Dairy Free Rotel Nacho Dip (Print Version)
Creamy dairy-free nacho dip with cashews, nutritional yeast and Rotel tomatoes—quick, flavorful party snack.
# What You Need:
→ Base
01 - 2 cups unsweetened cashew milk or neutral plant-based milk
02 - 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours and drained
03 - 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
04 - 2 tablespoons tapioca starch or cornstarch
→ Flavor and Seasonings
05 - 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1 teaspoon salt
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
→ Optional Mix-Ins
13 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
14 - 2 green onions, sliced
15 - 1 small jalapeño, finely diced
# Directions:
01 - Combine cashews, plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, tapioca starch, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and salt in a high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth and no graininess remains.
02 - Pour the blended mixture into a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Stir continuously with a silicone spatula for 5 to 7 minutes until the dip becomes thick, creamy, and glossy.
03 - Fold in the drained Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies. Continue heating for 2 to 3 minutes until everything is warmed through and evenly incorporated.
04 - Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the fresh lime juice and fold in any optional mix-ins such as cilantro, green onions, or jalapeño to taste.
05 - Transfer to a serving bowl and serve warm with tortilla chips, fresh vegetables, or spoon over tacos.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Nobody will guess it is dairy free because the cashew base gets impossibly velvety and rich.
- It comes together in twenty minutes flat which means you can make it right before guests arrive without breaking a sweat.
02 -
- Under soaking the cashews is the number one reason this dip turns out gritty so give them a full two hours at room temperature or thirty minutes in hot water.
- Stirring constantly during the cook is the only way to avoid a lumpy skin forming on the bottom of the pan and once that happens it is hard to fix.
03 -
- Double the batch because it disappears faster than you think and leftover dip spread on a breakfast burrito the next morning is an incredible surprise.
- Toast the spices in the dry saucepan for thirty seconds before adding the blended mixture and you will unlock a deeper warmer flavor with almost no extra effort.