- 3 cups raw cashews
- 3 cups water, or as needed
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (optional)
- water to cover (optional)
- 3/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons sunflower seed oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon tamari sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
- Place cashews in a large bowl. Pour enough water over cashews to cover.
- Cover the bowl and soak cashews overnight, at least 12 hours.
- Drain the water from cashews; place cashews in a blender. For a tangier cheddar flavor add 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice to cashews. Pour enough water to come to 1/4-inch below of the top of the cashews. Blend until partially smooth.
- Place nutritional yeast, onion, sunflower seed oil, salt, garlic powder, tamari sauce, turmeric, and cayenne pepper in blender. Blend until smooth.