Monday, March 30, 2009

Cheesy Sauce

Cheese --- delicious cheese --- high in fat, filled with cholesterol, difficult to digest. But oh, so hard to give up! Until now! How about a 100% plant-based cheesy sauce that helps to fill the gap? This recipe is for a savory and flavorful cheese-like sauce. Put it in a squeeze bottle to use like cheese whiz, use on chips for nachos, layer in lasagna, or stir into pasta for macaroni and cheese. Delicious!

Cheesy Sauce

1/3 cup raw cashews
1 1/2 cups cold water
4 Tbsp. pimientos
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes
1 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Rinse cashews in a strainer using hot water. Drain and place in blender. Add remaining ingredients and blend until very smooth. Place mixture into saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Remove from heat. May be served hot or chilled.

*Notes*

Thank you for the feedback and comments. In response to several questions: Brazil nuts can be substituted for cashews if you have an allergy or difficulty finding raw cashews. Nutritional yeast is available at most health food stores. Happy experimenting! If you have never tried a cheese substitute, I recommend that you don't 'think' of this as cheese, but rather as a wonderful, savory sauce or dressing. It is real food, just not real cheese. :D

7 comments:

  1. Thank you for this! I'm a fan of nutritional yeast. And btw, I made your vegan choc chip, pumpkin cookies recently, and WOW they were good! I substituted honey for sugar and used whole wheat.

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  2. Oh I think that I could really enjoy such a thing. While I adore cashews, I am horribly allergic to them. Would any other nut work?

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  3. I really must try it. I have someone in my house that loves cheese, but it isn't good for him. This would be a perfect substitute. Thanks!

    Love the curtains too.

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  4. Amazing how much that looks like cheese!

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  5. I think I may try this - where do you find "nutritional yeast"? I would imagine Whole Food stores?

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  6. OK yet another reason you are part of my life La!! I love me my cheese, and have tried to depart from it without long term success!!

    I am going to try this for sure!! I also didn't realize you were vegan which is something I'm moving toward!! I will have to take some time with your recipe blog, too. I love it when someone has already tried the recipe and can give it thumbs up or down!!

    Blessings and hugs!!
    Bceky

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  7. Hmmm, very interesting recipe! I want to try it!

    Katherine

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Thank you for commenting on my blog post. I am always happy to hear from blog readers. Your words encourage and inspire me. I am glad you stopped by to share conversation, recipes, ideas, and thoughts on creating a welcoming home.