This recipe is a delicious flavor and texture adventure, marrying the deep creaminess of freshly made cashew cheese with the zesty coolness of a highly colored mint sauce. It's very easy to prepare and incredibly versatile—perfect for a speedy snack, a fancy appetizer, or a thought-provoking ingredient to add to your most treasured foods. I created this recipe when I visited a Portland restaurant that serves only vegan foods – their cashew cheese was fantastic, and I tried to duplicate it at home. Through a process of experimentation, I ended up with this recipe.
I adore how versatile this recipe is. The mint sauce is like a blank canvas for your imagination; you can experiment with other spices or herbs to come up with your own flavor. Similarly, you can mix various seasonings into the cashew cheese to prepare such flavors as garlic cashew cheese or herb cashew cheese. The possibilities are just limitless!
Required Equipments
- Food processor or blender
- Medium saucepan
- Whisk
- Serving bowl
Cashew Cheese and Mint Sauce: Frequently Asked Questions
Cashew Cheese and Mint Sauce
A surprisingly easy recipe for creamy cashew cheese and a bright, herbaceous mint sauce, perfect as a snack, appetizer, or condiment.
⏳ Yield & Time
Yield: 2 servings
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time:
🍽 Ingredients
📖 Instructions
- Let's get started! First, give your cashews a good soak. Place 1 cup of raw cashews in a bowl, cover with hot water, and let them soak for at least 4 hours, or even overnight. This makes them super creamy—trust me!
- Once soaked, drain the cashews and rinse them thoroughly. Now, add them to a food processor or high-powered blender along with 1/2 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast (for that cheesy flavor!).
- Blend until completely smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Add more water, a tablespoon at a time, if it's too thick. You want it to have the consistency of soft cream cheese. The consistency should be like a thick, creamy spread.
- Now for the amazing mint sauce! In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of water, 1/4 cup of packed fresh mint leaves, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for about 5 minutes, or until the mint has softened and released its flavor. Don't let it boil, or the mint will taste bitter. It should be fragrant and have a bright green color.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mint mixture cool slightly. Then, use a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to strain the mixture, pressing gently to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the mint leaves.
- You have two delicious components now! To serve, spoon some of the creamy cashew cheese onto a plate or platter. Drizzle generously with the vibrant mint sauce. If you're feeling fancy, garnish with some extra mint leaves or a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
- Enjoy your incredible cashew cheese and mint sauce! It's perfect as a snack, appetizer, or even as a unique condiment for other dishes. I personally love it with roasted sweet potatoes and chickpeas. Mmm, yummy!
- P.S. Dont forget to taste and adjust seasoning. You might find you want a little more lemon juice or salt to suit your taste buds. Cooking is all about fun experiments!
📝 Notes
- Soak cashews for at least 4 hours or overnight for optimal creaminess.
- Adjust water amount to achieve desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Mint sauce can be made ahead and stored separately for a few days, but best served fresh. Cheese can be stored for 5 days
🍎 Nutrition
Calories: 350
Protein: 8g
Fat: 28g
Carbohydrates: 25g
Fiber: 5g
Calcium: 100mg
