I really love cheese.
There I said it. I know it isn’t
the healthiest of foods, and I know that it gives me headaches, but for some
reason I have a hard time giving it up.
There I said it. I know it isn’t
the healthiest of foods, and I know that it gives me headaches, but for some
reason I have a hard time giving it up.
I decided that I would do just that for Lent this year.
I have wanted to participate in Lent for a few years now, it
isn’t something that we have ever really talked about in my home church, but it
is something that I am trying to learn more about. I know that giving something up for a time is
a good practice, and so I decided to try it this year.
isn’t something that we have ever really talked about in my home church, but it
is something that I am trying to learn more about. I know that giving something up for a time is
a good practice, and so I decided to try it this year.
If there is cheese in the house, I usually eat it. We are pretty big on the Mexican food here,
so our meals during the week often consist of bean burritos, chili, and
tacos. All of those seem so much better
with cheese, don’t they?
so our meals during the week often consist of bean burritos, chili, and
tacos. All of those seem so much better
with cheese, don’t they?
What is the alternative when cheese is no longer an option?
Several years ago I took a 30 Day Vegan course, which
introduced me to this wonderful food called Nutritional Yeast.
introduced me to this wonderful food called Nutritional Yeast.
Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast that is washed and
dried and sold as flakes or a powder. It
is popular among vegans and vegetarians because of its nutty and somewhat
cheesy flavor. I had no idea what it was,
bought it, and fell in love with it. Now
I put it in my salads, on soup, on pasta, pretty much anything that I would
normally top with cheese, I use nutritional yeast.
dried and sold as flakes or a powder. It
is popular among vegans and vegetarians because of its nutty and somewhat
cheesy flavor. I had no idea what it was,
bought it, and fell in love with it. Now
I put it in my salads, on soup, on pasta, pretty much anything that I would
normally top with cheese, I use nutritional yeast.
But, you can’t just sprinkle a powder on nachos, no you need
a cheesy dip for nachos.
a cheesy dip for nachos.
Vegan Nacho “Cheese”
Sauce
Sauce
3 roasted red pepper
pieces
pieces
1 small or ½ a medium
sweet onion, chopped
sweet onion, chopped
½ cup nutritional yeast
flakes
flakes
2 garlic gloves or ½ tsp.
garlic powder
garlic powder
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
¼ tsp. salt
1-2 Tbsp. veggie stock
or water
or water
pickled jalapeño
slices
slices
- Sauté onion in coconut
oil until browned and soft – 4-5 minutes. - Once onion is cooked,
put all ingredients except veggie stock in a food processor or blender and
pulse until blended. - Add veggie stock if
needed to help blend. - Top with pickled
jalapeños and nacho chips.
This is definitely addictive, and I can sit down and eat an
entire bowl if I am not careful (I am rarely careful). Nutritional yeast is a great cheese
alternative, however it can be an acquired taste. My husband wasn’t a fan of it several years
ago, but now he really enjoys it.
entire bowl if I am not careful (I am rarely careful). Nutritional yeast is a great cheese
alternative, however it can be an acquired taste. My husband wasn’t a fan of it several years
ago, but now he really enjoys it.
Are you as addicted to
cheese as I am? Do you have any
alternatives to your favorite foods to help you stay a little healthier without
sacrificing taste?
cheese as I am? Do you have any
alternatives to your favorite foods to help you stay a little healthier without
sacrificing taste?
Krystal Butherus says
March 25, 2016 at 3:08 pmThis looks delicious! Thanks for linking up with #BloggersGetSocial at the Get It Together link up! <3
Ashleigh Walls says
February 18, 2016 at 3:52 pmCheese is such a big staple in our house, but we have friends that don't eat it. This would be great for us to serve when they're over.
Shana says
February 18, 2016 at 4:14 amCheese is definitely my most favorite thing to eat. I can't give it up. This recipe looks good though.
Becca says
February 18, 2016 at 2:29 amOhhh I don't know if I could live without cheese!! Love this way of eating nachos!
S. Meredith says
February 17, 2016 at 10:42 pmI had a friend who participated in lent and gave up soda. She regretted it the next day and moped around for a while about it haha Good for you on finding a way to keep yourself motivated!
Kaleigh Codes says
February 17, 2016 at 10:34 pmThis is interesting! I have been trying to cut back on dairy, so anything that I can subsitute is always welcome!
Kimberly Stroh says
February 17, 2016 at 8:13 pmThat looks so yummy but less decadent. Easy on my tummy too! Pinning!
Amy Jones says
February 17, 2016 at 7:20 pmWhat a fun and different new way of eating nachos, I wouldn't change the cheese but sound like a great choice for a vegan guest
Housewife Eclectic says
February 17, 2016 at 4:28 pmI have been hearing a lot about nutritional yeast! I really need to try it out, it sounds delicious!
Ourfamilyworld says
February 17, 2016 at 2:39 pmI love cheese, too. Your cheese sauce looks so yummy. I can't wait to try this.
Amanda Love says
February 17, 2016 at 2:33 pmI'm not sure if I can eat that. My daughter on the other hand would. She's vegetarian and likes trying new stuff. I can never go without my cheese.
Veronica Pototska says
February 17, 2016 at 10:41 amI have all the ingredients needed!!! Will cook today! Thank you
NatePD says
February 17, 2016 at 9:57 amI am obsessed with cheese. I think I definitely need to try the vegan alternative because I need a break haha
ana de jesus says
February 16, 2016 at 10:19 pmGurl I love cheese it is one of my guilty pleasures! I want to try this vegan alternative as too much dairy hurts my stomach so I would love to try it!
blythe32 says
February 16, 2016 at 10:00 pmNutritional yeast is the best. It gives you the needed cheese taste. I still love my cheese, though. I try to eat more vegetarian based ones which use almonds or veggie casein.
Carolyn says
February 16, 2016 at 9:14 pmI am SUCH a cheese addict – it goes on my salads, on veggies (yeah), most starches, I just love it! It definitely doesn't agree as well with my stomach as I'd like… so I'll have to check out the nutritional yeast! Thanks for sharing!
cecered says
February 16, 2016 at 8:57 pmGreat info…. I love cheese, but it hates me… Ill spare you the visual, but I am definitely going to try this nutritional yeast…. thanks! m
Colette Wright says
February 16, 2016 at 7:17 pmWow, something I've never heard of before! I'm a die hard meat eater so the word vegan would never enter my vocab! But. this looked yummy!
Megan McCoig says
February 16, 2016 at 6:46 pmNachos are one of my favourite, I usually have sour cream as I don't have nacho cheese. But now I can make my own 🙂 thanks!
Jessica @ Barefoot by the Sea says
February 16, 2016 at 5:51 pmI love cheese, but always looking for dairy free alternatives. Thanks for the recipe!
Jessica Abegg says
February 16, 2016 at 4:25 pmCheese addict, present and accounted for xD The Mister is the same as well. I just bought two 16oz bars today (2/5$ on sale, that's a stock up price – but let's not discuss how much I actually have in the fridge…to a normal person, it's a lot 😉 ).
But it is one of those things that, well, it's not the healthiest, and it's not cheap (for as much as we eat it, anyway). I would be interested to try this yeast, but I'm not sure I could get the Mister on board. While not necessarily picky, he is very particular about certain things (ranch, for example – store bought is gross, Hidden Valley is decent, but he would much rather have the Lighthouse (or is it Litehouse?) brand…which is far too costly). Nachos, though, I could probably trick him into trying 😉
I hope your Lent goes well – and quickly so you can enjoy cheese again!