Description
This creamy and flavorful Cashew Cheese Sauce is a perfect dairy-free alternative that’s versatile for many dishes. Made from soaked raw cashews blended with nutritional yeast, garlic, spices, and plant milk, it delivers a rich, cheesy taste with a smooth and silky texture. Ideal as a topping, dip, or sauce, it’s vegan, gluten-free, and quick to prepare in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Cashew Cheese Sauce Ingredients
- 1 cup (140 grams) raw cashew nuts
- 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 small clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika or chipotle powder
- ¾ to 1 cup (180 ml to 240 ml) unsweetened, unflavoured plant milk (such as almond or oat milk)
Instructions
- Soak the Cashews: Place the raw cashews in a small bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let them soak for 15 minutes to soften, which is essential for a smooth and creamy sauce texture.
- Drain and Prepare for Blending: Drain the soaked cashews through a sieve, discarding the soaking water. Transfer the cashews to a blender and add the nutritional yeast, white wine vinegar, garlic, onion powder, sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Add Plant Milk and Blend: Pour in ¾ cup of the unsweetened plant milk to start. Blend all ingredients until completely smooth. If the sauce is too thick, gradually add more plant milk, blending briefly after each addition until you reach the desired creamy consistency.
- Season to Taste: Taste your cashew cheese sauce and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt, pepper, or vinegar to balance the flavors according to your preference.
Notes
- Soaking cashews is crucial for achieving a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Use unsweetened, unflavoured plant milk to avoid altering the taste.
- This sauce keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Feel free to customize the spices, adding more smoked paprika for extra smoky flavor or a pinch of cayenne for heat.
- Great as a dip, dressing, or cheese substitute in vegan recipes.
