With just 7 ingredients, this easy Vegan Cashew Queso will satisfy all of your queso cravings! Serve with a side of corn chips for the perfect vegan, gluten-free party snack!
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This vegan queso recipe is for all of us daydreaming about the unlimited queso and chips at our favorite TexMex restaurant.
Thanks to cashews and nutritional yeast, this plant-based queso style dip truly does the trick to satisfy that craving! It’s creamy, cheesy and 100% addictive!
If you’re new to vegan “cheese”, raw cashews are a common substitute, as their creamy texture combines with nutritional yeast to provide the perfect cheesy texture and flavor.
It sounds a little crazy but it absolutely works!
This easy vegan queso comes together super quickly, with just 7 ingredients plus chips to dip and optional jalapenos for presentation.
The cashews need to soak for at least an hour (preferably – but you can get away with a quick soak in boiling water) which allows them to soften, but beyond that, this entire recipe comes together in just a few minutes.
I made this dairy-free queso dip for a group of friends recently and it literally disappeared within minutes, I had to get in quick to try some myself!
This is definitely going to become my go-to appetizer for any and all parties and tailgating, as no one (me included!) can get enough of it.
It also works perfectly on nachos, in tacos (try it with one of these vegan meat crumbles!), or in burritos.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Vegan Queso Recipe
That same addictive, creamy texture of your favorite queso
Can be used as a dip for EVERYTHING
Always a party hit
Perfect for tailgating
Just a handful of ingredients and super quick to prepare!
Place soaked cashews, 1 cup almond milk, nutritional yeast, salt, smoked paprika and sundried tomatoes in a high-speed food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
Place olive oil and cornstarch in a non-stick skillet and stir to combine. Then add the cashew mixture to the skillet.
The number of nutrients and calories will only be altered if roasted cashews are seasoned with ingredients such as salt or honey. Some nutritionists argue that raw cashews are slightly better because they are unmodified and retain all their initial minerals and nutrients.
Creamy vegan queso made with cashews, sweet potatoes, nutritional yeast, green chilis and a blend of spices. Drizzle it on your favorite dish or serve it as a dip with tortilla chips!
Highly recommend this whether you're a vegan, just trying to eat healthy or looking for an option, besides overly processed food. It's a family now and we've ordered it at least five times. At last! Something tasty enough to make cauliflower cheese!
Substitute for cashews: cashews are my preference as they are creamy and mild in flavor, but if you need to substitute them you can use macadamia nuts, blanched almonds, or raw sunflower seeds. All of these nuts and seeds will need to be boiled for about 15 minutes to ensure they have softened.
High in calories: Cashews are high in calories. There is a higher likelihood of eating them in excess because they are delicious. This can cause problems such as obesity, high blood lipids, and sugar levels.
Cashews contain a natural toxin called urushiol in their raw, unprocessed state. The toxin is found around the cashew shell and can leach out onto the exterior of the nut itself.
A: Velveeta is a processed cheese which is not vegan. It's made with milk and whey, both come from cows. A great alternative is this vegan nacho cheese.
As vegan blog Wag Free Food notes, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut cream are popular ingredients to make vegan cheese. The high-fat content of coconut makes it easier to create a creamy, decadent, cheese-like product.
Like regular cheese, vegan cheese can be part of a healthy diet when used in moderation — but it's best to avoid highly processed options. However, not all vegan cheeses are created equally. Some versions are highly processed and have less nutritional value than others.
Aside from being super delicious, plant-based cashew cheese is rich with Vitamin B, Calcium, Protein and Fiber. It has more vitamins and minerals than dairy. Unlike animal cheese, it does not have saturated fats which increase cholesterol and your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Cashew cheese tastes a bit nutty and salty. The cheesiness typically comes from the addition of nutritional yeast. Most homemade cashew cheese has a spreadable consistency similar to hummus or ricotta, which means it's excellent as a sauce or dip—but you can't really use it in place of mozzarella or cheddar.
The cashew-based cheese alternatives were the most likely products to be low in sodium (Table 1). Over 80% of the cheese alternatives were low in calories, while only 2% were high in fat.
Raw unsalted cashews are what most recipes use. They produce the creamiest and smoothest texture when soaked. They also have an ideal neutral flavor that is perfect in recipes such as vegan ranch dip and cashew mayo.
A resounding yes, it sure does, not all of it, but vegan cheese does melt and melt well. Just like non-vegan cheese, there will be some that aren't created to melt, nor do it well, it's just the same. Make sure to cook vegan cheeses on a lower heat than you would normally and keep an eye on them.
When it comes to nutrition, both raw cashews and roasted cashews are excellent choices; the ways that the two types of cashews are processed do not change the other nutritional properties of the cashews. Both types are rich in nutrients, and both have the potential to be low in sugar, depending on how they are roasted.
Cashews are prepared for consumption in one of two ways: raw and roasted. The phrase “raw cashew” is misleading, as all cashews fit for consumption have been roasted once to remove both the cashew shell and the shell's harmful oils. Roasted cashews are roasted a second time to alter or enhance the cashews' flavor.
The Bottom Line. Both raw and roasted nuts are good for you and provide health benefits. Both varieties contain similar amounts of calories, protein, carbs and fiber. However, roasting nuts may damage their healthy fat, reduce their nutrient content and lead to the formation of a harmful substance called acrylamide.
And of course, a nut mix wouldn't be complete without them! Roasted cashews are delicious on salads, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, oatmeal, and in baked goods. Or, add them to snacks like Homemade Chex Mix or Puppy Chow. Like other nuts, roasting enhances the flavor and aroma of cashews.
Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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