Whether you avoid dairy or eat it happily this 5 minute cashew cheese sauce will be a delicious addition to anything from tacos, to baked potatoes, steamed vegetables and pasta dishes. The cheese sauce is vegan, paleo and even Whole30 friendly too (when used according to program principles)!
I kind of have a complicated relationship with nutritional yeast. I sort of like it, but I’m not crazy about it, so sometimes I like to play around with other ingredients to mimic the cheesy flavor.
Which is exactly the case in this recipe where toasted pine nuts, porcini mushroom powder and apple cider vinegar makes up for the omission of nutritional yeast (…and I’ll tell you real quick, that I think it’s a GREAT success!). The porcini mushroom powder isn’t a must btw., but do try adding it, if you can get your hands on it.
Bear in mind, that this cheese sauce it what it is – a cashew-based vegan alternative to cheese sauce. If you’re a super hardcore cheese lover, this might not satisfy your cheese cravings. But it’s still really delicious and if you want a creamy, slightly cheesy and really dang yummy sauce in your life, you should totally try this recipe!
Different ways to use the cashew cheese sauce
- drizzle in/on tacos, tortillas, nachos, baked potatoes – even burgers, pizzas, wraps and sandwiches!
- toss together with pasta
- toss together with boiled new potatoes (some red onion, chives and maybe even jalapeño for a cheesy take on potato salad)
- use in lasagna and other oven-baked dishes
- use as a dip for veggies and fries (…or like nachos and chips)
- pour over grilled, steamed or oven-baked veggies
- …just eat with everything, okay?
Different ways to tweak the flavor – if you want…
- that ‘nutritional yeast cheesy flavor’: try adding 2 tsp nutritional yeast – feel free to omit the toasted pine nuts and the porcini mushroom powder (or go crazy and use both toasted pine nuts, porcini mushroom powder AND nutritional yeast – get yo’ cheese on!). Also, if you eat nutritional yeast make sure you eat a non-fortified one, that’s hasn’t been fortified with a bunch of bad quality artificial b-vitamins.
- a more ‘zesty’ cheese sauce: try adding 1-2 tsp of finely grated lime zest.
- the cheese sauce a bit spicy: try adding 1/4-1 tsp red chili flakes (depending on how spicy you want it).
- a yellow cheese sauce: try adding 1/4-1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- the cheese sauce to have a slightly smokey flavor: try adding 1/4-1/2 tsp of ground sweet smoked paprika and maybe a dash of regular ground sweet paprika too.
Cashew cheese sauce
This 5 minute cashew cheese sauce is a delicious addition to anything from tacos, to baked potatoes, to steamed vegetables and pasta dishes. The cheese sauce is vegan, paleo and even Whole30 friendly too!
Servings 1 3/4 C / 440 ml
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 C / 190 g raw cashews
- 2 tbsp / 18 g toasted pine nuts
- 1 C / 250 ml water
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4-1/2 tsp porcini mushroom powder (adds umami flavor, optional)
- 1 tsp fine pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
- 1/2 tsp fine ground black pepper
Instructions
-
Combine everything in a bullet blender or high speed blender and blend into a completely smooth and thick sauce.
-
Season to taste (I like to add an extra dash of salt and pepper).
Storage and shelf life
- The cheese sauce stores well in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Do you want to print the recipe for cashew cheese sauce? I’ve got you!
Cashew cheese sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 C / 190 g raw cashews
- 2 tbsp / 18 g toasted pine nuts
- 1 C / 250 ml water
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4-1/2 tsp porcini mushroom powder (adds umami flavor, optional)
- 1 tsp fine pink Himalayan salt or sea salt
- 1/2 tsp fine ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine everything in a bullet blender or high speed blender and blend into a completely smooth and thick sauce.
- Season to taste (I like to add an extra dash of salt and pepper).
STORAGE AND SHELF LIFE
- The cheese sauce stores well in the fridge for 4-5 days.
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