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Vegan cashew cheese ball coated in chopped almonds and chives, garnished with basil leaves, pale cream interior visible.

Vegan Cashew Cheese Ball with Chives

Make-ahead vegan cashew cheese ball with lemon, miso, and nutritional yeast, coated in crushed almonds and chives. Prep 25 min, serves 8, 170 calories.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Soak Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 170
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup raw cashews 150 g, steeped in boiling water for 1 hour
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 tbsp white miso paste
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 clove garlic crushed
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh chives divided
  • 1/4 cup roasted salted almonds crushed, about 1.5 oz / 43 g

Method
 

  1. Put the raw cashews in a bowl and cover them with boiling hot water. Allow to soak for 1 hour.
  2. Drain the cashews, then transfer to a blender with the lemon juice, coconut oil, miso paste, salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, Dijon mustard, nutritional yeast, crushed garlic, and water. Process until smooth.
  3. Move the mixture into a mixing bowl and fold in the chopped fresh basil and 1 tbsp of the chopped chives.
  4. Line a small bowl with plastic wrap and spoon the mixture inside. Twist the plastic wrap closed, forming the mixture into a ball.
  5. Put the bowl containing the cheese ball in the freezer for 1 hour to set.
  6. While the cheese sets, crush the roasted salted almonds and place them in a wide bowl.
  7. Stir in the remaining 1 tbsp chopped chives and combine with the crushed almonds.
  8. After 1 hour, take the cheese ball out of the freezer and carefully remove the plastic wrap.
  9. Roll the cheese ball gently in the crushed almonds and chives, making sure the coating is even.
  10. Put the cheese ball back into the small bowl it set in and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until ready to serve.
  11. Serve alongside crackers, breads, veggies, or tortilla chips.