Cheese Sauce Dairy Free

Indulge in the creamy, velvety goodness of this Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce, a plant-based alternative that doesn’t compromise on flavor or texture. Made with wholesome ingredients like raw cashews, nutritional yeast, and a touch of turmeric for that signature cheesy color, this recipe is not only vegan but also gluten-free and ready in just 15 minutes! The combination of garlic and onion powder along with a splash of lemon juice creates a rich, tangy flavor profile that’s perfect for drizzling over pasta, nachos, baked potatoes, or your favorite veggies. Easy to make in a blender and thickened to perfection on the stove, this versatile, healthy cheese sauce is a must-have for anyone seeking dairy-free comfort food.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:5 mins

Total Time:15 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup Raw cashews
• 1 cup Unsweetened almond milk (or other plant-based milk)
• 0.25 cup Nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Onion powder
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground turmeric
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Water (if needed for consistency)

Directions

Step 1

Soak the raw cashews in hot water for 10–15 minutes or overnight in cold water to soften them. Drain and rinse before use.

Step 2

In a high-speed blender, combine the soaked cashews, almond milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric, salt, and black pepper.

Step 3

Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add 1–2 tablespoons of water to reach your desired consistency.

Step 4

Pour the blended sauce into a medium saucepan and heat over low to medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 3–5 minutes. Cook until the sauce is warm and slightly thickened. Avoid boiling.

Step 5

Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if desired.

Step 6

Serve immediately over pasta, steamed vegetables, baked potatoes, or as a dip. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(408.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	690.0

Total Fat 51.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 8.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1368.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 43.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.1g	0%
Total Sugars 7.2g
Protein 24.8g	0%

Vitamin D 100.0IU	0%
Calcium 501.6mg	0%
Iron 9.3mg	0%
Potassium 1049.5mg	0%

*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: 63.1%

Protein: 13.4%

Carbs: 23.4%