• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Savory Lotus

simple clean eats + healthy treats

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
  • Resources
  • Safe Skincare
    • BEAUTYCOUNTER
    • PRIMALLY PURE
  • MEAL PLANS

By Katja Heino 8 Comments
Savory Lotus may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this post.

Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free)

Jump to Recipe

Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free, paleo) | savorylotus.com

Looking for a dairy free cheese substitute?  Look no further.  Here’ a tasty and tangy herbed cashew cheese that will be the highlight of any cheeseboard that you make. 

Can’t tolerate dairy?  I know the feeling.   My understanding is that when we are much younger, out bodies have the ability to digest dairy and lactose.  But as we get older, we lose the ability to produce lactase, the enzyme necessary to break down lactose in the small intestine.  According to Chris Kresser, only about 40% of the world’s population are able to digest lactose after childhood.

I’m actually not totally against dairy and do give my little one fresh RAW milk from a local farm and make raw milk yogurt for my family on a weekly basis.  I do believe that raw dairy is a wonderful superfood that has many many nutritional benefits.  And I have learned that what some people believe to be lactose intolerance is actually symptoms of other gastrointestinal disorders such as SIBO, celiac disease, or IBS.   You can read more about that HERE and HERE.

Ok, now on to the cashew cheese:

My daughter and I are both currently on a gut healing protocol through our functional medicine doctor that does not allow any dairy.  In order to stay inspired and committed to our health and healing, I am constantly trying to create foods that spark our interest and keep us motivated.  This cashew cheese is one of those.

There are actually 2 ways to make this creamy and delicious cashew cheese.  My preference is to take the time to ferment the cashew cheese (with either probiotics or sauerkraut juice) as it gives it a complexity and tang that I miss from real cheese.  But if you just want a quick, easy, and spreadable cashew cheese, you can follow the easy instructions.  It will still be amazing.

This recipe is super versatile.  Feel free to add any ingredients that make you happy.  I generally stick to a few herbs like basil, chives, parsley, and cilantro.  But I bet olives, sun-dried tomatoes, or dill would be amazing as well. I sometimes just leave it plain.  I’d love to hear what you come up with. 

Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free, paleo) ~ savorylotus.com

You can also play with adding the herbs into the cashew cheese or leaving it plain and then rolling your cheese in fresh herbs just before serving.  Lots of options here.

Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free, paleo) ~ ~~savorylotus.com

Hope you love it!

signature heart

Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free, paleo) ~~ savorylotus.com

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon
Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free, paleo) | savorylotus.com

Easy Herbed Cashew Cheese

  • Author: Katja from Savory Lotus
  • Yield: about 1 and 1/2 cups 1x
Print
Pin

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 and 1/2 cups raw cashews (soaked in water for 4–6 hours)
  • 4 TBS full fat coconut milk (where to buy BPA and additive free coconut milk)
  • 1 TBS nutritional yeast (like this)
  • 1 TBS fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 – 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • several grinds of fresh pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh herbs (basil, chives, parsley, cilantro, dill)
  • unrefined sea salt, to taste (I use this brand)

Instructions

  1. Soak cashews in water for at least 4-6 hours. Drain and rinse well.
  2. Process drained cashews and coconut milk in food processor until creamy smooth, about 5-7 minutes, scraping sides a time or two. Be patient here. This cheese is amazing when you get it nice and smooth.
  3. Add the remaining ingredients and process another minute to full incorporate. Feel free to add a tsp or 2 of liquid here if you prefer. I like mine pretty thick.
  4. Adjust the salt and pepper. Place in fridge to cool completely. Serve and enjoy!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @savorylotus on Instagram and hashtag it #savorylotus

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon
Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free, paleo) | savorylotus.com

Fermented Herbed Cashew Cheese

  • Author: Katja from Savory Lotus
  • Yield: about 1 and 1/2 cups 1x
Print
Pin

Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 and 1/2 cups raw cashews (soaked in water for 4–6 hours)
  • 4 TBS full fat coconut milk or water (where to buy BPA and additive free coconut milk)
  • pinch of unrefined sea salt
  • probiotic capsules (enough to have about 40,000 probiotic bacteria) (I used THIS brand)
  • OR 6 TBS raw sauerkraut juice
  • 1 TBS nutritional yeast (like this)
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 – 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • several grinds of fresh pepper
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh herbs (basil, chives, parsley, cilantro, dill)
  • unrefined sea salt, to taste (I use this brand)

