This healthy mac and cheese is full of hidden veggies. If you have trouble getting kids to eat more veg, this recipe’s for you! There’s one whole zucchini and one cup of cauliflower hidden in the delicious cheesy sauce.
Mac and cheese with sausages is one of both my daughters’ all-time favourite foods. Zucchini and cauliflowers have passed their lips a few times but never with success, usually with “yuck! I don’t like it.” But when I turn these veggies into a mac and cheese sauce with my handy blender, there’s no “yuck!” Just the silence of two happy eaters, enjoying their lunch. And they even paused for a quick “yum! This is good.”
Score! Another win for mom. After they eat veg that they never thought they’d eat, I always like to ask smugly ” did you know there was zucchini and cauliflower in your mac and cheese?” They always reply with just “really?” and then run off to play before I can launch into all the health benefits of these veggies…
Cauliflowers are full of nutritional wins
Low in carbohydrates and calories
Rich in nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, and folate
Promotes digestive and cardiac health
Zucchinis are loaded with health benefits
Rich is vitamin B6 which helps regulate blood glucose and may protect against diabetes
Low in calories, fats and sugar
Good source of folate, potassium, vitamin A
For more pasta recipes with hidden veg, check out:
Healthy Mac and Cheese with Zucchini and Cauliflower
This healthy mac and cheese is full of hidden veggies. If you have trouble getting kids to eat more veg, this recipe’s for you! There’s one whole zucchini and one cup of cauliflower hidden in the delicious cheesy sauce.
1cupshredded cheddar cheese1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
Dice cauliflower and zucchini. Steam until soft.
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain.
In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté sausages and garlic.
In a high-powered blender, blend steamed cauliflower, zucchini, milk and salt until smooth.
Add blended sauce, pasta, frozen peas and cheese to the pot with the sausages and garlic.
Mix to combine and cook under low heat for 2-3 minutes. If its too dry, add some of the pasta water that you reserved. Taste and add more salt, pepper or cheese if needed.
Leave the pasta in the pot with the lid on for 5 minutes before serving. This will help the pasta soak in the sauce. Enjoy!
Keyword Healthy Mac and Cheese with Zucchini and Cauliflower
