Sunflower Seed Dairy-Free Cheese Spread

Recipe by Curvy Carbivore (@curvycarbivore)

Yield: 1.5 cups | Prep time: 15 minutes |

Cook time: 0 minutes | Total time: 4 hours 15 minutes

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I know exactly what you need at your next get-together or stay-at-home charcuterie night... this delightful Sunflower Seed Dairy-Free Cheese Spread! It's free of nuts, dairy, soy, oil, gluten, and sugar (depending on what plant milk you use of course), making it a great snack for anyone at the table. It pairs perfectly with some crunchy crackers which I love to top with some olives and fresh herbs, and is even amazing on wraps, sandwiches, or bagels. This vegan cheese spread is easily customizable with any herbs or flavors of your choosing, and is much more cost-effective than some of the expensive cheese spreads you'll find at the store. It takes some patience to let the sunflower seeds soak, but it's all worth it in the end!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of raw sunflower seeds, soaked for at least 4 hours

• 1/3 cup unsweetened plant milk (I used Silk almond milk)

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp black pepper

• Fresh chives (optional)

Optional toppings / other ingredients:

• Crackers for dipping

• Kalamata olives for topping

• Artichokes for topping

• Roasted red peppers for topping

• Fresh herbs such as chives, basil, or rosemary for topping

Directions:

• In a small bowl, soak your raw sunflower seeds in water for at least 4 hours.

• Drain the sunflower seeds, then place them in a high-speed blender or nutribullet.

• Add the almond milk, lemon juice, garlic, and spices.

• Blend until the mixture is smooth (add more milk if it's too thick to blend).

• Let it chill in the fridge for 1 hour before serving (recommended), or if you're too hungry you can enjoy immediately.

• Serve with some crackers for dipping, and any toppings of your choosing (I listed some of my favorites above). Or use as a spread on wraps or sandwiches!

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Tips and Tricks:

• I haven't tried this with chives yet but I can just guess that it would be an amazing addition! I'd assume it would be similar to a chive cream cheese spread, but a bit more creamy.

• If you want an extra cheesy flavor, try adding 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast. I tried adding some and while it's still yummy, I preferred it without the nooch.

• Get creative by adding any types of herbs that you'd like. Want it spicy? Try adding some horseradish or crushed red pepper. Only 2 garlic cloves not enough? Never enough, add more. Want to put this on a bagel for breakfast? Add some fresh chives or a veggie seasoning blend.

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Nutrition & Servings: (calculated by MyFitnessPal)

• Servings: yields 1.5 cups or 24 tbsp (nutrition below is per 1 tbsp)

• Calories: 29

• Total Fat: 3g

• Carbs: 1g

• Protein: 1g

^ Nutrition facts include the ingredients listed above for the cheese spread only, which doesn't include any additional toppings or ingredients. Nutrition facts may change slightly if different quantities of ingredients are used or added.