All Purpose Vegan Cheese Sauce

Creamy, versatile, and packed with flavor, this All Purpose Vegan Cheese Sauce is your new go-to recipe for plant-based comfort food. Made with raw cashews, nutritional yeast, and a blend of spices like garlic, onion, and paprika, this sauce delivers a luscious, cheesy texture without any dairy. Ready in just 15 minutes (after soaking the cashews), it’s effortless and perfect for a variety of dishes—think drizzled over pasta, smothered on nachos, or served as a dip with veggies. The addition of tahini and turmeric doesn’t just enhance the flavor but also adds a boost of nutrients. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and customizable, this vegan cheese sauce checks all the boxes for a quick, healthy, and delicious alternative to traditional cheese sauces.

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:5 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 0.25 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon tahini
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups water (for soaking cashews)

Directions

Step 1

Place the raw cashews in a bowl and cover them with 2 cups of water. Allow them to soak for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results. If short on time, you can soak them in boiling water for 20 minutes.

Step 2

Drain and rinse the soaked cashews thoroughly.

Step 3

In a blender, combine the soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, plant-based milk, lemon juice, tahini, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, turmeric powder, and salt.

Step 4

Blend the mixture on high speed until completely smooth and creamy. This may take 1-2 minutes depending on the power of your blender. Add a little extra plant-based milk if the sauce is too thick.

Step 5

Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed. Add more salt for flavor or lemon juice for tanginess.

Step 6

Transfer the sauce to a saucepan and heat it over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, for about 3-5 minutes. This will slightly thicken the sauce and enhance its flavor.

Step 7

Remove from heat and serve immediately over pasta, nachos, steamed vegetables, or as a dip. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	893.6 grams (893.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	804

Total Fat 61.10g	78%
Saturated Fat 10.50g	53%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2547mg	111%
Total Carbohydrate 48.30g	18%
Dietary Fiber 7.10g	25%
Total Sugars 7.70g
Protein 28.40g	57%

Vitamin D 100IU	500%
Calcium 1516mg	117%
Iron 5366mg	29811%
Potassium 1293mg	28%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 64.2%

Protein: 13.3%

Carbs: 22.6%