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This recipe is…

Plant-based Vegan Dairy-free Vegetarian Gluten-free

Vegan Cheese – Chive Cashew Spread

Name: Vegan Cheese - Chive Cashew Spread
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 1 cup of unroasted, unsalted cashews; 1/2 cup of chives (1 small grocery store pack or hearty handful from the garden); 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 cup of unsweetened cashew kefir (my favorite is Foreger Cashew Probiotic Yogurt); 1 lemon, juiced

I love cashews. They have really become a staple in our pantry that I just can’t live without. In addition to snacking on raw cashews, we use them to make cashew milk, cashew cream, and one of my absolute favorite snacks—vegan cheese – chive cashew spread. Even though I’ve been lactose intolerant for years, cutting out cheese has still been tricky for our family. Cheese is just such a common part of the American diet. Nowadays, when I’m having a cheesy craving, I make this delicious dairy-free spread. It totally hits the spot! It’s so good, most people don’t even realize they are eating something diary-free and vegan.

There are good vegan cheese spreads in the store no doubt, but they are super pricey—upwards of $8 at my local supermarket. This vegan cheese – chive cashew spread was inspired by the store-bought varieties I had tried, but to be perfectly honest, I like the homemade version way better. With only 7 ingredients and no cooking involved, this spread is so easy to make and costs so much less. I’m saying goodbye to the store-bought vegan spreads for good!

Good Snacking to Fuel Your Body

Unlike real dairy cheese, which is high in saturated fat and salt, this chive cashew spread is high in protein, unsaturated healthy fats, copper, magnesium, zinc, and other minerals. According to the Blue Zone, inhabitants in all five blue zones consume nuts. The Blue Zones are the five places in the world with the highest rates of longevity. On a side note, if you haven’t read The Blue Zones by Dan Buettner, it’s a great read about healthy diets found around the world.

Additionally, eating nuts like cashews are really filling. Snack on a couple of crackers with this tasty vegan cheese – chive cashew spread and you’ll feel nice and satisfied in no time. This is a great go-to snack when your hangry and just can’t make it until dinner.

Chive-licious

Chives first ended up in this recipe simply because we had an abundance of them in our garden. After many variations, with many different herbs, chive is our favorite version. The garlicky, mild onion-like flavor balances the slight sweetness of the cashews. Green onions work pretty well if you don’t have chives readily available. When using store-bought chives in this recipe, I literally rinse the whole packet and toss it in the blender. No chopping involved. How easy is that?

What is cashew kefir?

Kefir is a fermented yogurt-like drink typically made from milk. I love using cashew kefir in this recipe because it adds that dairy kind of tang, but without the dairy. As a bonus, the kefir also contains probiotics, which are so good for your gut health. I use Foreger Probiotic Cashewmilk Yogurt, unsweetened of course! You can also make your own kefir, check out this cashewmilk kefir recipe from Cultured Food Life, which I am so excited to try. If you have any tips for making your own kefir, I’d love to hear them.

Top It Off

Lastly, no spread is complete without a cracker… and some toppings. My favorite way to gobble up this tasty spread is on Edward & Son’s black sesame brown rice snaps with a date on top. It is the perfect balance of sweet and salty deliciousness. Yum!