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5 Vegan Recipes to Use with Cashews

5 Vegan Recipes to Use with Cashews

Cashews are known as a crunchy, delicious snack, and they certainly are. But did you know that cashews can also be used as an ingredient in a wide variety of dishes? Not only that, but because they are vegan, cashews can be used as a substitute for common ingredients like eggs and milk. In addition to adding a creamy texture to dishes, cashews also bring a lot of nutritional value, including adding protein to a dish. Packed with vitamins and minerals, cashews contain no cholesterol and a lot of healthy fats. Once you see all the vegan dishes that can be made using cashews as the base, you’ll be rushing to buy raw cashews in bulk!

Vegan Ice Cream

There are a number of desserts you can make with cashews. Most recipes for vegan ice cream will call for a base made of bananas, which can be delicious, but adds a distinct flavor to your ice cream that may not be what you’re looking for in ice cream. If you want to create a non-dairy concoction with a creamy flavor and no banana aftertaste, cashews can be a great option.

For a delicious ice cream, you can simply add cashews, a dairy-free milk, sweetener like agave or sugar, vanilla sugar, and flavoring to a blender. You can add in any flavor you’d like, from chai tea to superfruits like acai berries. Once blended until creamy and smooth, you can churn in a frozen ice cream bowl until chilled, then freeze overnight. The creamy texture of cashews will give this an authentic ice cream feel while picking up whatever flavors you choose to add!

Dairy-Free Coffee Creamer

Giving up dairy doesn’t have to mean you give up your cup of morning coffee. Using cashews as the base, you can create a creamer that is sweet and lightens your coffee. It’s recommended you soak your cashews for a few hours ahead of this recipe so they are softer and easier to work with when it’s time for blending.

When you put cashews in the blender, you’ll add water and some components for sweetness. Dates, cinnamon, and vanilla are great options to use, and you can add any other flavors you like in your coffee as well. This creamer can last for about 5 days in an airtight container and will work in tea just as well as coffee!

Cashew-Based Ricotta Cheese

If you are craving lasagna or stuffed shells, you can get the same great taste and texture of ricotta using cashews. With one simple recipe, you can get something that tastes extremely close to the real thing and is good for savory pasta dishes and rich desserts alike.

You’ll want to start with cashews that have been soaked. They can then be put into a food processor or blender along with some water, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. You can refrigerate these ingredients until you’re ready to use the cheese or blend it up right away. Be sure to keep an eye on the texture so that it doesn’t blend past the slightly thick ricotta texture you’re after.

Leftover cashew ricotta will last for about 5 days in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer, as long as it is in an airtight container.

Sesame Curry Cashews

When you buy enough raw cashews in bulk, you can try an endless combination of flavoring as you roast the nuts. Classics include honey roasted cashews, a sweet and salty treat. But another great way to spice up your nuts is to add spicy, savory flavors.

By adding just curry powder, cumin seeds, sesame seeds, salt, and coconut oil, you can create a delicious sesame curry style cashew that gives cashews a new kick. Soaking prior to roasting can help your cashews absorb even more flavor, but you’ll never get tired of cashews when you create new flavor profiles each time you roast them!

Homemade Cashew Butter

As an alternative to peanut butter, nut butters are a common option to use on sandwiches, fruits, and as a spread. While you can buy cashew butter, it’s also simple to create at home. Soaked cashews will blend well and are creamy enough to create a butter all on their own, though you may add a bit of oil to help the blending process along.

Other flavors can be added to cashew butter, like chili flakes for a spicy twist, or cinnamon for a sweet treat, but one of the benefits is its simple ingredient list.

If you are ready to begin cooking with cashews, buying raw cashews in bulk will give you a canvas to begin creating with. As a vegan, GMO-free, gluten-free, fair trade snack, Beyond the Nuts cashews are a great base for your vegan cooking.