Vegan Nacho Cheese

Level up your snacking with this delicious Vegan Nacho Cheese. It's creamy, tangy and delicious! It calls for simple ingredients and takes less than 20 minutes to make.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 5

Total Time 20

Servings people

Calories 119kcal

Author Melissa Huggins

Equipment

High-Powered Blender

Ingredients

1 cup raw cashews
¾ cup unsweetened soy milk (or any plant-based milk)
½ cup vegetable broth , low sodium
3 tablespoons pimientos
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 ½ tablespoons tapioca starch
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
½ teaspoon granulated onion
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¾ teaspoon sea salt , more to taste
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper * optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cashew Prep: If you’re not using a high-powered blender (like a Vitamix), you’ll need to soften the cashews first—otherwise, you can skip this step. To do this, bring a small pot of water to a boil, then remove it from the heat. Add the cashews, cover, and let them sit for 20 minutes. Once softened, drain, rinse, and discard the soaking water.
Add cashews and remaining ingredients to a high-powered blender. Blend on high until smooth (the sauce will be thin).
Pour cheese into a medium pot over medium heat. Cook until the cheese thickens up. It should take about 4-6 minutes. Stir often so it doesn’t stick or burn. Taste for seasoning and add more if needed. For a thinner consistency, add a few splashes of broth and combine. Remove from heat and serve.

Notes

Cashews: Without a high-speed blender, the cashews might not completely break down, resulting in a gritty texture. You can use the hot water method above or soften them in cool or room temp water for 3-6 hours (or overnight in the fridge).

Flavor enhancers:

Add a subtle zing with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
Add more heat with 1 tablespoon of jarred jalapeños.
For smoky heat, add 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce.
For a little more depth, add a ½ teaspoon of chili powder

Consistency:

For a thicker consistency, add ½ tablespoon more of the tapioca starch or a tablespoon more nutritional yeast.
For a thinner sauce, add a few splashes of vegetable broth and combine.

Reheat - Place in a pot over medium heat and add a few splashes of vegetable broth to thin it out. Cook until warm and melty. Stir often.

Nutrition