Faux Tuna (Jackfruit) Casserole

Who doesn't love a good casserole?  I'm pretty sure almost all adults and kids alike would never turn down a homemade casserole.  Kind of fits in the same category as a pot pie.  Down right homey, comfy and good.  Okay, there is nothing mind blowing with this recipe.  But, there is a way to make it plant based and vegan!
 

 Bye bye canned cream of mushroom soup, cheese and milk.  You don't need all that processed crap to make a great casserole!  And guess what?  It really doesn't even take that much longer when you make it from scratch either!

So what's your choice?  Preservative, hormone packed casserole?  Or, homemade, nutrient, plant-based casserole?  I choose the ladder.

Faux Tuna (Jackfruit) Casserole

Ingredients: (serves 4-6)

2 c macaroni noodles

1 c frozen peas thawed

1 tbsp evoo

1 celery stalk chopped

1 garlic clove minced

1/2 yellow onion chopped

1/2 c chopped mushrooms

1 can jackfruit

2.5-3 c unsweetened almond milk

2 tbsp flour 

3 tbsp nutritional yeast

onion powder

garlic powder

cayanne

old bay 

s+p

1/2 c panko bread crumbs

1 tbsp melted vegan butter (I used Earth Balance)

Directions:

Preheat oven 350.  Boil water and cook macaroni noodles accordinly and set aside.  In meantime, saute garlic, onion and celery in evoo for about 4 minutes.  Add in mushrooms and saute an additional 3 minutes.  Add in seasoning to taste.  Stir in almond milk (starting with just 2.5 c- add in other 1/2 c if needed later on), allow to start boiling, then simmer.  Spoon in nutritional yeast and flour and allow to thicken.  Adjust seasoning again to taste and allow to continue to simmer.  In meantime, drain jackfruit and squeeze out additional liquid.  Shred jackfruit, discarding the seeds.  Throw into the simmering mushroom sauce.  Place elbow macaroni in 8x8 baking dish and pour in your mushroom-jackfruit sauce.  Mix thoroughly in dish.  Spinkle panko crumbs over the top and spoon vegan butter over.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Enjoy with the family for an easy vegan dinner!