Mac no Cheese with Vegan Rice Paper Bacon

Mac No Cheese

Good for 2-3 servings

• 250 grams pasta of choice (dry)
• 1 1/2 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups non-dairy milk
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions.
2. In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat.
3. Add in the flour and combine until a paste is formed, around 3 minutes.
4. Add in the garlic, nutritional yeast, tomato paste, non-dairy milk and salt.
5. Stir occasionally over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken.
6. Once sauce has thickened, turn off heat and mix in lemon juice.
7. Add in pasta and mix well. Serve immediately.

Vegan Rice Paper Bacon (Baked or Fried!) 

5 sheets Vietnamese rice paper (store bought - I used the 6" round ones)

Sauce

• 5 tbsp barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp soy sauce/liquid aminos
• 3 tbsp desiccated coconut
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika (optional, adjust depending on preferred taste)
• Canola or coconut oil for frying

(BAKED-OIL FREE)

Layer 2-3 rice papers and cut into 2 1/2 inch strips.

1. Mix all sauce ingredients in a bowl. Mix well.
2. Prepare a shallow container and add water.
3. Heat an oven to 325F. Line the baking tray with some parchment paper (this is essential for it not to stick).
4. Quickly dip strips of rice paper in the water then transfer to the sauce mixture.
5. After soaking in the sauce, transfer to the baking tray. Lay them out and make sure the rice paper strips do not stick together.
6. You will have to make these in batches depending on the size of your oven and tray.
7. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until crisp. Watch the rice paper every 2-3 minutes because they can burn VERY fast.
8. Take out from the parchment paper and let cool (or you can always enjoy them freshly cooked too!)

(FRIED)

1. Layer 2-3 rice papers and cut into 2 1/2 inch strips.
2. Mix all sauce ingredients (except oil) in a bowl. Mix well.
3. Prepare a shallow container and add water.
4. In a frying pan, place oil over medium heat. The bacon doesn't need to be deep fried, so not too much oil is needed.
5. While the oil is heating, quickly dip strips of rice paper in the water then transfer to the sauce mixture. After soaking in the sauce, transfer to a plate before frying. Make sure the rice paper strips do not stick together.
6. Soak just enough bacon strips to fit in your pan before preparing another batch (since the rice paper can get too soft and soggy when left in liquid for too long).
7. Slowly add each strip to the oil. Do not add too many all at once because they will stick if they crowd in the pan.
8. Fry for 2 minutes over medium heat. Use thongs. (NOTE: They won't look crispy when in oil but once you remove them and transfer to a plate, they will harden and crisp up.)
9. Soak the remaining strips in sauce and fry.