Name: Vegan Queso
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 fat shallot, diced; 4-6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped; 2 cups orange vegetables: carrots, very thinly sliced (any combination), or orange bell pepper or sweet potatoes; 2 cups water, more for blending if needed; ½ cup raw cashews (or use hemp hearts); ½ teaspoon salt, more to taste; ½ teaspoon pepper; ½ teaspoon cumin; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder; ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle, or less for less spicy; 2 tablespoons white miso paste, for depth; squeeze of lime (optional); Garnishes: sliced jalapeno or pickled jalapeños, cilantro, scallions, hot sauce

Description

A creamy and delicious vegan queso that is easy to make and packed with flavor!

Ingredients

Scale

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 fat shallot, diced
4–6 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
2 cups orange vegetables: carrots, very thinly sliced (any combination), or orange bell pepper or sweet potatoes
2 cups water, more for blending if needed
½ cup raw cashews (or use hemp hearts)
½ teaspoon salt, more to taste
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon smoked paprika or chili powder
¼ teaspoon ground chipotle, or less for less spicy
2 tablespoons white miso paste, for depth
squeeze of lime (optional)
Garnishes: sliced jalapeno or pickled jalapeños, cilantro, scallions, hot sauce

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Instructions

Heat olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Saute shallot and garlic until tender, golden, and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
Add the veggies, spices, salt, pepper, cashews, and water, and bring to a boil. Cover, lower and simmer until veggies (especially carrots) are very tender, about 15 minutes.
Reserve 1/2 cup of the hot liquid, and pour the remaining mixture into a high-speed blender or Vitamix or food processor with the miso paste. Blend until the texture is silky-smooth, adding more liquid only as needed to get the blades going if needed.
Taste and adjust salt and spice level to your liking. Add a squeeze of lime for a tangy note if you like.
Pour into serving bowl (warm) and garnish with sliced jalapeno (or pickled jalapeños), cilantro, and scallions.
Vegan Queso can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in a saucepan or microwave.

Notes

Feel free to use any combination of orange vegetables for this recipe.
If you prefer a spicier version, add more ground chipotle or other spices.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Blending
Cuisine: Vegan

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 150
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 350mg
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 5g
Cholesterol: 0mg