Description
This creamy, dairy-free cashew cheese sauce is a versatile and delicious alternative to traditional cheese sauces. Made from soaked raw cashew nuts blended with nutritional yeast, garlic, vinegar, and spices, it delivers a rich, cheesy flavor with a smooth, silky texture. Perfect for drizzling over vegetables, pasta, or using as a dip, this sauce is simple to prepare and entirely plant-based.
Ingredients
Scale
Cashew Cheese Sauce
- 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 cashew nuts in a small bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let them soak for 15 minutes. Soaking softens the cashews, ensuring the sauce achieves a silky, smooth, and glossy texture.
- Prepare for Blending: Drain the soaked cashews through a sieve, discarding the soaking water. Transfer the cashews into a blender along with the nutritional yeast, white wine vinegar, garlic, onion powder, sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Add Plant Milk and Blend: Pour in the minimum amount of plant milk (¾ cup) to start. Blend all ingredients together until completely smooth. Check the sauce’s consistency; if it’s too thick, gradually add more plant milk, blending briefly after each addition until desired creaminess is achieved.
- Season to Taste: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or vinegar to balance the flavors according to your preference.
Notes
- Soaking the cashews is crucial for achieving a smooth texture, even if you have a high-powered blender.
- Use unsweetened and unflavoured plant milk to keep the sauce savory and natural.
- Adjust the smoked paprika amount for heat preference or substitute with chipotle powder for a smoky kick.
- This sauce stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Can be warmed gently before serving but avoid boiling to maintain creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blending and soaking
- Cuisine: Vegan, Plant-based
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (30 ml)
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 0.5 grams
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 6 grams
- Saturated Fat: 1 gram
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 4 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 2 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: cashew cheese sauce, vegan cheese sauce, dairy-free cheese sauce, cashew sauce, plant-based cheese
