Vegan Veggies Cream Cheese

The Mediterranean Vegan Veggies Cream Cheese serves as a great homemade spread for different purposes. This includes all vegan ingredients such as olives, roasted bell peppers, herbs, and sun-dried tomatoes. All of these vegan ingredients make up the creamy cashew base. This Mediterranean Vegan Veggies Cream Cheese is a dairy-free spread that is healthy and contains a lot of Mediterranean flavors. You can use this spread along with bagels, wraps, and sandwiches.

STATS:

• Caloric count: 120 kcal
• Prep duration: Ten minutes
• Serving size: 2 tablespoons
• Cook time: 5 minutes
• Cuisine: Mediterranean
• Total time: 15 minutes
• Course: Spread / Dip
• Diet: Vegan
• Serving: 8

EQUIPMENT:

• Mixing bowl
• Small skillet
• Spatula
• Measuring cups
• Food processor
• Measuring spoons

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup of raw cashews (soak for 4 hours or boil for 10 minutes)
• 2 tbsp of lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp of sea salt
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 tbsp of chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/4 cup of chopped, roasted red bell pepper
• 2 tbsp of chopped kalamata olives
• 1 clove of minced garlic
• 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp of chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of dried oregano
• Freshly cracked black pepper to taste

INGREDIENT NOTES:

RAW CASHEWS:

• They provide a base for creamy texture. Alternatives include silken tofu or soaked almonds.

LEMON JUICE:

• It helps in substituting the acidity in dairy ingredients. For substitute, use apple cider vinegar.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST:

• Yeast helps to include a cheesy flavor. For an alternative, use vegan parmesan or miso paste.

OLIVE OIL:

• We use olive oil in this recipe to give a smoother texture, and it also adds Mediterranean flavor. You can omit it, or for a substitute, use avocado oil.

SUN-DRIED TOMATOES:

• They give a savory flavor and provide color. For an alternative, use roasted cherry tomatoes.

ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER:

• We get a smoky and sweet flavor from it. Alternatively, you can slightly pan-fry fresh bell pepper.

KALAMATA OLIVES:

• These olives give us the original Mediterranean flavor. For alternatives, use capers or green olives.

GARLIC:

• It includes aroma. Use garlic powder as an alternative.

PARSLEY:

• Brings color and adds freshness. For an alternative, use dill or basil.

OREGANO:

• Provides a natural herbal flavor. For alternative options, use Italian seasoning or thyme.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. First off, completely soak the raw cashews in either cold water for four hours or in hot water for ten minutes.
2. Then drain and rinse them.
3. Blend water, salt, olive oil, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and soaked cashews at high speed till it becomes
4. creamy and smooth.
5. Pour the cashew cream in a bowl.
6. Now mix in black pepper, oregano, parsley, garlic, olives, roasted red pepper, and sun-dried tomatoes till they
7. distribute properly.
8. If you want a thinner spread, you can add a spoonful of olive oil or water and mix it again.
9. According to your need, adjust the taste of herbs, lemon juice, and salt.
10. Chill inside the fridge for at least one hour.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• You can spread this vegan cream cheese on toast or whole-grain bagels.
• Another option is to dollop this on top of grain bowls or baked potatoes.

TIPS:

• To make this vegan cream cheese smoky, you can include quarter tsp of smoked paprika.
• For extra tangy flavor, include more lemon juice or a teaspoon of white miso.
• Store it inside a sealed container to preserve its freshness.

STORAGE INFORMATION:

FRIDGE:

• Inside a sealed container, store the vegan cream cheese for seven days. Stir it before using it again.

FREEZER:

• You can freeze it in small portions for two months. Before serving, thaw inside the fridge for a night.

FAQs:

How to make this vegan cream cheese free from oil?

• You can skip the olive oil and use one to two tablespoons of unsweetened plant yogurt, or use an extra amount of water for a creamy texture.

How can I make nut-free version of it?

• Use silken tofu or sunflower seeds.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Calories: 120 kilocalories
Net carbs: 3.8 grams
Iron: 1.2 milligrams
Total carbs: 5.6 grams
Vitamin A: 540 IU
Fiber: 1.8 grams
Calcium: 25 milligrams
Protein: 4.2 grams
Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Sodium: 180 milligrams
Serving: 8
Potassium: 160 milligrams