Have you ever made a meal and just had the feeling that it was missing something? It can be especially hard when using only plant-based ingredients to really find the perfect sauce or “condiment” to add that special something to your food. Through trial and error we have found our favorite go-to sauces that compliment almost every flavor palette.

Marayah hears me constantly complaining about how the thing I miss the most in the Vegan diet is Sour Cream. Now with this cashew cream I don’t catch myself wishing for it’s unhealthy counterpart, Sour Cream. Marayah also has never been a fan of Sour Cream or cheese in general, but she lovesss the cashew cream! Below is the recipe for the Cashew Cream.

Cashew Cream

makes around 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw Cashews
• 1 cup hot water
• 1/2 lemon (juice)
• 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar(ACV) *optional- gives more of a Sour Cream flavor
• 1 TBSP. Nutritional Yeast *optional- adds a Cheddar cheese flavor

Instructions:

1. Place the Cashews and a 1/2 cup of the hot water in your blender (if you have more time, leave the cashews to soak for around 10 minutes)
2. Add the juice of 1/2 of a lemon as well as the salt, black pepper, and any of the optional ingredients.
3. Begin blending, as it comes together add more of the water until it creates a consistency that you like.
4. Blend until smooth!
5. Taste! – add more salt or lemon depending on your preference!
6. Our favorite part, EAT

This Cashew Cream is the perfect sauce to top off your tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chili, avocado toast, baked potatoes, and so much more!

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Avocado Crema (Whole Foods)

For a while last semester, after class Marayah and I would go share a Whole Foods burrito LOADED with our favorite, Avocado Crema. After running real low on money from spending at least $8.00 on a burrito every single day haha.. we decided to try and recreate the crema ourselves! I haven’t bought a burrito since, and instead of buying burritos I’ve bought more bikinis 😉 So here is the recipe so you too can save money for some much needed retail therapy…

makes around 1 cup

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe Avocados
• 1 lime or lemon
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 TBSP. Olive Oil

Instructions:

1. Place the Avocados into the blender (without skin and seed)
2. Add the juice of lime or lemon into blender
3. Add salt, pepper, and Olive Oil
4. Blend
5. Add water little by little to achieve the consistency you prefer.
6. Taste! – add lime/lemon juice and salt to your preference
7. Enjoy!

We consider this crema a staple, we eat it on pasta, in burritos and tacos, with chips, and even sometimes with veggies as a dip. It is literally the. BEST..

Garlic Lemon Hummus

When Marayah told me she had never had/made homemade hummus I was baffled. It is one of the easiest/ most affordable things to make and is in my opinion, much better than store bought hummus. Down below is the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 2 cans of chickpeas/garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1-2 cloves of garlic
• 1 TBSP nutritional yeast (optional)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 2 TBSP olive oil

Instructions:

Blend all above ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Top with a sprinkle of paprika and enjoy!!

We hope you guys enjoy these sauces/dips as much as we do!! They’ve become a staple in almost all of our meals!