How to Make Vegan Pimento Cheese Spread
Looking for a crowd-pleasing yet more sustainable addition to your charcuterie board for your next party? There are plenty of vegan cheeses at the grocery store you can try, ranging from cheddar cheese to vegan cream cheese, and more are coming on the market. But if you're looking for something a little more upscale, My recipe for cashew-based vegan pimento cheese spread is a satisfying addition to a cheese plate and a delightful way to introduce a dairy-free option into snacking.
You don't need to eat plant-based to enjoy this high-protein and tasty snack. A traditional pimento cheese spread is a familiar favorite, but this vegan version is comparable. One thing I appreciate about this vegan pimento cheese spread is that you can make it in five or thirty minutes, depending on if you account for any preparation time!
What’s in this recipe?
This vegan pimento cheese recipe has a few key ingredients I wouldn't recommend substituting. It contains whole foods like cashews, pimentos, and nutritional yeast without lactic acid.
Cashew Cream
There are plenty of good cashew cream recipes, but I use the one from Rainbow Plant Life. Generally, the process is simple, and you'll want to have soaked cashews blended with a blender or food processor. Then, add salt and nutritional yeast. We'll walk you through how to make this using the recipe described below.
Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast looks like tiny yellow flakes that provide a lot of dairy. Nutritional yeast looks like tiny yellow flakes that give a lot of dairy notes and a cheesy flavor. The yeast is deactivated and provides some protein and small amounts of B vitamins. Most recipes do not offer adequate nutrition with nutritional yeast since it's used in small quantities, but it adds a nice flavor that helps satisfy your craving for cheese and dairy. It's the secret ingredient in most vegan versions of dairy-based products.
Lemons or lemon juice
Lemons and lemon juice add a pop of flavor and a balance with acid. You can use store-bought lemon juice, but fresh lemon juice will give a brighter taste. If you don't have any lemon juice, you can use apple cider vinegar.
Pimento peppers
You've probably seen these peppers stuffed into olives in the past. Pimento peppers are large, sweet red peppers that grow in the shape of a heart. They are sweeter than red bell peppers and are often seen diced. They add a hint of sweetness to an otherwise tangy cheese.
In the supermarket, you will generally find them near the jarred roasted red peppers and olives. Use strained diced or chopped pimentos to make it easier.
Paprika
Depending on your audience, you can use either hot paprika or sweet paprika in this recipe. I use sweet paprika to appeal to a larger crowd. If you're into smoky flavors, you can use smoked paprika too.
Salt & Pepper
Essential to any and every recipe. You can use sea salt or kosher salt, but I recommend using black pepper.
Optional Flavor Enhancements
Looking to add a new element of flavor through heat? Add some cayenne pepper or a few splashes of hot sauce. This spread also tastes great the next day, so it'll have more pimento flavor on day two.
How to Serve Vegan Pimento Cheese Spread
My favorite way to serve this most delicious vegan pimento cheese spread is with a whole wheat cracker or crustinis for additional savory flavors. You can also serve it carrot and celery sticks if raw is more your style.
While you can always serve your pimento cheese mixture in a bowl with crackers on your charcuterie board, you might have some leftover if you make a large batch of pimento cheese spread. You can make pimento cheese sandwiches and use the vegan cheese mixture as a sandwich spread.
Sustaining You and The Planet
It is widely accepted that animal agriculture is responsible for a large percentage of Green House Gas emissions. While many people make this association with meats, the dairy industry is also a contributor. Cheese contributes to more greenhouse gas emissions than chicken, fish, or pork and is the third-largest contributor to land use per kg. While cheese is a personal favorite, this vegan pimento cheese spread is a great substitute that will satisfy your cheese craving and reduce the abundance of resources needed to produce it.
Apart from its environmental impact, cheese is high in saturated fats, which contributes to artery blockages. While dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol are not strongly correlated, there is strong evidence that an increase in saturated fats can raise LDL cholesterol levels, which is the kind that increased your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Check out the full nutritional facts to the right.
Food science tip:
You’ll need to start by soaking the raw cashews in water. If you’re in a pinch for time, you can pour boiling water over the cashews and let them soak for anywhere from 15-30 minutes or until the cashews are soft. But, if you’re any type of immunocompromised, I highly recommend this method as a pasteurization step.
However, if you’re a planner, you can soak these raw cashews in room temperature water either overnight or during the workday to save you some time. You should note that if you leave the cashews soaking for more than 12 hours, they may begin to ferment. If a raw diet is your thing, this fermentation actually adds a unique flavor to your cheese spread.
Part 1: Cashew Cr
Vegan Pimento Cheese Spread
Ingredients
- 1 cup cashews raw
- One lemon or 3 tbsp of lemon juice
- 2 oz of pimento peppers
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt & Pepper to Taste
Instructions
- Part 1:
- Cashew Cream
- Soak your raw cashews in water for about 8 hours or with boiling water for 15-20 minutes or until soft
- Drain your cashews, and place them into a blender (You can use an immersion blender here, but a high-powered blender like a Vitamix works great) or food processor
- Add nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and salt
- Blend until you have a creamy and smooth texture
- Store Refrigerated
- Part 2:
- In a bowl or container, add your cashew cream, pimentos, and spices and other remaining ingredients
- With a rubber spatula or spoon, mix until evenly dispersed
Final Thoughts
I have shared this recipe with a few friends and received great compliments. The key to vegan cheese spread recipes is not comparing it to a cheese product, but a stand-in replacement for a softer cheese. Of course, it will never be the same, but it does hit the spot for a cheese replacement and it deserves its rightful spot on a charcuterie board. Feel free to explore our other content, such as “Four Ways to Eat a More Sustainable Diet” or our “Healthy and Simple Lemon Asparagus Pasta”.
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