Walnut Queso Dip
(
REVIEWS)
PREP:
10 minutes
TOTAL:
SERVES:
4
This Walnut Queso Dip is a light and healthy way to get your snacking on! Itโs a great alternative to standard queso dip, plus itโs got a beautiful creaminess to it.
Perfect for dipping or pouring over your favorite foods!
I am making my favorite easy to make queso, with one exception. There is no queso. While I love cheese, using a plant-based alternative like walnuts offers a variety of nutrition!!
This recipe is SUPER simple to make. Walnuts, water, some canned hatch chiles and a little seasoning.
Itโs smooth, creamy and an amazing alternative to the cheesy stuff.
โWhy would I want to replace my cheesy queso with this walnut queso?โ, you ask?
Well, for one, a one-ounce handful of walnuts delivers 4 grams of plant-based protein and 2 grams of fiber that will keep you feel satisfied until your next meal.
Staying satiated is a huge factor in preventing mindless snacking all day!
And if you are going to have a food that has fats in it, you may as well go for walnuts which are the only nut rich in omega-3 ALA (2.5g/oz).
โYeah, but whatโs ALA?โ So many questions from you today!
Alpha-linolenic acid is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that comes from foods like walnuts. There are a lot of heart and brain health benefits to adding it to your diet, and it can also help reduce inflammation!
Now, while I am all about cheese-based queso, Iโm always down to add some health benefits like these to my diet and still indulge.
And this walnut queso dip is just that. Indulgent. Itโs smooth and velvety, with a little heat from the seasoning and canned hatch chiles.
And to give it a little โpopโ I threw turmeric in to give it a yellow hue. Plus, if we are going nutritious with this, you canโt not add some turmeric, right?!
If you are looking for a pant-based alternative than off-the-shelf queso dip, or just something thatโs more nutritious, you need this recipe in your arsenal.
Grab your blender and blend away those beautiful fatty walnuts and dip your favorite chip or veggie into this walnut queso dip. Or better yet. Smother it all over some carnitas tacos.
Because why not have the best of both worlds?!
Walnut Queso Dip
Ingredients
- 1 ยผ cup walnuts
- 1 ยฝ cup water
- 3 tbsp diced canned green chiles 1 tbsp separated.
- ยฝ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp elote seasoning or taco seasoning if you have it
Instructions
- Puree walnuts, water turmeric, salt and elote (or taco seasoning) in a blender or food processer until creamy. Add more water if needed to reach your desired consistency.
- Add 1 tbsp of green chiles for more heat and texture if desired. Serve warm or cold with your favorite dipping companions!
3 Comments
Thank you for this recipe! I’m Vegan 8 years this month! I added nutritional yeast and used a food processor that has been processing this recipe for about 10 minutes and it hit me that I made this my 1st year of becoming Vega . The walnuts for that recipe were boiled in veggie broth for 6 minutes. I think that may be my issue because the queso is grainy. Do you have any suggestions on achieving a smooth queso like yours without boiling the walnuts?
I have not tried this, but the ingredients look spot on. And you are right about the benefits of walnuts. As a vegan who only eats plant based quesos, I have to ask if you have considered putting nutritional yeast in yours. This is the first PB recipe I’ve seen without it.
You know, I’ve heard a lot of good things about nutritional yeast, and seen it used a lot, just didn’t have any on hand at the time. Maybe I’ll revisit this one and add some. It’s been known to give that “cheese” flavor that’s needed ๐