Instructions

  1. The night before making the cashew cheese, puree the soaked cashews (drained and rinsed), coconut milk, and salt until completely smooth and creamy. Be patient. This will take about 7-10 minutes. Scrape the sides once or twice. Once smooth, put in contents of probiotic capsules. Process briefly to combine.
  2. If using sauerkraut juice, omit the coconut milk and just process the drained and rinsed cashews with the sauerkraut juice until creamy smooth, about 7-10 minutes.
  3. Place mixture into a clean bowl, cover loosely with a clean towel, and place in a warm place to ferment for 12 hours. Some folks just place in oven with the light on, some use a heating pad, and I use my Excalibur dehydrator set to 100′F.
  4. Once done fermenting, fold in the rest of the ingredients until well incorporated. Adjust for salt and pepper.
  5. Line a small glass bowl or ramekin with a double layer of cheese cloth and press the mixture into the container. Fold the cheesecloth over to cover. Place in fridge to cool, harden, and take shape for at least 4 hours. I like to moisten the top of the cheese clothe ever so slightly to keep it from drying out.
  6. Serve as is or roll in more finely chopped herbs. ENJOY!

Notes

NOTE: Be sure to use keep your cooking utensils and bowls super clean to ensure proper fermentation.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @savorylotus on Instagram and hashtag it #savorylotus

Click HERE to PIN THIS!

Herbed Cashew Cheese (dairy free, paleo) - savorylotus.com

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Posts you might also like

Filed Under: Condiments and Such, Whole30 Recipes Tagged With: cheese, dairy free, dips, fermented food, Paleo

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    This looks really great, I can’t wait to try it! I’m wondering if you know how long this will last in the fridge? And can it be made in advance and frozen at all?

    Reply
    • Katja says

      December 23, 2014 at 9:31 pm

      My cashew cheese has lasted up to a week in the fridge. Fermenting it will make it last a bit longer in the fridge. I haven’t tried freezing it. Not sure how the consistency would change after defrosting. Thanks so much for coming by.

      Reply
  2. Jackie says

    January 2, 2015 at 6:15 pm

    I’m not able to find the nutritional yeast locally, is there anything I can substitute ? Thx

    Reply
    • Katja says

      January 4, 2015 at 10:02 am

      The nutritional yeast gives it a nice “cheesy” flavor. You can just leave it out. Maybe add some garlic powder for flavor. Let me know if you try it.

      Reply
  3. Caitlin says

    March 25, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    This sounds great! I have made a few almond cheeses but never cashew. I will have to try this out!

    Reply
  4. Betul says

    September 25, 2018 at 3:01 pm

    I have been trying but i have never got white colour as yours !

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      October 5, 2018 at 11:30 am

      Cashews can tend to give a slightly off white hew. Once I add the coconut milk, it tends to get more white.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi I’m Katja!

And this is how we do healthy in our family. Just REAL food. Simple. Easy. Gluten free. More about Savory Lotus

Follow Me on Instagram

weekend dinner inspiration • NEW POST: LEMON HER weekend dinner inspiration • NEW POST: LEMON HERB SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN 🍋🌿 • spatchcock chicken is hands down the quickest + easiest way to cook a whole chicken • if you’ve never tried it, it’s a real game changer • the chicken comes out super moist on the inside and crispy on the outside • always a crowd pleaser 🙌 especially when you add the extra lemon herb pan sauce 

recipe link in bio:
https://www.savorylotus.com/lemon-herb-spatchcock-chicken/
how do you start your day? 💪🏃‍♀️🧘🏽‍♀️🚴🏽‍♂️☕️

mindset mindset mindset 🧠🧠• having a morning routine allows us to set an intention for the day rather then just letting the day run away from us • it helps determine our mind set and the tone for the rest of the day ✨✨

things like meditation, journaling, yoga, exercise, and other self-care practices can help us start the day feeling calm and inspired 🧘🏻 • consciously selecting the thoughts we have, the foods we eat , and the news/social media/images we see matters • a solid morning routine can reduce stress, boost energy, increase mental clarity, and leave us feeling 🤩

