Dairy-Free Nacho Cheese Sauce
I am really excited to share with you today an amazing Dairy-Free Cookbook and Guidebook, Go Dairy Free, by Alisa Fleming! The fantastic nacho sauce recipe below comes from this book. I am also giving away a copy of the book, which will be sent to you directly from the author. Details at the bottom of the post.
This book is perfect for those of you looking for natural alternatives to your favorite dairy products, such as cheese, ice cream, milk, sour cream, and more. Go Dairy Free contains different recipes for each of those foods plus simple substitution ideas for practically all dairy products imaginable. From "Dairy-Free Fetta-ish to "Sunflower Seed Cheese to "Cashew Yogurt" to "Whipped Coconut Buttery Spread" to "Cashew Chai Frosting" this book has it all!
The book is about half recipes and half information on dairy. It starts out with "What is Dairy?" then moves into pasteurization and homogenization and the potential risks of these practices, and then on to evidence-based connections with dairy consumption and health issues which range from acne to cancer. Finally, if you are asking the question: "Where am I to get my calcium?" Alisa delves into non-dairy calcium-rich foods and other surprising secrets to strong bones. There are also chapters dedicated to dairy addiction, infants and food allergies, dining out, and reading food labels.
Go Dairy Free is a wonderful cookbook with so many great recipes. Most of the baking recipes contain gluten but the cheese alternatives are all gluten-free. I made macaroni and cheese today using the Orange Cheesy Sauce recipe from the book and Tinkyada rice noodles. My kids devoured it! Glad I got a photo before it was all gone!
The Five-Minute Nachos were equally delicious though my kids were not as fond of them. They did eat some though. Nachos are a funny thing for me because I have had them maybe only a handful of times during the course of my life. I just wasn't raised on highly processed foods. I was so happy to find this recipe in Alisa's book because it is made from healthy ingredients, all of which I had on hand. Well, except for roasted red bell peppers. I did have a few fresh ones in the fridge I so quickly roasted one in the oven. This ingredient is key! I initially made the sauce without it and it was so awful I had to compost it. Then I remade the sauce, added my freshly roasted pepper (after removing the skin), and voila - absolutely amazing dairy-free cheese sauce! Seriously, this sauce is addicting in a good way. My advice: follow her recipes exactly!
Dairy-Free Nacho Cheese Sauce
You'll love this nutritious "cheese" sauce recipe! It is very quick to prepare and can be made into a meal when topped with black beans or shredded chicken, chopped cabbage, and sautéed vegetables. The tortilla chips in these photos are homemade. I use sprouted corn tortillas and slice them into quarters using a pizza cutter then toss them in avocado oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and Herbamare. I spread them into one layer on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. You'll want to turn them with a spatula one or two times during baking. Let them cool completely before using. The sauce can also be used to top gluten-free noodles for dairy-free mac and cheese (my children love this).
To roast red bell peppers: Place them into a baking dish or onto a cookie sheet. Roast in a preheated oven on "broil" until the skin is charred, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and place into a bowl, cover with a plate, and let cool. Once cooled, the skin slides off easily and you can cut them in half and remove the seeds and stem. One very small pepper is about 2 ounces, which is what is needed for this recipe.
- Place all ingredients into a high-powered blender. Blend until super creamy. Pour into a small saucepan and whisk over medium heat until thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before using.
- The sauce will thicken as it cools. You could also stir into the sauce a can of diced green chiles if desired.
- To make dairy-free nachos, spread a layer of organic corn tortilla chips onto a large platter. Pour the sauce over the chips and add any of the following toppings: Sliced black olives, salsa, diced avocado, cooked black beans, chopped cabbage, and chopped cilantro!
Use this recipe in our Meal Planner
About the Author
Ali Segersten
Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University and a Master’s of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine from the University of Western States. She is a Functional Nutritionist, the mother of five children, a whole foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them. Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book. Alissa is the founder and owner of Nourishing Meals®.Nourishing Meals Newsletter
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Thanks for the recipes on the cheese sauce. I have recently been diagnosed with a dairy sensitivity and am already gluten free. I am a big fan of your website, recipes and cookbook. Would love to win this cookbook so I can have more recipes to help with my diet.
