This creamy vegan spinach dip uses soaked cashews instead of dairy for a rich, velvety base. Blended with garlic, lemon juice, and nutritional yeast, it’s full of cheesy flavor — without the cheese. A touch of olive oil makes it extra smooth and luxurious.
Fresh spinach is quickly sautéed or steamed, then folded into the cashew blend for a vibrant green color and savory depth. You can also toss in artichokes, herbs, or chili flakes for a twist. The result is satisfying, comforting, and surprisingly healthy.
Serve warm or chilled with crackers, veggies, or sourdough. Perfect for parties, picnics, or just snacking straight from the fridge. It’s plant-based, protein-rich, and totally addictive.
🌱 Vegan Spinach Dip (with Cashews)
Ingredients
For the cashew cream:
- 1 cup raw cashews (soaked 4 hours or boiled for 10 minutes)
- ½ cup water
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
For the dip:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
- 5 oz fresh spinach (or 1 cup frozen, thawed and drained well)
- Salt and pepper to taste
🥣 Instructions
- Soak the cashews:
- If you didn’t pre-soak, boil the cashews for 10 minutes to soften.
- Drain and set aside.
- Make the cashew cream:
- In a high-speed blender, combine the soaked cashews, water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
- Blend until smooth and creamy. Add a splash more water if too thick.
- Sauté the spinach:
- In a skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil.
- Add onion (if using) and sauté for 3–5 minutes until translucent.
- Add garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
- Add spinach and cook until wilted (about 2–3 minutes for fresh; warm through for thawed frozen spinach).
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine:
- Stir the cashew cream into the pan with the spinach mixture.
- Mix until well combined and heated through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning (add more lemon juice, salt, or garlic if desired).
- Serve:
- Serve warm or chilled with crackers, bread, pita, or veggie sticks.