Quick And Easy Creamy Vegan Queso Dip

Some vegan cheeses are great, while others still have a long way to go. In my experience, even though some cheeses have come a long way and do mostly melt, it takes trial and error to find a good one. So I decided to make my own easy, creamy, vegan queso dip.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, finely diced
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 1 cup thinly sliced butternut squash
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 4 oz green chilis
• 1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight and drained
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/2 cup chunky tomato salsa or pico de gallo
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Method For Your Vegan Queso Dip

1. in a large saucepan over a medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add in the onions and garlic and saute until the onions have softened.
2. Add in the carrots, butternut squash, 1 tsp of salt, cumin, chili powder, and black pepper. Stir continuously for a couple of minutes. Add in the vegetable broth and simmer, stirring frequently until the vegetables are soft and tender. They should be soft enough to blend in a blender.
3. Once your vegetables are softened, transfer your vegan queso dip to a high powered blender. Add in the green chilis, almond milk, drained cashews, nutritional yeast, salsa, and remaining 1 tsp of salt. 
4. Blend your mixture well, scraping down the sides as needed, until the mixture has reached a thick and creamy consistency. 
5. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If your mixture has cooled down, transfer to a saucepan and gently warm over a low heat. 
6. Serve in a bowl alongside tortilla chips, and garnish with your favorite toppings.

Note: Any vegan queso dip that is left over can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

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