September 13, 2009: Vegan Crackers As Well As Cheese

When Miss T opened the doors on her newly renovated abode for a 'new'-themed potluck, I wasn't sure how best to convey something novel to the table. Trying a novel recipe for a potluck would non last a novel strategy at all; swapping sweetness too savoury responsibilities amongst Michael was sure as shooting a start! There was an additional constraint - a two-day run trip too around social plans meant that I would pick out piffling fourth dimension to store or cook.

The solution seemed to last a recipe for a nutrient I'd never earlier tried to brand - Clotilde's raw cashew cheese. Though the cashews postulate a few hours' soaking, this dish requires no to a greater extent than than minutes of attending every bit the ingredients larn stuffed into a nutrient processor. I laid my expectations for 'creamy dip' rather than 'cheese substitute' too was pleasantly surprised. This had a savoury gustation that reminded me really much of the ubiquitous vegan cheese sub, nutritional yeast flakes. I was rather pleased amongst my adaptations; replacing the lemon juice amongst champagne vinegar, reducing the quantity of pungently raw garlic, too stirring through around finely chopped chives.

Then on Dominicus morning time I tempted fate. I tried making around other novel food, home-made crackers, on really piffling sleep. I volition acknowledge to cursing in 1 trial or twice (this is zilch novel inward our kitchen, fifty-fifty when I'm good rested) but I pick out rarely made an easier or to a greater extent than gratifying recipe than this one. The dough, though moist, rolls out good plenty too tastes delicious. As the crackers bake, their colouring fabric too flavours deepen too past times golly, they truly crisp up! Evenly, perfectly! Their gustation was a teensy flake bitter (I'll note downward the turmeric adjacent time) but the cashew dip knocked off its edge. It is quite remarkable simply how complementary these ii recipes are. Like crackers too cheese, really.

Creamy cashew dip
(based on the raw cashew cheese recipe at Chocolate & Zucchini)

200g raw cashews
1/4 loving cup water
2 teaspoons champagne vinegar (or substitute amongst lemon juice or around other type of vinegar)
1/2 clove garlic, minced
salt too pepper, to taste

Put the cashews inward a bowl, comprehend them amongst water, too let them to soak for at to the lowest degree 2 hours.

Drain the cashews too pose them inward a nutrient processor amongst the 1/4 loving cup H2O too remaining ingredients. Whizz the lot until it's every bit polish every bit possible, occasionally pausing too scraping downward the dip on the sides of the bowl.

Clotilde says the the 'cheese' volition laid over the commencement 24 hours, but I didn't discovery this amongst ours. I'd propose simply dipping inward whenever you're ready!

Oat Herb Crackers
(a recipe past times Anni of Tofu for Two)

1/3 loving cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 cloves garlic, crushed
4/5 loving cup rolled oats, finely ground
1/2 loving cup apparently flour
1/3 loving cup nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon turmeric (I'll purpose less adjacent time)
extra flour for rolling too dusting

Preheat the oven to 175°C.

Whisk together the water, olive oil, lemon juice, mustard too garlic.

In a course of written report medium-sized bowl, stir together the remaining ingredients. Stir inward the moisture ingredients amongst a fork until it all forms a dough.

Line a tray amongst baking newspaper too generously dust it amongst flour. Plonk the dough onto the tray too dust the exceed amongst to a greater extent than flour. Gently whorl the dough to close 3mm thickness, using to a greater extent than flour if you lot postulate it to preclude sticking. Slice the rolled dough into cracker shapes, using a pastry bicycle or pizza slicer if you lot pick out one. I likewise poked each cracker amongst a fork. Bake the crackers for close twenty minutes (but sentry them carefully!), until browned too crisp.