Mac & Cheese Monday - Spicy

Gosh, this month is flying by, I can't believe we're on the second Mac 'n' Cheese Monday already!

As you know by now my theme throughout mofo is everything bean like and I wanted to create a 'cheese' sauce based on beans, so off to the kitchen I went to do some experimenting.

I needed something spicy to warm me up, I've been trying to fight off a bug for a couple of weeks now and I'm a bit fed up with feeling like this for so long.

In my cupboards I had quite a few tins of different varieties of beans and it took me some time to decide which one I wanted to use.

I finally decided that my 'cheese' sauce was going to be based on spicy refried beans. If you have time you can always make your own refried beans but tonight I couldn't be bothered so I settled for the tin. This sauce has got an underlying cheesy flavour due to the nutritional yeast but its got a little kick to it to which warms the cockles of your heart.

Ingredients

215g Spicy refried beans

35g Nutritional Yeast
1 Tbsp White miso
1 Tbsp Vitalite or other vegan margarine
250ml Almond milk
Pasta of choice*

* Sorry I forgot to weigh my pasta so I don't actually know how much I used!

Method - serves 2-3 people

Put the first 4 ingredients into your food processor and process until smooth and creamy.

Transfer the mixture to a pan and slowly add the almond milk a little at a time, using a whisk to incorporate the milk with the bean puree.

Heat up the sauce slowly, do not boil. Whilst the sauce is warming up cook your favourite pasta shapes as per packet instructions.

Drain the pasta and add the sauce, stir to coat the pasta evenly and serve straight away. Dinner is served in 15 minutes tops!