FOOD NEWS
How To Use Cashews As A Cream Cheese Alternative
By Laura Zbinden
Cashews are a versatile type of nut, and for vegans or those simply looking to cut back on dairy consumption, the nut can form the basis for a delicious cream cheese substitute.
When soaked in water and blended, cashews create a creamy paste, and if you add just a few additional ingredients, this paste transforms into a cream cheese alternative.
To make cashew cream cheese, soak your cashews for at least four hours or overnight to soften them up. Alternatively, boil them in water for 30 minutes.
Then, blend 1 ¾ cups cashews with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper.
You can use cashew cream cheese to substitute regular cream cheese in almost every recipe, whether for bagels, dips, vegan cream cheese frosting, or other vegan foods.
However, for baked goods, the substitution ratio of cashew cream cheese to regular cream cheese may not be one-to-one, so you should look up specific recipes for your needs.
Best of all, cashews are loaded with healthy fats, nutrients like zinc, iron, and magnesium, as well as a good amount of fiber and plant protein.