Plant-Based Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Step 1

Begin cooking brown rice. See instructions below.

Step 2

Making the 'cheese' sauce: Add cashews to a sauce pan. Fill with water and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove from heat and let sit, (10-15 minutes) while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. If you have a high powered blender like this vitamix, you can skip this step completely.

Step 3

Peel sweet potatoes and chop into small cubes. Add to a small pot over medium to high heat and cover with water.

Step 4

Once the water begins to boil, finely dice the onion and add to the pot with the sweet potato. Let boil for 25 minutes until soft.

Step 5

Once the sweet potato and onion are finished cooking, let cool. Add cashews, almond milk, (1/2 cup or more. Just make sure the cashews are covered,) nutritional yeast, salt, paprika and cayenne (optional) to blender. Blend until smooth. Then, add sweet potato and onion and blend until everything is combined. Set 'cheese' sauce aside.

Step 6

Next, steam broccoli for 3-5 minutes until soft or at desired texture.

Step 7

When everything has finished cooking, add brown rice, broccoli and 'cheese' sauce to large bowl. Stir until everything is well-incorporated.

Step 8

Put rice into a strainer and rinse thoroughly.

Step 9

Add rice to a pot on the stove and cover with water. You are going to be cooking the rice like you would pasta. This further removes any toxins from the rice and cooks it perfectly.

Step 10

Let boil on medium heat for 45 minutes or until the rice is at desired textured.

Step 11

Once it is finished cooking, drain the water and rinse the rice again with a strainer. Put the rice back in the pot and continue with recipe.