Everything but the Bagel
Vegan Cream Cheese

🌿 RECIPE🌿

Prep time: 10 minutes ready in: 4 hours

INGREDIENTS

2 cups raw cashews, soaked several hours / over night

¼ cup filtered water

1/4 teaspoon Lactic Acid or sub juice of 1 lemon (about one tablespoon)

½ teaspoon sea salt

contents of 2 probiotic capsule (optional)

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 large clove of garlic sub 1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup of Everything but the Bagel seasoning

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start by soaking your cashews overnight to soften. If you are in a pinch for time simply add boiling water over cashews and soak for 20 minutes.

2. Drain the cashews and add them to a food processor with lactic acid, water, salt, garlic and nutritional yeast and probiotic capsule .

3. Blend until smooth, stopping to scrape the sides as needed.

4. Transfer to a dish, cover with a cheese cloth and allow to sit overnight. This step is optional but will allow the cheese blend to start to ferment and develop a rich flavor.

5. Sprinkle Everything but the Bagel seasoning over saran wrap, then spoon on your cream cheese mixture.

6. Wrap mixture into a ball and cover with seasonings. Allow to sit in the fridge for a couple hours, the longer it sits the firmer it becomes.

7. Serve on a bagel, over toast, or on a cheese platter and enjoy.

🍍 Pro Tips:

* Raw sunflower seeds can be substituted for cashews in a 1:1 replacement in vegan recipes with success. Step 1: Soak them. You will need to soak your sunflower seeds similarly to your cashews.

*If you are in a time crunch you may boil the cashews by covering the cashews with 2 inches of water bring to the boil and reduce heat slightly, to a rolling simmer, for 15 minutes.

*Don't skip rinsing the cashews! Run water over them for a couple minutes soak them in super hot water for about 5 minutes and then rinse again. (This step really helps to decrease the 'cashew' flavor in the recipe, while still achieving the wonderful creaminess of the cashew!)
*I like to leave mine to chill for 24 hours to let the flavors meld together.

🌿 If you make this recipe post a picture on Instagram, tag me, and use the hashtag #veganalohakitchen so I can check it out!