Two delicious ways (one being vegan) to prepare macaroni & cheese topped with savory caramelized onions.

Ingredients: non vegan

• 1½ cups pasta shells
• 2 sweet yellow onions, sliced into thin rings
• 1 egg white
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 1 cup low fat milk
• 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• ½ teaspoon each pink Himalayan salt and course ground black pepper
• 2 cups mozzarella, shredded
• ¼ cup parmesan, shredded
• ¼ cup Panko crumbs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.

In a large sauce pan, bring water to a boil. Add pasta and cook 8 minutes; drain.

In a large pan or skillet, drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over onions. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently 14 minutes or until caramelized; set aside.

Lightly oil a cast iron skillet or baking dish. Pour in pasta; coat with avocado oil and egg white. Whisk together milk and flour; pour over pasata, blend well. Mix in salt, pepper, and mozzarella. Top with caramelized onions, parmesan, and Panko crumbs.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until browned.

Ingredients: vegan

• 1½ cups pasta shells
• 2 sweet yellow onions, sliced into thin rings
• ¼ cup Panko crumbs
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil
• 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
• 2 cups almond milk
• ½ teaspoon each pink Himalayan salt and course ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast

Directions:

Heat oven to high broil. Set oven rack 2nd level from top.

Prepare pasta and onions same as above.

Toast Panko crumbs in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside.

In a sauce pan warm avocado oil over medium heat. Sift flour into heated oil, stirring briskly. Constantly stir for about 4 minutes. Add almond milk, continue stirring until sauce begins to thicken. Once desired thickens is achieved, remove from heat. Stir in salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast.

Pour pasta and sauce into a cast iron skillet or baking dish, mix well. Top with caramelized onions and Panko crumbs. Broil in oven for 1-2 minutes or until browned. Keep an eye on dish, it will brown quickly.

There you have it. Two delicious recipes for one amazing dish. Enjoy!