Plant-Based Pleasure: Dairy-Free Nutty Cream Cheese to Delight your Palate

Supporting adrenal health and overall hormone balance is crucial for overall well-being, and the food we consume plays a significant role in achieving this balance. This week, I am sharing a delicious recipe called Nutty Cream Cheese and how its ingredients contribute to hormone balancing and adrenal health.

What is the Nutty Vegan Cream Cheese made of?  

This tantalizing cheese alternative will captivate your taste buds with its creamy and velvety texture. 

Made from a combination of cashews or macadamia nuts, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sea salt, and the optional but highly recommended addition of nutritional yeast, this recipe elevates plant-based cuisine to a whole new level. 

Soak up the B-vitamins and savor the dairy-free delight as you embark on a culinary adventure with our dairy-free, Nutty Cream Cheese.

How do you make Dairy Free Nutty Cream Cheese?

Experience the ease and convenience of preparing your very own vegan, non-dairy cheese. This quick recipe requires just a few simple steps to achieve a delectable result.

First, gather all the ingredients and place them into your trusty blender or Vitamix. In a matter of minutes, the mixture will become thick and creamy, and ready to be savored. Discover the endless possibilities with variations that allow you to explore diverse flavors.

For a captivating twist, consider swapping cashews or macadamia nuts with pine nuts, Brazil nuts, or almonds, unlocking a unique texture and taste – plus added nutrition. I often add hemp seeds for their omega-3 fats.

And for those craving the essence of “cheddar cheese,” let the vibrant red bell pepper take center stage by substituting it for part or all of the water.

It is delicious just as is it, but you can also add herbs to mix things up a bit. Add Italian seasonings and use this in a zoodle dish; add fresh herbs from the garden and use it as a summer dip. The variations are endless.

How Do These Ingredients Help with Hormone Balancing?

Proper nutrition plays a key role in supporting hormone balance, especially for adrenal health. 

Certain nutrients and dietary choices can nourish the adrenals, reduce inflammation, and promote hormone balance. 

Let's explore how the ingredients in this non-dairy cheese recipe relate to adrenal health.

Cashews and Macadamia Nuts serve as the base for our creamy dairy-free cheese. These nuts are rich in healthy fats, including monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for adrenal health. One key nutrient found in cashews and macadamia nuts is magnesium. 

Magnesium is essential for the body's stress response and plays a crucial role in regulating adrenal function. It helps to modulate the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol and supports the overall balance of the adrenal glands. 

Cashews and macadamia nuts contain healthy monounsaturated fats, which provide a source of sustained energy and support the body's stress response. 

These healthy fats are crucial for maintaining stable blood sugar levels and preventing energy crashes, which can put additional strain on the adrenal glands. 

In addition to these beneficial nutrients, cashews and macadamia nuts also offer a variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which can negatively impact adrenal health. 

They also provide B vitamins, including thiamin and riboflavin, which are involved in energy metabolism and support the adrenal glands' proper functioning.

 The lemon juice in the nut cheese recipe not only adds a tangy flavor but also provides a dose of vitamin C. 

This powerful antioxidant plays a crucial role in adrenal health. When the body is under stress, the demand for vitamin C increases. Adequate levels of vitamin C are essential for the synthesis of cortisol and other adrenal hormones, helping to maintain a healthy stress response. 

Lemons also contains citric acid, which has alkalizing properties in the body. During periods of stress, the body's pH levels can become imbalanced and shift toward acidity. This acidic environment can put additional strain on the adrenal glands. 

Lemons also provide a gentle detoxification effect. The liver plays a significant role in adrenal health, as it helps metabolize stress hormones and detoxify the body. Lemons also contain compounds that support liver function and aid in the removal of toxins from the body. 

Sea Salt is derived from the evaporation of seawater, so sea salt retains valuable minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which are essential for optimal adrenal function. 

These minerals play a vital role in maintaining electrolyte balance, supporting proper hydration, and aiding in stress management. 

In addition to its mineral content, sea salt also offers a more natural and less processed alternative to table salt. Commercially processed table salt often undergoes refining and chemical treatments, which strip away valuable minerals and leave behind additives such as anti-caking agents. 

Nutritional Yeast is optional but highly recommended in the recipe adding a “cheesy” flavor, and it provides B vitamins. 

B vitamins, such as vitamin B5 and vitamin B6, are crucial for adrenal health as they are involved in the production and regulation of adrenal hormones. They also support energy metabolism and help combat fatigue and brain fog.

How Can You Enjoy this Plant-Based Dairy-Free Cheese?

This vegan cheese offers a versatile and delectable experience that can be enjoyed in various ways.

For a light and refreshing option, serve this creamy non-dairy cheese as a dip alongside a colorful assortment of freshly cut vegetables. With the creamy texture of vegan cheese, but full of cheesy flavor, this nutty, dairy-free cheese will complement the crispness of the vegetables, creating a delightful combination of flavors and textures.

If you're craving a satisfying and crunchy bite, spread the creamy nut dairy-free cheese on grain-free crackers. The rich soft creamy texture of almond milk in the non-dairy cheese paired with the crispness of the crackers creates a delicious harmonious balance that will satisfy your taste buds and keep you coming back for more.

Incorporate the nut cheese into a raw vegan lasagna or ravioli. Layer it between thinly sliced zucchini, eggplant or turnips, along with vibrant layers of fresh vegetables and a flavorful tomato sauce.

No matter how you choose to enjoy it, Nutty Cream Cheese offers a delightful and nourishing experience. Its versatility allows you to explore different combinations and create dishes that cater to your taste preferences and dietary needs.

Let your creativity flow and indulge in the creamy goodness of nut cheese, whether it's in a wrap, with cut vegetables, on grain-free crackers, or as a part of a raw vegan cheese lasagna.

Other Variations:

Other nuts, like pine nuts, Brazil nuts or almonds can be substituted for the cashews or macadamia nuts. Hemp seeds can be added for an omega-3 boost. The resulting cheese will not be as white and creamy as when using just cashews and macadamia nuts, and the taste will be somewhat stronger, but the nutritional value will increase. .

For “cheddar cheese”, use red bell pepper instead of all or part of the water. Put the red bell pepper in the blender and blend until liquefied. Add a little bit of water if needed to get the blender moving. Add the remaining ingredients, except the water, and blend. Add water if needed to thin to desired consistency.

Nutty Cream Cheese not only satisfies your taste buds with its creamy and cheesy flavor but also supports adrenal health through its nourishing ingredients.

By incorporating this recipe into your diet, along with mindful lifestyle choices, you can promote hormone balance and overall well-being.

Where can you find more recipes like this?

The Nutty Cream Cheese recipe and all of  Dr.Ritamarie’s recipes for mouthwatering, energizing, and hormone-balancing dishes are part of the Body Freedom Nutrition  Lab.

There, you'll find a wealth of resources that can help you on your journey to hormone balance and vibrant living.

Comment below to let us know how you plan to use this recipe.