Cheesy Vegan Potato and Broccoli Casserole
Try this Cheesy Vegan Potato and Broccoli Casserole recipe, or contribute your own.
Try this Cheesy Vegan Potato and Broccoli Casserole recipe, or contribute your own.
- salt to taste
- 1/4 tsp salt
- pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp vegan butter/margarine
- 2 tbsp unbleached flour
- 1/2 small red onion cut finely
- 2 cups unsweetened non-dairy milk (i used soy)
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast flakes
- 1/3 cup daiya cheddar or mozzarella style shreds
- 1.5 lb bag of the little potato company's baby boomers
- 1 head of broccoli cut into florets, and sliced thin
- 1/2 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp melted vegan butter/margarine
- Carbohydrate 5.45563325661204 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0.436659728028104 g
- Fiber 1.9736984188318 g
- Protein 3.59086316849924 g
- Saturated Fat 0.0586731192225392 g
- Serving Size 1 1 serving (127g)
- Sodium 533.61256644682 mg
- Sugar 3.48193483778024 g
- Trans Fat 0.133128497027559 g
- Calories 35 calories
Step-by-step
- In a medium sized saucepan, heat 2 tbsp of vegan butter or margarine over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped red onion and cook until translucent and tender.
- Whisk in the flour, garlic powder, turmeric, paprika, and salt.
- Cook for 1 minute.
- Very slowly whisk in the vegetable broth, followed by the unsweetened soy milk.
- Stir in the nutritional yeast and Daiya cheese (optional).
- Turn heat down to medium and simmer for a few minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Combine bread crumbs, melted butter/margarine, garlic and onion powder, oregano, and a sprinkle of salt.
- Lightly grease a 9" pie plate with butter/margarine.
- Begin with 1 layer of thin sliced Creamer potatoes, slightly overlapping.
- Sprinkle with salt.
- Add a thin layer of sauce.
- Layer sliced broccoli florets, slightly over lapping.
- Sprinkle with salt.
- Add a thin layer of sauce.
- Repeat as many times as necessary (1-2 times).
- Be sure to salt each layer of raw potato or broccoli.
- Finish with a hefty layer of sauce.
- Top with seasoned bread crumbs.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes.
- Uncover, and bake for another 10 minutes.
- If crumbs aren't toasted, set under broiler until just toasted.
- Do not burn.
- Let sit for 15-20 minutes before serving.
Swapping the soy milk for unsweetened canned coconut milk produces a significantly richer sauce due to the higher fat content, though it imparts a distinct tropical note that shifts the flavor profile away from traditional cheddar. Building a smooth vegan cheese sauce relies on cooking the flour and fat mixture for exactly one minute to eliminate the raw starch taste before slowly whisking in liquids. Whisking continuously while adding vegetable broth prevents lumps from forming in the roux.
Composing the Plate
Heavy, starch-forward casseroles require bright, acidic elements on the side to balance the richness of the nutritional yeast and vegan fats. A crisp arugula salad dressed simply with fresh lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil cuts through the density of the layered potatoes. Alternatively, roasted asparagus tossed in champagne vinegar provides a clean, green contrast. Fresh broccoli florets maintain a brighter green hue and firmer crunch compared to thawed frozen alternatives, which release excess moisture and tend to water down the surrounding sauce layers during the fifty-minute covered bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Sauce too thin: Simmer the liquid mixture for an extra three minutes over medium-low heat to reduce excess moisture before pouring it over the vegetables.
- Bread crumbs burning: Cover the top of the pie plate with aluminum foil for the final ten minutes of baking if the panko browns too quickly before the potatoes soften.
- Uneven potato cooking: Slice the baby potatoes into uniform thicknesses of roughly one-eighth of an inch using a mandoline to ensure every piece softens at the exact same rate.
