Nacho Cashew Cheese Sauce (Printable)

Creamy dairy-free sauce with spicy nacho flavor, ideal for dipping, drizzling, or coating your favorite Tex-Mex dishes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Nuts

01 - 1 cup raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 15 minutes then drained

→ Vegetables

02 - 1/2 cup diced roasted red bell pepper
03 - 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
04 - 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
11 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

→ Liquids

12 - 3/4 cup water, plus more as needed

→ Optional Enhancements

13 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce or chipotle in adobo
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

# Steps:

01 - Combine drained cashews, roasted red bell pepper, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, turmeric, salt, and water in a high-speed blender.
02 - Blend until completely smooth and creamy, pausing to scrape down sides as needed. Adjust consistency with additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
03 - Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice if desired. For more heat, blend in hot sauce or chipotle.
04 - Pour sauce into a small saucepan and heat gently over medium-low heat, stirring frequently for 5-7 minutes until warmed through and slightly thickened.
05 - Serve warm as a dip, or drizzle over nachos, tacos, or roasted vegetables.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It creates that velvety cheese sauce experience without any dairy, heaviness, or processed ingredients
  • The smoky, spicy nacho flavor profile works on everything from game day snacks to weeknight tacos
02 -
  • Blend longer than you think necessary, any graininess will be obvious in the finished sauce
  • The sauce thickens as it cools, so keep some warm water handy when reheating leftovers
03 -
  • Invest in smoked paprika rather than sweet, it makes all the difference in that authentic nacho flavor
  • If your blender struggles, soak the cashews for thirty minutes or use boiling water instead of hot tap water

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