Easy Silken Tofu Cheese Sauce (Vegan Cheese Recipe)
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This silken tofu cheese sauce is ready in minutes! It’s dairy-free and gluten-free, but it’s just as cheesy and creamy as the real deal.
Vegan cheese sometimes gets a bad rep, but I can guarantee you’ll love this one.
It only needs 9 ingredients—zero cashews included. Just don’t let the idea of blending silken tofu throw you off.
Silken tofu might actually be the best-kept secret in the vegan world. Check out this coconut cream pie!
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Now, I can’t just talk about this creamy cheese sauce without sharing salsa tatemada and vegan nachos as well. Try this trio, and I’ll be waiting for the Thank-yous in the comments.
Why You’ll Love This Silken Tofu Cheese Sauce Recipe
- This silken tofu cheese sauce is dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free!
- Using only 9 simple ingredients, you can make a vegan cheese sauce that’s as creamy and delicious as the real thing!
- This vegan tofu cheese is incredibly versatile! It’ll be perfect as a dip, sauce, or topping, all yours in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients And Substitutions
Olive oil – For sauteeing those flavorful veggies that bring this silken tofu cheese sauce to life! You can also use avocado oil.
Yellow onion, red bell pepper, and garlic – This vegan cheese sauce with silken tofu tastes anything but flat! The secret? This trio, so don’t skip them.
Salt, black pepper, and chili powder -These seasonings really make the savory, cheesy flavor of nutritional yeast shine. Keep reading for more tasty add-ins!
Nutritional yeast – The secret ingredient that gives silken tofu vegan cheese sauce its cheesiness without dairy. This vegan cheese sauce recipe is another genius way to use it.
Silken tofu – Use silken tofu, period! Otherwise, your tofu vegan cheese won’t be smooth and creamy.
We enjoy this vegan cheese with steamed broccoli and tortilla chips, but the food pairings you can try are endless!
Tips For Making This Recipe
Add Lots of Flavor to Your Vegan Cheese
Enhance the cheesiness of your silken tofu sauce by adding various herbs and seasonings like paprika, turmeric, thyme, and dill.
Get the Perfect Consistency
If your silken tofu cheese sauce is too thin, add more nutritional yeast until it reaches your desired consistency. But if it’s too thick, you can add a bit of unsweetened dairy-free milk, like oat milk.
Serving Ideas
You can use this tofu vegan cheese sauce on just about everything! Besides chips and veggies, try it with vegan totchos, chili baked potato, vegan tacos, vegan enchiladas, or cooked pasta, similar to our vegan broccoli mac and cheese.
Vegan Cheese Recipe FAQs
Can you use firm tofu instead?
Nope. Silken tofu is your best bet to get that smooth and creamy texture on your tofu vegan cheese.
What can I use instead of tofu?
Soaked raw cashews are another popular ingredient for vegan cheese, as seen in this mac and cheese recipe.
Can I make this silken tofu vegan cheese sauce recipe oil-free?
Since this vegan tofu cheese recipe was made with olive oil, I wouldn’t recommend omitting it for the best consistency and flavor.
How long does homemade vegan cheese last in the fridge?
This silken tofu cheese sauce should keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days. You can serve it hot or cold!
Can vegan cheese be frozen?
Absolutely not! Freezing and thawing can alter the consistency of this silken tofu cheese sauce.
More Delicious Vegan Dips and Condiments
I found this recipe for Baked Tortilla Chips that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Your comment and/or rating helps other readers!
Silken Tofu Cheese Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- A dash of black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup nutritional yeast
- 6 oz silken tofu
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Steamed broccoli for serving
- Tortilla chips for serving
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Saute for about 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Once the veggies have softened, stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Transfer the sauteed vegetable mixture to a blender. Add the nutritional yeast and tofu and blend until smooth. Easy peasy! Serve with steamed broccoli or tortilla chips.
Notes
- Enhance the cheesiness of your silken tofu sauce by adding various herbs and seasonings like paprika, turmeric, thyme, and dill.
- If your silken tofu cheese sauce is too thin, add more nutritional yeast until it reaches your desired consistency. But if it’s too thick, you can add a bit of unsweetened dairy-free milk, like oat milk.
- You can use this tofu vegan cheese sauce on just about everything! Besides chips and veggies, try it on vegan totchos, chili baked potato, vegan tacos, vegan enchiladas, or cooked pasta, just this vegan broccoli mac and cheese.
Hi Holly,
Is there a good option to replace the bell pepper? My digestive system can’t handle them. I’ll have indigestion so bad I’ll feel like I need to go to the ER. Not a fun experience!
Option two… can it just be lleft out?
Hi Donna! What about tomatoes? That may make a good replacement. Or I’m sure you could leave it out. Just may have to adjust some of the seasonings to make it flavorful enough. Enjoy!
Hi….new to the vegan game…and this looks amazing…
Does the silken tofu need to be pressed to get the water out?
Thank you!!
Jeanie
Hi Jeanie! Welcome to the vegan game. It can be so overwhelming, but I promise it gets easier. You’re going to love this cheese. But no, the silken tofu doesn’t need to be pressed. Once you get it, you’ll see that it’s super soft and that pressing it would just turn it to mush – which is why it works so well in this recipe and others like pudding, pies, cheesecakes, smoothies, etc. Let me know what you think!
Thank you for this recipe!!! Does it matter what kind of Silken Tofu? All I can find in my town is firm or extra firm….and not the Silken brand. Does it matter?
Hi Sara! The brand does not matter in this case – silken is just describing how soft it is. You may be able to find silken tofu down the asian food aisle in a non-refrigerated pack. Or sometimes it’s hidden elsewhere in the store and you have to ask for it. Using firm or extra firm will make for a really grainy and not appealing texture. Silken is what you’re looking for. I hope that helps!
Ahhh…I see. Thank you so much!!
Hi,I like this recipe,especially as I have tried vegan cheeses and most tasted plastic. I have some dairy intolerance and drink nut milks and eat nondairy yogurts,but love cheese. can this recipe be made without the tofu? My husband can’t have it. Thanks for your help. Britt
I hope you get a chance to try it out Britt. Let’s see – no tofu. I haven’t tried it any other way. I wonder if a nondairy plain yogurt would work. Or dairy free cream cheese. Both are generally soy based, so I don’t know that that helps.
You could also soak cashews to make a cashew cream sauce.
Enjoy!
This cheese sauce looks CRAZY GOOD! Love that you get in some extra protein from the tofu!
YES! And I’m always looking for ways to get more protein in. You’ve got to try this out!