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    Oh My Veggies » Vegetarian Recipes » 30 Minutes or Less

    The Best Vegan Sour Cream

    Published: May 14, 2020 · by Nicole · Updated: May 17, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    The best vegan sour cream: this dairy-free substitute is fantastic as an easy-to-make dip, spread or sauce. Make it in under 5 minutes from simple ingredients and and take dishes of your choice to the next level! Gluten-free and oil-free.

    The Best Vegan Sour Cream

    Before going vegan, I never really considered the possibility of making my own sauces. I just grabbed whatever caught my eye at the store. But, as I came to discover throughout my journey of eating exclusively plants, making your own is so much more fun! Homemade sauces taste better, not to mention the benefits of using fresh and wholesome ingredients.

    That's where vegan sour cream comes in: you'll end up falling in love with it, just like I did! This is a great-tasting alternative to the dairy option that requires very little hands-on time.

    Vegan sour cream in a glass jar

    About vegan sour cream

    Have you ever just tried a recipe, fell in love with it, and proceeded to eat it every day for the next few weeks, sometimes more than once a day? Yep, that's me with this plant based sour cream alternative.

    Pasta with vegan sour cream

    Store-brought versions are quite hard to find. I used to opt for plant based yoghurt as an alternative. But, making your own takes just 5 minutes and it's incredibly tasty. I used cashews for a creamy base, then used carefully-selected, yet simple ingredients to enhance the flavour.

    Closeup of a jar of vegan sour cream with dill

    The end result is perfectly tangy, smooth and flavourful sauce. Definitely good enough to eat by itself with a spoon!

    Ingredients you'll need

    You only need a handful of easily-accessible ingredients. These are:

    Ingredients for vegan sour cream
    • Raw, unsalted cashew nuts. If you don't have a high speed blender, soak them in warm water for at least 4 hours before making this sauce. Otherwise, an hour of soaking or 15 minutes of simmering in a saucepan is sufficient.
    • Unsweetened plant based milk of your choice.
    • Nutritional yeast - perfect for enhancing flavour.
    • Apple cider vinegar.
    • Whole garlic cloves.
    • Freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
    • Sea salt.
    • Tahini.

    And that's it!

    How to make dairy-free sour cream

    It couldn't be easier. Drain and rinse your cashews after soaking/simmering. Transfer them to your blender/food processor together with the plant based milk, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, salt and tahini. Stop to scrape down the sides if necessary.

    When done, transfer to your serving dish, jar or container.

    Vegan sour cream in a jar

    Tips and trick

    • Make sure to soak the cashews properly, especially if not using a high speed blender. This will help get rid of any grainyness and make the sour cream as smooth as possible.
    • Use raw cashews because the flavour of roasted ones is too overpowering for this recipe.
    • If you have trouble blending or want a thinner consistency, add more plant based milk.
    • Nutritional yeast is optional, but does make the final result incredibly tasty.
    • Use good quality sea salt or pink Himalayan salt for the best flavour profile.
    Closeup of vegan sauce in a jar with dill on top

    Storing vegan sour cream

    This stays fresh in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5-6 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-friendly container for up to 2 months, leaving to thaw in the fridge overnight if you choose to do this.

    Jar of dairy-free sour cream with dill sprinkled on top

    Serving suggestions

    Gluten-free vegan piroshki next to a jar of vegan sour cream

    There are so many ways to use sour cream! It's a famous topping for stuffed potatoes, and a great dip for just about anything: chips, vegetables, breadsticks, zucchini fritters, etc. As you can see in the photos and in the video, I used it as a dip for piroshki, and often stir it into pasta for a quick, easy and tasty meal.

    Pasta with peas in a creamy vegan sauce

    It's also a great addition to tacos and burritos, a wonderful dipping sauce for cabbage rolls, and perfect for drizzling over crispy lemon potatoes. If you make your own vegan pizza, drizzle the sour cream on top or create a fun crust-dipping experience. Or, how about spreading a couple tbsp on sandwiches and wraps?!

    Piroshki with vegan dipping sauce

    Other vegan sauce recipes

    • Spicy cashew cream
    • Chunky guacamole
    • Alfredo sauce
    • Gluten-free gravy
    • Edamame hummus
    The best vegan sour cream

    Let me know in the comments: what's your favourite sauce to make at home? If you give this vegan sour cream a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies) so I can see your recreations, and leave your feedback in the comments below together with a star rating!

    Recipe

    The Best Vegan Sour Cream

    The best vegan sour cream: smooth, creamy, ready in just 5 minutes using simple ingredients. Serve as a dip, sauce, spread for sandwiches, or stirred into pasta. Gluten-free and oil-free.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: 10 minute recipes, Cashews, dip, earth of maria, nutritional yeast, sauce, spread, to move
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 203kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Equipment

    • High speed blender

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups raw cashews (see recipe notes)
    • 1 cup plant based milk unsweetened
    • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
    • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • ½ tbsp sea salt
    • 1 tbsp tahini
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Drain and rinse your cashews after soaking/simmering. Transfer them to your blender/food processor together with the plant based milk, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, salt and tahini. Stop to scrape down the sides if necessary.
    • If you are having trouble blending, or want a runnier consistency, add more plant based milk.

    Video

    Notes

    If not using a high-speed blender, soak the cashews in warm water for at least 4 hours. Otherwise, either soak for 1 hour or simmer in a saucepan or 15 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 7gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 481mgPotassium: 259mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
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    The best vegan sour cream
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    30 Minutes or Less, Earth of Maria, Gluten-free Vegan Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegan Sauces, Spreads and Condiments, Vegan Side Dishes, Vegan Snacks, Vegetarian Recipes cashews, nutritional yeast

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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

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