Introduction: Raw Cashew Nacho Cheese
Raw food recipes fascinate me. I suppose with great constraints comes great creativity : )
Using nuts as the basis for cheese substitutes is something I have meant to try out. I really like cheese, so I was dubious. However, nacho cheese seemed like a great first candidate. First, nacho cheese generally isn't so much cheese as it is plasticy orange goo...no counting you nacho gourmets out there who use actual cheeses. Second, since it is meant to be served with lots of other toppings, there is room for variation in taste and texture. And third, this is a very quick and simple recipe. So no huge investment of time or money required.
Since cashews are mild in flavor, this recipe can easily be adjusted to fit your taste by changing up the spices or just using a packet of taco seasoning. I combined/subtracted/changed around some versions I found to make something more my style (For example, I'm not a big fan of tahini, so the amount here is less than in many other versions).
You don't have to go all hippie-vegan-raw crazy with something like this either. For a small adjustment, you could just trade out standard nacho cheese for this version and still heat it and serve with your favorite toppings, but overall you will have a less processed, lower fat meal. Incremental changes can go a long way!
Ingredients
2 Cups Cashews
1 Cup Water
1 Red Pepper
3 Cloves Garlic
2 Tbs Lemon Juice
2 Tbs Nutritional Yeast
1 Tbs Tahini
1 Tbs Flax
2 tsp Chia Seeds
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp White Pepper
1/2 tsp Cayenne
Tools
Blender
Knife/Cutting Board
Measuring Cups/Spoons
Directions
Soak raw cashews for 1 - 2 hours and drain.
Then just pop everything in the blender and mix til smooth (several minutes).
Pour into a bowl and let sit a few minutes to thicken up a bit. Serve at or slightly above room temperature over chips and pile on fresh veggies, salsa and guacamole!
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10 Comments
6 years ago
I have standard cashews from Costco. Is it going to matter for this recipe?
I have no particular urge to eat all my food raw, just the stuff one usually eats raw, like celery, lettuce, bell peppers, and fruit. I even microwave carrots for 1-2 minutes, which enhances the flavor.
10 years ago on Introduction
im gonna make some.
11 years ago on Introduction
OMG!!! Soooooo good. Thanks for the recipe. Going raw slowly but surely..at about 80% raw. Made a yummy pizza with it. Thank you!
11 years ago on Introduction
I made this yesterday and it was so delicious! I am glad this is another dish I can add to my "very tasty" recipe file. Raw food is healthy and can be so tasty with dishes like your nacho cheese. Thanks for sharing this.
11 years ago on Introduction
Just a little bit of info, unroasted cashews have a toxin on them that causes severe skin iritation, don't think you can just pluck cashews from the trees and throw this recipe together. Cashews must be roasted in order to be safe for human consumption, so the title of this ible is a little incorrect but still very tasty.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
false. not everyone is allergic to everything natural.
Great recipe, BTW.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Thank you for the info! Given that, I should clarify, by 'raw' I mean cashews that are packaged and marketed as raw.
Cashew distributors call unroasted nuts raw, but they did still undergo a heating process. i think they are steamed to remove them from the shell.
So, buy unroasted cashews, but not fresh-off-the-tree cashews!
11 years ago on Introduction
Nice ible! Thanks for sharing!
11 years ago on Introduction
This sounds awesome. :D
11 years ago on Introduction
I feel healthier just reading this recipe!