Description

This creamy Nacho Cashew Cheese Sauce is a delicious and dairy-free alternative to traditional cheese sauces, perfect for topping nachos, dipping vegetables, or enhancing your favorite Mexican dishes. Made from soaked raw cashews and a blend of flavorful spices and green chilies, it delivers a smoky, cheesy, and slightly spicy taste while being entirely plant-based and gluten-free.

Ingredients

Scale

Cashew Base

3/4 cup raw cashews
3 tbsp unsweetened plant-based milk (e.g., almond milk)

Flavorings

4 oz can of green chilies
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tbsp pickled jalapenos
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt plus more to taste

Instructions

Soak the cashews: Place your raw cashews in a bowl and cover them with water. Let them soak for at least 6-8 hours or overnight to soften. For a quick alternative, cover the cashews with boiling water and let them soak for 20-30 minutes to achieve similar softness.
Blend the ingredients: Drain the soaking water from the cashews and transfer them to a high-speed blender. Add the green chilies, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, pickled jalapenos, smoked paprika, chili powder, plant-based milk, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Blend on high, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides, until the sauce is completely smooth and velvety.
Adjust seasoning: Taste the sauce and decide if it needs more salt. Add small increments of salt (up to 1 teaspoon total), blending and tasting after each addition until you reach your preferred flavor balance.

Notes

For best texture, use a high-speed blender to ensure the sauce is completely smooth.
If you prefer a thinner sauce, add more plant-based milk gradually until desired consistency is reached.
The sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Feel free to adjust the level of pickled jalapenos or chili powder to control the spiciness.
Soaking cashews overnight improves creaminess but the quick soak method works well in a pinch.

Prep Time: 10 minutes (excluding soaking time)
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Sauce, Dip
Method: Blending and soaking
Cuisine: Mexican-inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (about 30g)
Calories: 80
Sugar: 1g
Sodium: 150mg
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 6g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: nacho cheese sauce, cashew cheese, dairy-free cheese sauce, vegan nacho sauce, plant-based cheese, gluten-free cheese sauce, cheese dip, vegan dip