Sweetpotato & Sage Mac 'n Cheese
Created by a registered dietitian for NCSP Recipe Contest with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Healthy options, healthy swap, kid friendly, Mac n Cheese, maccaroni, RD approved, sweet potato
Servings: 6
Calories: 416kcal
- 1 1/2 pounds 3 medium sweetpotatoes peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- Salt
- 1 pound whole-wheat or gluten-free pasta
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/8 to 1/4 optional teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup butter for vegan version, use Earth Balance
- 10 to 12 large fresh sage leaves thinly sliced crosswise
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the sweetpotatoes and return to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes until fork-tender. Drain well and transfer to a blender.
Meanwhile, bring a large pasta pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta following package instructions. Drain well, return to saucepan, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together soy milk, nutritional yeast, cornstarch, Dijon mustard, onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne pepper (if using), and black pepper. In a 2-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Add half of the sage (reserve the remaining sliced sage leave and all of the garlic; cook just until they are aromatic and begin to brown. Whisk in the soy milk mixture.
Reduce heat to medium low and cook until thick. Add the sauce and lemon juice to the sweet potatoes in the blender and blend until thick and smooth.
Toss with the cooked pasta, reheat gently if necessary; taste and add salt &pepper if desired. Serve topped with the reserved sliced sage.
Number of servings (yield): 6 servings (about 1 ½ cups)*The nutritional analysis was done using whole wheat pasta.
Note: Ground pepper was used when calculating nutrition label.
Nutrition Facts
Sweetpotato & Sage Mac 'n Cheese
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Serving: 1 | Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 86g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 140mg | Potassium: 722mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 16268IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 4mg | Net Carbohydrates: 81g