Vegan Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole!
This Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is so rich and decadent. It reminds me of a casserole I would have as a child, but so much healthier and nutrient dense. This casserole is vegan and gluten-free. It combines a creamy vegan cheese sauce with rice and sauteed broccoli.
The cheese sauce is made with a combination of cooked potatoes and carrots, cashews, and nutritional yeast. The cashews provide some protein and healthy fats, while the nutritional yeast adds some additional protein and tons of B vitamins. This dish makes a great side dish or light dinner option.
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For more easy dinner ideas, try my West African Peanut Stew, Creamy Mushroom Pasta Sauce, or Sweet Potato Lentil Soup.
Vegan Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried rice cooked according to package directions
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes optional
Cheese Sauce:
- 2 cups potato cubed (about 2 medium potatoes)
- 1 cup carrots sliced (about 1 large carrot)
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup cashews soaked for at least 2 hours and drained
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups water reserved from cooking water
Instructions
- To prepare the cheese sauce, add the cubed potatoes and sliced carrots to a pot of water. Bring to a boil and boil uncovered until tender, about 18-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook 2 cups of dried rice according to package directions and set aside.
- Lightly saute the broccoli. Add a splash of water to a pot over low-medium heat. Add the broccoli and lightly saute with the lid on until the broccoli is bright green and tender, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain any remaining water, and set aside.
- After the potatoes and carrots are finished cooking, reserve 2 cups of cooking water before draining. Drain the remaining water and add the drained potatoes and carrots to a high-speed blender. Add the nutritional yeast, soaked cashews, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and reserved water to the blender. Blend on high until completely smooth. Set aside.
- Combine the rice, broccoli, optional chili flakes, and prepared cheese sauce to a large pot. Stir until well combined. Serve in a baking dish immediately or broil for 3-5 minutes until bubbling and lightly golden.
