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CASHEW GARY AU POIVRE

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Pretty much everyone loves some form of cheese and the most common phrase we hear is, “I could never give up cheese.” Well, even if you don’t, these days it’s getting easier and easier to transition into dairy free with so many great plant-based cheeses available. AND if you’re picky about what you call and refer to as dairy-free cheese (since it’s a hot topic in some countries) you could adopt the name “Gary” as they do in the UK to avoid confusion. No matter what you decide to call it, if it looks, acts, feels and tastes like it and the only difference is it’s not coming from an animal, then we’re good with that.

We love that there are so many options to choose from now. But, be warned, not all dairy-free cheeses are created equal. Some are heavily processed, high oil “cheeses” that are packed with gums, funk and other ingredients we can’t pronounce and refuse to use. Read the ingredient labels and decide what works for you.

The best kind is the kind we make at home and know and control what’s in em, they’re pretty simple to make… and today we’ve got a wicked healthy, RAW cheese recipe that is totally legit and legal and can be made in less than 24 hours.

  • Cook Time: 16 hours
  • Total Time: 16 hours
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the cheese

  • 2 cups raw cashews soaked in water for a few hours to overnight, to soften
  • 3/4 teaspoon Renew Life Probiotics powder, or other potent pro-biotic powder dissolved in 3/4 cup warm filtered water
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast, small flake
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1/4 t fresh powdered nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 t fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

To crust the cheese

  • 3 tablespoons crushed pink peppercorns
  • 3 tablespoons chives, fine minced (optional)
  • 1/2 tablespoon flaked sea salt

Instructions

  1. In high speed blender, blend the soaked cashews with probiotics and lukewarm water until smooth. To achieve an optimum smooth consistency, remove the lid, and fold the mixture at medium speed. Note: if using Blixer, you will use less water and result will be a thicker product.
  2. Scrape out with rubber spatula into a glass bowl. Allow to sit in bowl covered with towel at room temperature for 14-16 hours to culture.
  3. After allowing the mixture to culture, hand mix in the nutritional yeast, onion powder, nutmeg, sea salt and white pepper.
  4. Store and use as a plain cream cheese substitute, or use as a base for endless variations and applications.

Peppercorn-crusted option:

  1. Press the cashew cheese firmly into a small spring form pan or terrine mold lined with plastic wrap or a round mold. Allow to chill for 1-2 hours to firm up.
  2. While still in the pan, sprinkle the peppercorn, chive and coarse salt on top, creating an even crust, then press slightly. Note: if using a spring form or terrine mold, once lined with plastic wrap, cover the bottom of the pan with the peppercorns, chives and salt mixture, and continue to press the cheese on top. This will make it easier to flip over once set, so the top is encrusted.

Serving suggestion:

  1. This is an awesome recipe with a layer of pesto or tapenade in the center, or just drizzled with a white balsamic syrup and served with crackers of choice.

Notes

Don’t have time to culture? Omit the probiotics and replace with 2 tablespoons lemon juice. The end result will be slightly different but still a similar flavor profile without the zing.

Find it online: https://wickedkitchen.com/cashew-gary-au-poivre/

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