The Cheesy Uncheese

Don't worry. This won't hurt a bit. Promise. In fact, you might even thank me. Especially if you're cooking for a groovy dairy-free girlfriend (like my son Alex). Or a hunky casein allergic BF. A cute as a button autistic angel. And let's not ignore the teeming hoards of the lactose intolerant. One just might show up for dinner one day. Hungry. You never know.

And how about those vegans? They're sprouting up everywhere, for goddess sake. What will you do? What will you feed them- besides chopped salad? Carrot sticks? Kumquats? You'd planned on mac and cheese. You were contemplating tetrazzini. Imagining Alfredo. Craving a sauce so creamy it would woo your lover into dreamy surrender. Then casein got in the way.

Well you know what, Babycakes? Have I got a sauce for you.

It's not exactly like a traditional butter laden, heavy cream, three cheese heart attack on a spoon- I'd be lying if I told you it was- but if you let go of old notions, and approach this sauce with an open mind and love in your heart (that would be: love for the smart, sassy, handsome, cute, wonderful, sweet and irresistible non-dairy object of desire sharing your life) you'll lick your fork and spoon with pleasant surprise.

Not to mention, you'll score some serious points.

Uncheese Sauce Fit for a Goddess

I had mastered a basic white sauce years ago, and sometimes used vegan cheese in it, but after my additional food allergies surfaced, I found it impossible to find any casein-free vegan cheese locally (that was not based on soy or nuts). Thus- my dip into nutritional yeast-land. I encountered nutritional yeast through Sea, Susan, and Isa's famous vegan cookbooks, but resisted trying it until I could simply resist no more. Aren't you glad I gave in?

4 tablespoons light olive oil
5 tablespoons sweet rice flour
2 1/2 cups unsweetened plain hemp milk or rice milk
2 rounded tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, to taste
A dash or two of Simply Organic Garlic Powder, to taste
A dash or two of Simply Organic Minced Onion, to taste
1/2 teaspoon gluten-free Dijon or honey mustard, or to taste
1 tablespoon golden balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon juice- to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon paprika (for orange) or turmeric (for yellow) color
4-5 tablespoons of white wine, to taste (Frey Organic is vegan/egg-free)

Note: I now add a rounded tablespoon of sesame tahini to the sauce mixture as well.

In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat, and stir in the rice flour (I like to use a whisk to do this). Cook and stir the flour for about 30 seconds- it will make thick paste- and continue stirring to cook the raw flour taste out of it.

Slowly add in the hemp milk, whisking to blend the flour paste and hemp milk.

Bring the mixture to a bubble (it will thicken as it heats) then reduce the heat to low. Add the nutritional yeast, sea salt, garlic and onion powder, mustard, vinegar, nutmeg, paprika or turmeric, wine (and sesame tahini, if using), and whisk to blend.

Continue heating and stirring the sauce over gentle heat for about five to ten minutes. Taste test. Does it need a hint more salt? Wine?

Stir and gently heat through.

Remove from heat and use on pasta, rice, potatoes, vegetables or casserole fillings.

Makes about three cups sauce.

Cook's Notes::

• Originally I used rice milk in this recipe, but lately I have switched to Living Harvest Hemp Milk- it's thicker and creamier, and rich with Omegas.

• I added the salt and vinegar to my basic sauce recipe because- to me- it helps replicate the flavor found in Parmesan.

• As for the mustard- I'm allergic to it, but I included it because I've always found that a dab of mustard really livens up a white or cheese sauce. If you're sensitive to mustard, leave it out and don't worry- it will still taste good.

• I now add a tablespoon or two of toasted tahini paste (sesame butter) for added creaminess and depth. Allergic to sesame? Use almond butter or cashew butter.
  

• More in comments below- with substitution suggestions. Check into our discussion!

non-dairygluten freedairy freeautism diet recipe