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bowl of high protein white bean vegan mac and cheese

White Bean Cheese Sauce (Vegan, High Protein)

Puréed white beans and cashews give this vegan cheese sauce an extra boost in protein and fiber. It's creamy, cheesy, and oil-free.
4.8 from 8 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Author: Sarah Sullivan

Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can white beans, drained
  • 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews soaked 4+ hours (or boil with carrot)
  • 1 large carrot peeled and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons white miso paste
  • juice of half a lemon about 1-2 tablespoons
  • 2/3 cup full-fat coconut milk or other plain unsweetened plant milk

For Nacho Cheese Sauce

  • 1/4 cup canned jalapeños or green chilis chopped
  • 2 green onions finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • diced fresh tomatoes to garnish
  • chopped cilantro to garnish

Instructions

Cheese Sauce

  • 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.

Notes

Coconut milk: I love full-fat coconut milk in this recipe because it adds an extra rich and creamy mouthfeel. If you want to substitute in a different variety of unsweetened, plain plant milk, that's fine; the sauce will just be a little less rich.
Cashews: Check out the blog post for an extensive list of possible substitutions.
Miso paste: You can substitute in 2 teaspoons soy sauce if you don't have any miso paste.
Carrots: This is mainly to add color, a touch of sweetness, and extra body. You can substitute in an equivalent volume of cooked butternut squash or sweet potato. In a pinch, you can leave it out altogether and the sauce will have a more neutral color.
Did you make this recipe?We’d love for you to leave a review on the website! You can also share a photo on IG and tag @sarahsvegankitchen_ or #sarahsvegankitchen.