After a week of particularly bad eating (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween… the usual suspects), I like to get back on track with a vegan week. Being vegan isn’t so bad: until you remember cheese. This definitely isn’t a vegan week– in fact, my grocery bill was probably 50% cheese this week (Hello, pound of gouda!), but this “cheese” sauce is so amazing and easier to make than a real cheese sauce. It’s my go to recipe to put on tacos, spread on sandwiches, or pour over Mexican stuffed peppers (recipe tomorrow ;-)).
The sauce’s not-so-secret ingredient is nutritional yeast. If you’ve never tried it, don’t be scared off by the name. It is NOT the same as baker’s yeast. I’ve read some pretty funny reviews of other recipes online from someone using the wrong kind of yeast (“nasty spackle” comes to mind!). I find mine in the bulk section of a local health store.
Nutritional yeast isn’t exactly like cheese– it has a little more of an earthy, mushroomy taste. The sauce is very delicious, but if you try it thinking you’ll have nacho cheese, you’ll be pretty turned off. I made that mistake the first few times I used nutritional yeast, and it took me a couple of tries before I really appreciated the taste.
Update: Looking for some more ways to use this cheese sauce? Try a quesadilla, enchilada, stuffed pepper, chili meatball sub, or TVP tacos. You can tell I make this sauce a LOT!
Tagged with: Cheap • Dairy Free • Egg Free • Gluten Free • Nut Free • Quick • Soy Free • Vegan • Vegetarian
Thank you! The last recipe I found used a nut butter and it came out just tasting like nut butter. Delicious, but not good for nachos!
Ha! This will definitely taste more cheesey than nut butter 😉
Love your blog! I’m a huge queso fan and so I definitely have to try this recipe. It looks delish!
Thanks! 😀
I bought nutritional yeast a month ago and LOVE it. I still eat real cheese but nutritional yeast saves me the tummy the trouble. This would be good poured over veggies!
I’m about in the same boat as you. I eat cheese and other dairy, but I feel so much better when I don’t.
This sounds great! I usually use Daiya cheese but no its processed so I have been on the lookout for an alternative! This sounds great! Thank you for sharing. Love + Shine CourtStar
Let me know how you like it!
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This is so happening! Thanks girl!