Melty Cheese Sauce Vegan
Indulge in the creamy, velvety goodness of this melty vegan cheese sauce, a plant-based kitchen staple that's as versatile as it is delicious. Made with wholesome ingredients like raw cashews, tender carrots, and potatoes, this sauce achieves a rich, cheesy flavor with the help of nutritional yeast, a touch of smoked paprika, and a splash of zesty lemon juice. Perfectly smooth and satisfying, it’s ideal for drizzling over pasta, nachos, or roasted vegetables, or as a dip for just about anything. Quick to prepare and entirely dairy-free, this recipe is a must-try for those craving a luscious, healthier cheese alternative.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raw cashews
- 1 medium Carrot
- 1 medium Potato
- 0.25 cup Nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 0.5 cup Unsweetened plant-based milk (e.g., almond, soy, or oat)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil or melted coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.75 cup Water
Instructions
Place the raw cashews in a small bowl and cover with hot water. Let them soak for 10 minutes to soften while preparing the vegetables.
Peel and dice the carrot and potato into small chunks for quicker cooking.
Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the diced carrot and potato, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until they are soft enough to be pierced with a fork. Drain and set aside.
Drain the soaked cashews and add them to a high-speed blender or food processor.
Add the cooked carrot and potato, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, plant-based milk, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and water to the blender.
Blend on high speed until the mixture becomes completely smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add additional water in small increments until the desired consistency is reached.
Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt, nutritional yeast, or lemon juice for flavor.
Transfer the cheese sauce to a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until warmed through and slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
Serve immediately over your favorite dishes, or store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water to loosen if it thickens.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
331 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 23.1 g | 30% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.9 g | 19% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 276 mg | 12% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 22.9 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.6 g | 16% | |
| Total Sugars | 3.5 g | ||
| Protein | 11.9 g | 24% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 2% | |
| Calcium | 78 mg | 6% | |
| Iron | 3.1 mg | 17% | |
| Potassium | 582 mg | 12% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
