Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Recipe

How to make Dairy-Free Cream Cheese

                  NUT-FREE VERSION
(followed by cashew version)

When you want your cream cheese to be dairy-free,

you don’t need to settle for commercial substitutes

possibly containing unhealthy ingredients.

Make it with full-fat coconut cream from a can

(with no gum or additives).

Nut-Free Soy-Free Vegan Cream Cheese

Ingredients:
1 (13.5-oz.) can full-fat unsweetened coconut cream
(with no gum or additives), from a can, refrigerated overnight.
1/2 tsp teaspoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
pinch sea salt
4 tsp nutritional yeast (optional, gives it a savory flavor)

Directions
Carefully open the refrigerated coconut milk or cream and
spoon the coconut solids at the top into a medium mixing bowl.
(Save the liquid for smoothies!)
Using an electric mixer, beat in the lemon juice and sea salt
and nutritional yeast (if using) until smooth and creamy.

Refrigerate until firm

OR MAKE WITH CASHEWS

There are so many delicious and creative ways to use this

dairy-free unsalted raw-cashew nut cream cheese.

Did you know you can also make *Cashew Sour Cream?

(below)

Make it an exciting sweet treat.

Or make a delightful savory

herb-seasoned

condiment, sauce or dressing.

When you want cream cheese to be dairy-free,

you don’t need to settle for commercial substitutes

with unhealthy ingredients.

OR Just reach for cashews.

* Health Benefits of Cashews (below).

 RECIPE

Creamy, Mildly Sweet, Cashew Cream Cheese:

INGREDIENTS

1 cup raw, unsalted cashews, soaked in water

for 8 hours or overnight, and drained and rinsed.

3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp sea salt

3 tbsp melted coconut oil

Instructions:

Blend ingredients in blender or processor until smooth.

Optional Add-ins:

1/2 cup berries or

1/2 cup fruit preserves or

1/2 cup chopped dates, raisins.

Herb or Seasoned Dairy-Free Cashew Cream Cheese

Add your favorite herbs or seasonings to taste.

1/4 cup chopped chives, cucumber, scallions or

1 tbsp dried dill or

1 chopped roasted red pepper or

1 clove garlic

Optional:
Adding 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast will make it more cheesy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can also roast and salt your raw cashews and blend them

into * cashew butter.  I’ve added a recipe for cashew nut butter.

* For Cashew Sour Cream

CASHEW SOUR CREAM

Makes about 1 1/4 cups
This simple vegan sour cream is wonderfully
rich and tasty. Try it with chopped salads in place
of mayonnaise, with anything Mexican or on its
own as a dip for vegetables or crackers.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashews
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

Place cashews in a cup or small bowl and cover
by about 1/2 inch with boiling water. Let soak 30 minutes.

Drain cashews and place in a blender with vinegar, lemon,
salt and about 1/4 cup water. Blend until very smooth,
adding more water as required to purée the mixture.

Nutritional Info:
Per Serving:
Serving size: about 2 tablespoons,
80 calories
(50 from fat), 6g total fat,
1g saturated fat, 30mg sodium,
4g carbohydrates, 2g protein.

* Health Benefits of Cashews

Cashews are believed to have beneficial effects on oxidative
stress levels, inflammation and vascular/arterial
activity that promotes a healthy heart.

Cashews can help lower LDL
cholesterol (considered the dangerous kind) and improve HDL
cholesterol (the “good” kind). This is responsible for their
cholesterol-lowering abilities and the reason cashews may be
able to help prevent the formation of plaque within artery walls.

Cashews are also associated with lowered triglyceride levels and
reduced levels of inflammation, all of which help protect you
from heart disease, heart attacks or stroke.

2. Help Prevent Gallstones -Some research has found that eating
nuts weekly, including cashews, can help lower the risk for having
gallstones.

3. Can Help with Weight Loss or Maintenance
Weight Loss – Nuts have a high total fat content, — cashews are made
of approximately 46 percent fat but they’re also very nutrient-dense
and provide a lot of important minerals and fatty acids that
support weight loss. Cashews can help you feel fuller after a meal.

Cashews are also a good source of plant-based protein known to help
improve vascular reactivity and circulation. Improved blood flow helps
draw toxins out from the digestive system and can add to an improved
metabolism, higher energy and better digestive health.

4. Help Maintain Bone Health – Skeleton close-up showing normal bone
and osteoporosis. Cashews nutrition benefits include bone health improvement
due to the presence of calcium, magnesium and potassium, together
with a low sodium intake. These are associated with protection against bone
demineralization. Cashews provide over 12 percent of your daily vitamin K
needs in just a ¼ cup serving

.

5. May Help Prevent Cancers: Colon, Prostate and Liver Cancers
Cancer cells – Regularly eating nuts, including cashews, is associated with
a lower risk for certain common cancers, especially cancers that occur in
the digestive tract, including liver and colon cancers.

6. Support Healthy Brain Function -The brain is made up of mostly
fat and relies on a steady supply of healthy fatty acids within the diet.
Nuts can help support cognitive abilities and multiple brain processes,
are one of the natural plant foods richest in fat and support cognitive
function, healthy aging and mood regulation.

Several dietary components of cashews particularly the healthy fats
in cashews but also trace minerals like zinc,iron and copper.

7. Lower the Risk for Diabetes – Cashews are a great source of
MUFA fats, which slow the rate at which blood is released into the
bloodstream. Its principal compound, anacardic acid, stimulate
glucose uptake. Cashews also help lower levels of inflammation,
and studies show that a diet higher in nuts results in lower circulation
of  inflammatory biomarkers that can contribute to insulin resistance
and diabetes formation.

8. Help Prevent Migraine Headaches – Cashews help
support healthy brain function and improve blood
circulation while lowering blood pressure.

Nuts also provide plant-based phytosterols, which are beneficial for
reducing headache duration and occurrence. Additionally, cashews
fight rapid changes in blood sugar and hypoglycemia, another
well-recognized trigger for migraines.

9. Cashews Help Maintain Healthy healthy skin due to
the presence of healthy essential fatty acids. Healthy sources
of fat are needed to keep skin hydrated and free from
irritation, flaking and premature aging.

Cashews are also a high source of copper, which helps with the
production of the skin and hair pigment called melanin, as well
as the formation of collagen, which supports skin’s elasticity and
defenses against aging.

See the full story at Dr. Axe
https://draxe.com/cashews-nutrition/