Classic Cashew Cheese is a recipe for a dairy-free alternative to cheese made with raw cashews and nutritional yeast for a tasty treat.

Cashew cheese is perfect for those of you wanting an alternative to dairy or for the adventurous foodies who want to give a new recipe a try. I promise this won’t disappoint — it’s full of flavor and not to mention nutrition from the main ingredients raw cashews and nutritional yeast.

What is Cashew Cheese?

Cashew cheese is a dairy-free and vegan alternative to cheese. It’s made by first soaking cashews in filtered water then blending the cashews to a spreadable consistency. Cashew cheese is very versatile and easy to adapt to different tastes with seasoning.

This recipe is not only vitamin- and mineral-rich compared to standard dairy, but it’s also much easier for many of us to digest, tastes great, and is versatile to use! There’s a key player in why this recipe is so delicious, and that’s nutritional yeast.

What is Nutritional Yeast?

Nutritional yeast is an inactive form of yeast used as a food, it’s especially high in B vitamins and protein and also contains fiber, selenium, and potassium. Before entering the plant-based community, I never heard of nutritional yeast. Fast forward to the present moment and I adore nutritional yeast for boosting the nutrition content in simple foods and also for achieving a cheesy flavor sans dairy.

Nutritional yeast has been a pantry staple of mine for years. There’s hardly a day I go without using a bit of it! Because it contains B vitamins (which most brands fortify in foods), it’s a complete protein and has a cheesy flavor. It’s popular in plant-based lifestyles; but who says it stops with plant-based diets? Everyone can enjoy and incorporate nutritional yeast into their diet.

How to Use Classic Cashew Cheese

Dollop: Scoop onto baked potatoes, on a salad, fresh pasta, scrambled eggs, etc.

Dip: Use as a dip for vegetables, fruits, gluten-free crackers, etc.

Dressing: 1 Tbs. classic cashew cheese + 2 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar = creamy salad dressing

Sauce: 1/4 cup classic cashew cheese + 3 Tbs. dijon mustard + 1/2 cup of almond milk = creamy cheesy sauce

Spread: Smear onto sandwiches, cracker, wraps, gluten-free toast, etc.

What Is A Foundational Five Nourish Meal?

The Foundational Five Nourish Meal is any meal that contains all 5 elements within the Foundational Five, non-starchy carbohydrates, starchy carbohydrates, healthy fat, protein, and the Flavor Factor. By following this simple template it keeps food flexible, fun, and nourishing!

Any meal can be made into a Foundational Five Nourish Meal by just knowing the system I teach in our Method Membership and in my free guide about creating healthy eating habits with ease, that you can get right here!

Want more? Try these other recipes!