10-Minute Vegan Queso: Creamy Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe

• 1.5 tbsp oil, olive oil or safflower
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 3.5 tbsp flour, unbleached all-purpose
• 3/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp each of cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp chipotle pepper powder or 1/2 tsp adobo sauce
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp ground mustard, optional
• 1 3/4 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk, almond or soy
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp nutritional yeast, adjust to taste
• 1 tsp soy sauce, optional

Optional Add-ins:

• 2 tbsp salsa
• 2 tbsp chopped pickled jalapeño for garnish
• cilantro for garnish, lemon for tang

• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally to remove the raw flour taste. Add the chopped bell pepper and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the spices and cook for a few seconds to release their aroma.
• Pour in about half of the non-dairy milk and whisk vigorously to break up any lumps. Add the nutritional yeast and continue whisking. Add the remaining milk, bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook until it thickens. Taste and adjust salt and seasoning—add more cumin or smoked paprika for smokiness, chipotle for heat, or a pinch of turmeric for color if desired.
• For an extra-smooth texture, let the sauce cool briefly and blend until silky. Stir in salsa if using. Garnish with chopped pickled jalapeño, cilantro and a squeeze of lemon if desired. Serve warm over nachos, tacos, quesadillas, or with chips.

To make this oil-free: Toast the flour in a dry skillet for about 3 minutes until fragrant, then set aside. Sauté the onion and garlic in vegetable broth, add the bell pepper and the toasted flour, then proceed with the spices and the remaining steps. The flour may take a bit longer to thicken, so whisk well and cook a little longer.

To make gluten-free: Replace the flour with 1 tablespoon rice flour and 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot starch, and use tamari instead of soy sauce. Alternatively, use a chickpea-flour-based nacho sauce.

Nutrition values are for one quarter of the recipe.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.