Cheezy Hamburger Helper

Original Recipe

Prep time: 15 minutes || Cook time: 55 minutes || Serving: 4 || Rating 10/10

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 lb ground meat (sausage, chicken, vegan meat etc.)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne or chipotle, optional
• 3 tablespoons brandy or white wine, optional
• 1/2 cup pasta sauce (without adding the meat)
• 3 cups broth
• 1/2 cup soy milk, or cashew or light coconut milk
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 oz elbow macaroni
• salt and pepper, to taste

Dairy-free Cheeze Sauce

• 1 medium potato, peeled and chopped
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 small onion or shallot
• 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1/4 cup olive brine or capers brine,
• 1 teaspoon lactic acid, or 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon liquid aminos or tamari
• salt and pepper, to taste
• Put aside 1 cup cooking liquid of the vegetables

Instructions

Dairy-free Cheeze Sauce

1. Add the chopped potato, carrots, onion and garlic to a large pot. Add water until it covered and bring to a boil and cook until fork-tender for about 15 minutes.
2. Remove from heat. Put the cooked vegetables into a bowl and put aside 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Allow it to cool before blending.
3. In a blender, combine cooked vegetables and the remaining ingredients: nutritional yeast, brine, lactic acid, liquid aminos, salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and blend until smooth and creamy.

Hamburger Helper

1. Cook the pasta according to the package direction until al dente.
2. Heat the olive oil over medium-heat. Add the ground meat. Cook until it’s browned for about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the paprika, cayenne/chipotle, brandy and pasta sauce. Cook for 4 minutes.
4. Pour in broth, soy milk, and bay leaf. Cover and bring to a boil for about 3 minutes at high heat.
5. Stir in the macaroni. Cover and cook for 9 minutes. Stir occasionally.
6. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the vegan cheese sauce. Continue to cook on low until it thickens for about 3 minutes.

Serve warm.

Note:

• Lactic acid, apple cider vinegar, olive brine and capers brine all help to give the sauce a sharper “cheesier” flavour. Use one or a combination of them all and adjust to your taste.
• If you’re using a large yellow onion, only use a quarter of the amount.