I'm new to the whole elimination diet but so far so good. Dairy, cheese in particular, has been the hardest thing for me to give up so I really appreciate this recipe and can't wait to give it a try. I'd love to win a copy of the book :)
Thanks for the recipe! I am completely new to dairy-free eating, and knowing there are sources out there to help certainly is encouraging!
I would love to have some more recipes for dairy free cooking, please enter me in the drawing. I love the pictures - Can't wait to try the mac 'n cheese it looks so good. Thanks!
Hi Ali. Thanks for another delicious looking recipe. My husband and son are both allergic to milk so this recipe will be much appreciated. I would love to win the cookbook.
I do have one question. Is the nutritional yeast necessary? My husband is also allergic to yeast.
Thanks.
I'm very excited to learn about this cookbook and this recipe, can't wait to try it out! I recently discovered MimiCreme and that has resolved the ice cream/cream issues in recipes and food cravings. Cheese is still a difficult item to replace so I'm hoping this cookbook will be of great value in that regard!
I almost forgot to mention: I just became a fan of your Facebook page and shared your Dairy-free nacho cheese sauce post with my friends.
would there be a recipe for cheese sauce for pizza in that cookbook? i miss pizza!
Just got a vitamix two weeks ago(gift from my brother who wasn't using his anymore), and just got your Whole Life Nutrition cookbook in the mail on Monday. So excited to try the recipes and start on an elimination diet this summer. Thanks for this blog and your work.
i am excited to try this dairy free nacho sauce as i love cheese but cannot eat dairy-it will be worth the effort!
Thank you for sharing this info and for another wanderful giveaway!
I've also posted on my Veggiegirl fan page on Facebook!
Just wanted to let you know that I've retweeted this!
These nachos look really delicious! I can't wait to try the recipe. I've been dairy free for about 9 years now, and I do miss cheesy nachos, which were a favorite of mine before I changed my diet.
My kids and I have been dairy free for a few years now. We would love some new recipes. I love your cookbook and this blog. Thank you for all of the wonderful recipes you come up with. I would love to win a book with even more dairy alternative recipes. Thank you so much. I can't wait to try the nacho recipes!!
Jenn and family
I love all the gluten free recipes!
I found out a few years ago, that I had several food allergies, that caused colitis and acid reflux. Now I live these recipes, thank you!
Roxanne S.
Healthy nachos! Wow! I haven't had nachos (an old favorite) for years for lack of a tasty, healthy fake cheese. Thanks for this!
Both recipes look amazing, Ali! I'm a big fan of Alisa's and her book. :-) She spoke to my support group a while back and shared a lot of great info. I have her book, but still wouldn't mind winning to pass on the copy to one of my dairy-free members. ;-)
Note to Margaret (hope you don't mind, Ali): Dairy-free ice cream is sooo easy to make using coconut milk. (Even cashew milk is often used.) Ali has great dairy-free ice cream recipes as do many of us gf bloggers. You don't have to give up ice cream if you're dairy free. :-)
Shirley
Mmmmmmmm! The sauce and the mac and cheese look so good, can't wait to try them! I've been dairy free (and egg-, cranberries- and sesame-free) for 2 years now. I really miss cheese and ice cream, and sometimes I can't help but cheat a little... This recipe book looks awesome, I'm sure it would be a great help! I will also explore her website. Thanks for the links!
Thanks for all the great recipes you share, I have been gluten free, dairy free, and egg free for two years now and I am always looking to replace some of the favorite things I miss..... This looks delicious and is very tempting, hopefully it will help change my cooking skills, never started out as a great cook so these alternative recipes can be quite a challenge! All processed foods have been gone a long time, with the exception of soy ice cream and a few healthy cereals from health food stores! I could use all the help i can find to transform my entire family into a healthier way of eating to extend everyones life! Dairy is so bad, it is the one thing i never want to add back to my diet, now just to give up meat and I will be home free......Lisa O.
Wow, you've really made my day with this recipe! The cookbook sounds like a great one!
