Mac and Cheese Pizza

Turns out mac and cheese can also be both vegan and delicious. It can be even more delicious if you spread it over pizza dough, sprinkle bread crumbs on top of it and bake it in the oven.

You know, just a normal meal.

I found this recipe for macaroni and cheese on the Daiya website. The only changes that I made were cutting the recipe size in half and omitting the nutritional yeast and vegan parmesan cheese.

I’m not sure why I love the Daiya in this macaroni and cheese while I’ve found it unappealing on pizzas in the past.

Maybe it’s because it’s mixed in with other ingredients in this dish. Maybe it’s the way it’s melted down with Earth Balance and milk. Whatever the reason, I like it much better.

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces dry macaroni pasta;
• 3/4 cup Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds;
• 3/4 cup Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds;
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread;
• 1 cup unsweetened rice milk;
• sprinkle of fresh ground black pepper;
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs;
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika;
• 1 pre-made pizza crust (or you can make your own, more on that below);
• 1 tablespoon olive oil.

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit and brush the outer edges of your pizza crust with the olive oil. If you want to make your own dough.
2. Cook and strain the macaroni according to the package directions.
3. Melt the Earth Balance in a small pot over medium heat. Add in the rice milk, sprinkle of black pepper and two cheeses and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Remove from heat, pour over the cooked macaroni and stir.
5. Spoon the macaroni and cheese on top of your pizza crust, spreading it evenly and stopping about 1 inch from the edges. Sprinkle with paprika and top with bread crumbs.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese begins to brown.
7. Remove from oven and eat immediately. If you can somehow find enough inner strength to not devour the entire thing in one sitting, this pizza will also be very good the next day.