Vegan Alpine Älpler Magronen
Älpler Magronen is a beloved hearty Alpine staple from the Swiss mountains: a comforting mix of short pasta, soft potato cubes, rich creamy cheese sauce, and sweet caramelised onions, traditionally served with tangy apple compote on the side. This fully vegan version retains all the warm, satisfying flavour and rustic texture of the original, using plant‑based cheeses and dairy‑free cream — a wholesome, filling meal that tastes like mountain comfort food at its best.
Shared by katty
Time
55 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
easy
🛒 Ingredients
- #Base Ingredients;
- 250g short macaroni or penne
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
- 2 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter,, 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- Pinch of sugar (for caramelising),, Salt and black pepper to taste
- #Creamy Cheese Sauce;
- 250ml unsweetened oat or soy cream
- 150g grated vegan Swiss‑style or cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast.. ½ tsp nutmeg.. 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water (optional, for thickening)
- #To Serve;
- Homemade or store‑bought apple compote
- Fresh parsley, chopped
👩🍳 Instructions
- 1
Cook pasta & potatoes: Boil salted water, add macaroni and potato cubes together, and cook until pasta is al dente and potatoes are tender; drain well.
- 2
Caramelise onions: Heat oil or butter in a pan over medium‑low heat. Add onions and a tiny pinch of sugar, cook slowly for 10–12 minutes until deep golden and sweet; set aside half for topping.
- 3
Make sauce: In a small pot, warm plant cream with garlic, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast. Stir in grated cheese until fully melted and smooth; add cornstarch slurry if you prefer a thicker sauce.
- 4
Combine: Toss the cooked pasta and potatoes into the onion pan, pour over the cheese sauce, and mix gently until everything is evenly coated.
- 5
Finish: Transfer to a warm serving dish, pile the reserved caramelised onions generously on top, and sprinkle with parsley.
- 6
Serve: Enjoy warm alongside a bowl of sweet apple compote for the classic sweet‑and‑savoury balance.