CASHEW CREAM SAUCE

November 29, 2020 by Kate Winslet

This vegan cashew cream sauce is a delicious addition to any recipe! It’s super smooth and creamy with a savory, subtly “cheesy,” and tangy flavor. This will be your go-to dairy-free replacement for any creamy sauce or condiment, like alfredo and sour cream. It’s quick and easy, made with 8 healthy ingredients, and ready in under 30 minutes. Let’s do this!

vegan cashew cream sauce inside a glass mason jar with a black label

Say hello to your new best friend! If you follow a plant-based diet, this cashew cream sauce will be a very popular recipe in your household. In fact, I make this at least once every single week. It’s commonly referred to as “liquid gold” in my kitchen. I use it on EVERYTHING. (And I really mean everything!)

It’s super creamy, bright and tangy, and perfectly savory. The best part? You can adjust the amount of liquid to make it as thin or as thick as you’d like. Oftentimes, I prepare the recipe as written and use it as a sauce or dressing. Alternatively, you can reduce the amount of water and enjoy it as a replacement for sour cream. You’ll be adding this sauce to pasta, salads, sandwiches, burritos, pizza, soup, chili, curry, tacos, and so much more. Name any meal and this cashew cream will make it 10x better – I guarantee it!

This cashew cream sauce is:

Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and oil-free
A healthy alternative to heavy cream, alfredo, and sour cream
Quick and easy // Ready in under 30 minutes
Made with 8 ingredients and easily adaptable
Super versatile // Can be enjoyed with countless recipes!

an overhead photo of vegan cashew cream sauce inside a mason jar, surrounded by a bowl of cashews, lemon slices, and a spoonful of nutritional yeast

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN VEGAN CASHEW CREAM?

Cashews: Raw cashews are the main ingredient in this cashew cream. Be sure to use the raw variety instead of roasted cashews.
Nutritional yeast: Nutritional yeast provides a subtle “cheesy” flavor. It’s also loaded with B vitamins, magnesium, copper, and manganese.
Lemon juice: A dash of lemon juice adds a tartness that mimics real cream.
Mellow white miso paste: Mellow white miso paste is a key ingredient for flavor depth. It’s a popular “secret ingredient” in dairy-free recipes.
Seasoning: In particular, we’ll use garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

a wood and marble cutting board topped with bowls of cashews, nutritional yeast, white miso paste, salt, pepper, and lemon slices

HOW TO MAKE CASHEW CREAM SAUCE

For the full ingredients list and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card below.

SOAK THE CASHEWS

First, add the cashews to a bowl. Bring water to a boil on the stove, then pour the boiling water over the cashews. Set aside to soak for 20 minutes.

BLEND THE INGREDIENTS

Next, transfer the soaked cashews (along with the water) to a high-powered blender. Add all of the other ingredients. This includes the nutritional yeast, lemon juice, mellow white miso paste, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

Blend the ingredients on high speed for a few minutes, or until a totally smooth and creamy sauce forms. Finally, transfer the sauce to an airtight jar or container. Store in the refrigerator where it will keep for 4-5 days.

cashews, water, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper inside a blender container

WHY DO YOU NEED TO SOAK CASHEWS?

First thing’s first: don’t skip the soaking process! It’s super important to soak the cashews before blending. How come? While soaking, the raw cashews will soften, absorb some of the water, and become plump in size. This helps them blend into a super smooth and creamy sauce later on.

WHY IS MY CASHEW CREAM GRAINY?

If your cashew cream is grainy, one of two things likely occurred: the cashews were not soaked long enough or the blades of your blender are getting dull.

I highly suggest using a high-powered blender or food processor for this recipe. Personally, I use my Vitamix blender. Be sure to blend the ingredients for a few minutes or until a completely smooth consistency forms. If needed, a teaspoon of oil (such as melted coconut oil or olive oil) will help you achieve a smoother texture.

WAYS TO USE VEGAN CASHEW CREAM SAUCE

There are endless ways to use this cashew cream sauce! One of my favorite things about this recipe is how versatile it is. By adjusting the amount of water in the recipe, you can make it thinner or thicker (as needed). In other words, create a thin consistency to use it as a sauce/dressing or reduce the water to create a thick cream.

As a sauce or dressing: Enjoy as a pasta sauce, salad dressing, pizza sauce, or drizzled over roasted vegetables, grain bowls, and buddha bowls.
To replace sour cream: Add a dollop to your favorite sandwich, veggie burger, chili, burritos, tacos, baked potatoes, and soup.
As a dip: Use it as a dip for raw vegetables, crackers, baked french fries, and warm pita bread.