Vegan Queso Dip Made with Cashew Butter (Recipe)

Posted on : February 26th, 2018

What to eat with quesoIt was so warm in Chico a couple of weeks ago that I thought Spring had surely arrived! It reached 80ºF one day and happy people rushed outside to enjoy the unseasonably warm temperatures. But silly me! Last week the temperatures plummeted and it became cold. Icy cold. Ice on the trees cold! And nothing makes me crave comfort food more than that! Preferably something melty and cheesy. It’s queso time! But what if you’re vegan or just want something a bit more healthy? Hmmm . . .

I was thinking that very thought while grocery shopping the other day and suddenly a bag of nutritional yeast practically jumped off the shelf at me! It’s been years since I’ve eaten it but I was flooded with memories of eating popcorn sprinkled with nutritional yeast and tamari in front of the fire with my vegan friends.

If you don’t know what nutritional yeast is yet, let me fill you in. It’s yellow flakes of deactivated yeast that is packed with B-vitamins and a surprising amount of protein. It’s low-fat, dairy-free, gluten-free and perfect for a vegan diet. But the best part about it is that it is surprisingly good! It tastes savory, a little salty, sort of cheesey and you can use it in all sorts of recipes. I admit it’s kind of weird looking but just sprinkle it on popcorn and you’ll see why it’s worth going to your local health food store or Trader Joe’s to get yourself some. It is so yummy!

Now get yourself a jar of Maisie Jane’s Organic Creamy Cashew Butter because we’re going to have some fun. There is something about the combination of cashew butter and nutritional yeast that screams CHEESE! And you can make yourself a queso-like vegan dip in no time flat. Just mix it up with some oil and water, whisk it well while heating it over the stove for 2-3 minutes and, just before serving, add your favorite prepared salsa (or make your own from diced tomatoes, onions, garlic and chile peppers). Serve with a plate of raw veggies or grab some tortilla chips and dig in!

Vegan Queso

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cashew butter
  • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/3 cup salsa (I make mine mild and add hot sauce if anyone complains afterwards)
  • diced green onions, tomatoes and cilantro (for garnish)

1) Combine cashew butter, nutritional yeast, water, oil, salt and spices in a small cooking pot.

2) Bring to a simmer and whisk 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.

3) Remove from stove and add salsa and hot sauce (if desired) to taste.

4) Garnish and serve with chips or raw veggies.


Maisie Jane’s California Sunshine Products, Inc. was founded on strong beliefs and passion for offering unique, flavorful, top-quality, nut products. We strongly believe in earth-friendly practices that start on our family owned and operated orchards. We use Organic farming practices and continue in the process by using all-natural ingredients with no preservatives or GMOs. We believe in honest, friendly and helpful customer relations at all levels. We take pride in every task, every day, with every person.