Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add carrot and allow to cook for ~10 minutes, or until tender. If you haven't soaked your cashews yet, toss them in with the carrots. This is a good time to measure other ingredients!
When carrots are tender, strain them and add to a blender along with all other ingredients.
Blend until smooth. (If making queso variation, add in diced jalapeños, green onions and cumin at this time and pulse to combine.)
Taste and adjust to preference! You can add a little extra salt if you prefer, or more lemon juice if you like it more tangy.
The cheese sauce is ready to use as a dip as-is, but you can also warm it on the stove if you like.
To warm: Warm it in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir often and keep an eye on it, as it will stick to the bottom of the pan otherwise. It may thicken slightly as it warms; you can simply add a tablespoon of extra milk or water at a time to achieve your preferred consistency.