-Hallie
These recipes look yummy! I would love to win this book as am trying to get hubby completely off of dairy.
Jo
I would love to get my hands on this book - thanks for mentioning it here. There are unfortunately many health issues in our family, and we are breaking away from dairy and gluten.
I am transitioning to dairy free which has been challengin. I have Crohn's and (which is common) I am lactose intolerant but I LOVE cheese and induldge more than I should. It has been hard to find recipes that are close and taste good. I am excited to try this !!
i am just recently Dairy free and Gluten free and love the resource that your website is for my family. Thanks so much! Can't wait to try the nachos!
This sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing :)! We've been dairy free for years and never realized all the options still available besides soy! Thank you for your blog and all your inspirations!
-KMW
Yummmmm. I miss my nachos for sure. Gonna try this recipe soon. Thanks!
Oh waow!!! This is so exciting! My oldest daughter has to be dairy-free, and so has become the whole family, but we NEED idea because the cravings remain, and the taste for cheese...
Thanks a lot for this post, and for your whole super interesting blog.
What a fun post! Thank you, Ali!
yeeeaaaaah! i had nachos tonight. not nearly as healthy, though. well, really,i made my nacho sauce and was dipping chips. first in red pepper hummus and then in the cheese sauce, a few times. oh boy..
Very curious to find out what the nacho sauce tastes like, as it doesn't seem to be trying to imitate cheese at all and is just doing its own thing.
Those nachos look so yummy!
I know you made the chips for this recipe, but are there any brand name chips you will buy?
I would loved to be entered into the drawing, thanks Cara
This looks fabulous! I am posting a comment for a first time but visit this site often for great ideas. My husband is lactose intolerant (as well as most of his siblings) and I am always on the look out for new dairy-free ideas. Thank you for your great info/tips & recipes - keep up the great work!!
PS, the Soy-Free Tamari Roasted Nuts are a staple snack at the coffee table.
Oh dairy...tastes so good, but hurts so bad. My husband and I are on a constant search to find alternatives to dairy that do not contain any other allergens (ie: soy!) or casein. Cannot wait to try this recipe. Love your blog and appreciate your no-fail recipes. We have yet to be disappointed!
I miss ice cream. I think I can live without everything else. a good ice cream replacement would be awesome!
the nacho cheese looks so good. sounds like a great cookbook!
Ooooh! How exciting!! Mmmm dairy free options!! My baby is going to looove this! Thanks for posting the picture of your delicious looking nachos! And thanks for the advice on making sure we follow the directions EXACTLY!!
-Lea!
Ali, you have done it once again! I have been dying for a tasty cheese sauce that was dairy free. My cookbooks mention ones similar to this one, but there was never a picture to give me an idea of what I am in for. Please enter me in for the drawing.
Much Love,
Christina
PS I facebooked this contest!
I lost 12 pounds in three months last fall by going off of gluten, eggs, and dairy (when I tried to reintroduce (separately) I got immediate (in one day) 2-pound weight gains (the weight came off again within two days). But...it's been so frustrating trying to be without all three of those things, so I "fell off the wagon" and regained half of the weight. As of Monday, I'm back off all three (and steadily losing weight again). But I already miss dairy!
That looks exciting! Can't wait to check it out. I am swiss and grew up on dairy. The elimination diet is the first time of my life that I have gone without dairy for more than a week, and it has actually made a huge difference. I am sad but have to face the fact that I need to take dairy out, or at least limit it. This recipe and the book it's coming from, make me excited about the possibilities :)
I'm so excited to see more options available for enjoying dairy substitutes that are not all based on soy and other allergens! Thanks WLN Kitchen!
DWV~Portland
My wife and I have been dairy free off and on for a few years. We always paid a price when we indulged in ice cream or cheeses but sometimes the cravings were too strong.
We will have to try this recipe and see how it compares. Now that we have our first child we are dairy free all the time. It is rough.
The mac and cheese looks great! Thanks for sharing this resource. I'd love to win. We've been dairy free for a few years now and would love some new recipe ideas. The day after the contest closes is my birthday! This would be a great present. Hint, hint =). Thanks for all you do. We love your blog and cookbook!