creating a morning routine looks different for us all • routine comes easier for some than others • we all have different priorities, time limits, physical needs/abilities, and health concerns there • are no rules • find what works for you 

i know that i feel better when i stick to my morning routine • i know that i feel better when i don’t engage with my phone or social media the first hour or two after waking up • i know i feel better when i consciously select what i bring into my head space first thing in the morning, including the thoughts that i have 

my morning routine currently looks like this:  10 minutes of quiet meditation, some form of elimination pathways opening like Gua Sha, coffee e nema, an epsom salts bath, or a sauna, yoga/workout, and a big green juice 🥬🥒🍏

👉👉 do you have a morning routine?  i’d love to hear how you start your day • leave me a comment below ⤵️⤵️
what’s not to love about a fritter? ❤️ • what’s not to love about a fritter? ❤️ •  made a batch of my BUTTERNUT SQUASH FRITTERS this morning • a great way to get more vegetables onto your plate • so good with a plate of fried eggs and steamed kale • made with just a few simple ingredients • don’t skip the fresh herbs 🍀🌱🍀

* butternut squash (about 3 pounds)- peeled and shredded
* eggs, whisked
* 1/2 cup gluten free flour (I used a combo of almond flour and tapioca) 
* 1/4 cup fresh herbs, finely chopped ( any combo of parsley, basil, sage, or cilantro)
* 1/4–1/2 tsp garlic powder
* 1 tsp salt
* ghee or avocado oil for cooking

1. in a large bowl, combine shredded butternut squash, eggs, flour, herbs, garlic powder, and salt.  mix to combine. 
2. in a large skillet, heat a liberal amount of fat of choice over medium high heat.  scoop out 2 tablespoons of mixture into hand, squeeze into a ball, and place into skillet, flattening with the back of a spatula or measuring cup. cook until golden brown.  flip and cook other side.  repeat until mixture is all gone, adding more fat as needed. 
3. place cooked fritters onto a wire rack while cooking the rest.  serve immediately or freeze for later once cooled.
self-care is about creating healthy habits ❤️• having a “self-care” routine before you get sick can keep you healthy 💪 • and it doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming • there are so many ways to care for yourself that are 100% free:
💧 hydration
☀️ sunshine,
🌈 fresh air
🌲 nature
🤸🏼‍♂️ movement
🙏 gratitude
👯 connection
🧘🏽‍♀️ meditation

the body usually gives us signals that something is starting to be out of balance • it’s important that we listen or it can lead to more serious health issues • every day is another chance to start taking care of ourselves 

my self-care routine focuses heavily on detoxification/elimination because i’m in heal mode • my toxic burden bucket 🪣 got too full + it put me over the edge • the liver, kidneys, large intestine, lymphatic system, and sweat glands 💦💦 work hard every day to reduce the build up of environmental contaminants and need regular support to keep functioning optimally • my self-care routine includes:

• infrared sauna for sweating
• Gua Sha to move lymph
• epsom salt baths
• daily movement
• hydration
• cold-pressed juices for nutrition
• coffee enemas
• ozone therapy 
• red light therapy 
• time in nature

don’t wait until you get sick to decide to take care of yourself • you only have this one body and this one precious life • it is NOT normal to feel crappy as we age • let’s change the paradigm and move forward in age with grace + vitality ✨✨• than you, @dr.jess.md for motivating me to take things to the next level
Load More... Follow Me!

Follow Me on Pinterest

Don't Miss These!

  • Everyday Gluten Free Bread (dairy free + egg free)
  • dry heels, cracked heels, how to heal, DIY Easy Home Remedy for Dry Cracked Heels
  • Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo) | savorylotus.com Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten and grain free, paleo)
  • Simple Gluten Free Sourdough Bread

Clean Swaps

Clean Swaps

My Cookbook!

My Cookbook!

Footer

Get More Recipes on Pinterest

Visit Savory Lotus' profile on Pinterest.

Get More Recipes on Facebook

The Savory Lotus on Facebook

Stay Connected

Copyright © 2021 Savory Lotus    ·    Affiliate Disclosure     Disclaimer     Privacy Policy     Terms of Service