amount of RO*TEL® and hot sauce for less of a kick.  

  •  8 ounces whole-wheat macaroni or any pasta  
  •  1 can (15 oz) stewed or fire-roasted tomatoes  
  •  1 (10 oz) can RO*TEL®, mild or hot
  • 1 cup black beans, drained, fresh or canned
  • 1 cup mixed vegetables, frozen
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • ½ cup celery, diced
  • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
  • 1 cup pasta water or vegetable broth
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder or fresh garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon Deb’s seasoning (page 269)
  • 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce 
  • 2 tablespoons capers 
  • 1 small jar pimientos, drained 
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder 
  • Hot sauce to taste (optional) 
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil a 10”×13” casserole dish or pan.  Cook macaroni according to package instructions, al dente. Be careful to not overcook pasta because it will be baked. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water for later use, drain and rinse pasta. Set aside.  In large bowl, combine all remaining ingredients, except breadcrumbs. Toss in pasta and mix well. Add hot sauce as desired and add some pasta water if mixture seems too dry. Place pasta mixture in casserole dish. In a separate bowl, mix breadcrumbs with garlic salt and parsley. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over top of pasta mixture and bake for 40 minutes or until top begins to turn golden brown. If casserole appears to be getting too dry before breadcrumbs are ready, simply pour ½ cup of pasta water around edges of pan. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Hints:

When cooking pasta, al dente means being firm to the tooth or having a little firmness to pasta. Instead of relying on the clock, taste the pasta towards the end of the cooking time to determine the tenderness and firmness. There is a small moment between rawness and al dente, so be alert!

Nutritional yeast has a nutty, cheese-like flavor. Many times it is substituted for Parmesan cheese in recipes.

Categories

AllVegtablesTofu, Beans & PeasSauces, Dip & GraviesBreads, Muffins & Breakfast

Tags

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About the Author

Deborah Brutsché believes in uncomplicated meals. Through the power of simple and satisfying recipes, Deborah has created a connection for people who are on a journey to healthier living by choosing a diet that is free of animal products. She gladly embraced the challenge of giving her traditional, Southernstyle cooking a vegan twist. Deborah was influenced by her mother’s and grandmother’s family recipes.

Raising a family in Dallas and now living in Austin, Texas, her cooking is influenced by the distinctive flavors of the Southern U.S. and Mexico and new influences from her multi-cultural family.