Raw cashews are delicious just eaten by the handful, but with simple kitchen tricks and additional ingredients, you can use them to create many raw delights.
Think your only options for sour cream, whipped cream or dressings are limited to dairy or soy-based products? Think again! Transform soaked, raw cashews into a versatile mother sauce that’s the basis for creams, dips, and dressings. These five examples— cashew-based sour cream, whipped cream, fruit dip, dressing, sauce, and even cheese— are just the beginning. The possibilities of cashew cream are bounded only by your imagination and willingness to experiment.
Ingredients
- Cashew Sour Cream (Makes about 1 cup)
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
- 1-2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Cashew Whipped Cream (Makes about 1 cup)
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
- ½ cup raw apple juice
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of sea salt
- Cashew Fruit Dip (Makes about 1½ cups)
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
- ½ cup apple juice
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Sweetener (raw agave, stevia, or maple syrup), as desired
- Pinch of sea salt
- ½ cup mixed berries
- Garlic Herb Dressing (Makes about ¾ cup)
- ½ cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
- ¼ cup water
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 2 Tbsp fresh herbs (such as basil, oregano, thyme)
- ½ lemon, juiced and zested
- 2 Tbsp Vega® Antioxidant Omega Oil Blend
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Spicy Cashew Sauce (Makes about ¾ cup)
- ½ cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
- ¼ cup water
- 2 Tbsp or more raw hot sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- ⅛ onion, chopped
- ½ lemon or lime, juiced (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Cashew Cheese (Makes 3 cups)
- 3 cups raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
- 3 probiotic capsules or 1 1/2 tsp probiotic powder
- ⅔ cup water
Preparation
-
Cashew Sour Cream
- Blend all ingredients until very smooth, additional water may be required.
- Serve on baked potatoes, plant-based nachos or soups.
-
Cashew Whipped Cream
- Blend all ingredients together until very smooth. Refrigerate until needed.
- Top any raw dessert or fresh fruit with this whipped cream.
-
Cashew Fruit Dip
- Blend cashews, apple juice, vanilla, sweetener and salt until very smooth.
- Add in berries and pulse until desired berry texture (chunky or smooth) is reached.
- Use as a dip for fruit or instead of icing on a raw dessert.
-
Garlic Herb Dressing
- Blend all ingredients until smooth, adding more water if needed to reach your preferred dressing consistency. Taste and adjust flavors as desired.
- Can be served as a dip for veggies, or as a dressing on top of a raw salad.
-
Spicy Cashew Sauce
- Blend all ingredients until a smooth sauce forms. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Use as a sauce for stir-fries, pasta or power bowls, or as a salad dressing.
-
Cashew Cheese
- Blend cashews, probiotics and water until very smooth.
- Line a sieve with cheesecloth and place in a bowl. Pour cashew mixture in sieve and cover with a clean cloth. Leave on countertop for 14 to 16 hours.
- Combine cheese mixture with desired flavors and form into a log. Mixture makes 3 cups of cashew cheese.
- To serve a trio of three flavors (as suggested above), divide basic cashew cheese into three parts prior to flavoring and forming into logs.
- To serve a single flavor, triple the ingredient quantities of the flavor option of your choice above to flavor the entire batch.
- Serve with gluten-free crackers or bread, or use as you would a soft goat cheese of this style. Keeps in refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Flavor Options
(Each option flavors 1 cup of cashew cheese)
Blueberry
1 cup cashew cheese
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
½ cup blueberries, chopped
Pepper
1 cup cashew cheese
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
¼ tsp onion powder
Sea salt, to taste
Crushed peppercorns (to roll cheese log in)
Roasted Garlic
1 cup cashew cheese
½ head roasted garlic
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
Pepper and sea salt, to taste
1 tsp lemon juice
