Mexican Cheese
Makes 2 cups, Preparation Time 20 minutes
What makes a particular food "Mexican", "Italian", or "Indian"? It's the seasoning! Let us be more precise, it is our stereotypical thinking about the seasoning. It is one of the few times stereotyping is acceptable because with food comes the pride of ownership and the joy of sharing. In our Mexican Cheese, it's the chipotle that gives it the "Mexican" portion of the name. The chipotle pepper is a roasted and dried jalapeño, a type of small plump dark green chilli pepper associated with Mexico and the southern U.S. states.
You have a choice to make our Mexican Cheese firm, or not, making it better suited as spread, dips, or drizzles. We originally made it for use as a component in our Multi-Layer Mexican Dip!
The Mexican Dry Seasoning
- 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon of sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
For the Cheese Spread
- In a bowl or directly into your food processor or blender, mix together the ingredients to make the Mexican Dry Seasoning.
- 1 ½ cups raw cashews
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste or use little prepared salsa or hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Soy or Tamara sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Use from 1 tablespoon water to ½ cup of water to help blend the ingredients. The amount of water you use will depend on how stiff you wish the spread to be and what appliance you used to blend the mixture. Typically, a blender requires more water to blend a smooth spread than food processors.
- Add the Mexican Dry Seasoning, cashews and remaining ingredients into a food processor or powerful blender.
- Hold back the water and blend and process into a creamy state. Use a little water if needed, and stop to scrape down the sides as needed. Store in a jar and refrigerate to keep fresh, and use as a dip or spread.
Note, to make a stiffer cheese use less water, and consider drying out the cheese by baking in an oven at low temperatures. See our recipe for Cashew Cheese, the cheese flavour varies, but the process is the same making a firmer cheese.
Cashew Cheese
Guacamole Recipe Simplified
