0 from 36 votes
Cashew Ricotta Cheese (Soy-Free, Fast, Easy!)
Quick, fluffy vegan ricotta cheese made with 5 simple ingredients including cashews, lemon, and garlic. Comes together in a food processor or blender and is perfect for pasta, pizza, salads, and more!
Prep Time
40 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 8 (~2-Tbsp servings)
Calories: 117 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Appetizer , Condiments
Cuisine:
Italian , Vegan
Ingredients
RICOTTA
- 1 ¼ cup raw cashews
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast, plus more to taste
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt (plus more to taste)
- 4-6 Tbsp water
FOR TOPPING optional
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
Instructions
- Soak cashews in very hot water for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or overnight (or 6 hours) in cool water. Then drain, rinse, and set aside.
- Add soaked, drained cashews to a food processor (or a high-speed blender) along with lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, sea salt, and lesser amount of water (4 Tbsp or 60 ml as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size). Mix/blend, scraping down sides as needed. Then add more water 1 Tbsp (15 ml) at a time until a thick paste forms. I find I get the best texture results with a food processor, but in a pinch, a blender can work too. It just generally requires more scraping and more liquid.
- Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor, salt to taste, lemon juice for acidity, or garlic powder for garlic flavor. Blend again to combine.
- At this point, the "cheese" is ready to enjoy! The flavors continue to develop and thicken when chilled. Delicious on things like pizza, pasta, lasagna, salads, and more.
- Best when fresh. Store leftover nut "cheese" in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days or in the freezer up to 1 month (let thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving).
Cup of Yum
Notes
- *Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with the lesser amount of salt and without optional ingredients.*Adapted from our Macadamia Nut Cheese.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1two-tablespoon serving
Calories
117
(6%)
Carbohydrates
6.8g
(2%)
Protein
4.3g
(9%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
1.6g
(8%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1.59g
Monounsaturated Fat
4.83g
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
0mg
(0%)
Sodium
76mg
(3%)
Potassium
158mg
(5%)
Fiber
0.9g
(4%)
Sugar
1.3g
(3%)
Vitamin A
0.11IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
0.84mg
(1%)
Calcium
8.66mg
(1%)
Iron
1.41mg
(8%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8(~2-Tbsp servings)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 117
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1two-tablespoon serving | |
| Calories | 117 | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 6.8g | 2% |
| Protein | 4.3g | 9% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 1.6g | 8% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.59g | 9% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4.83g | 24% |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 76mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 158mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 0.9g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1.3g | 3% |
| Vitamin A | 0.11IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.84mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 8.66mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1.41mg | 8% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.