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Best Vegan Sour Cream

Best Vegan Sour Cream 

Are you ready for the best vegan sour cream recipe?

a glass dish with a blue lid with vegan sour cream in it

This recipe was my first intentional jump into the plant-based world. Or more specifically, into the world of vegan food. While Garry and I are full on foodavores (we’ll eat anything!), we thought it would be interesting to try new things outside of our comfort zone and vegan sour cream seemed like it would be a good start since we could use it for dipping for veggies.

How bad could it be?

Truth?

I just knew I was going to hate it. thought after I tasted it, I’d wrinkle my nose, then trash it.

It would never EVER replace my beloved sour cream!

Welp, I tried!

Surprise Surprise! It was delicious!

plant-based sour cream in bowl on blue cloth

What Is Plant-based Vegan Sour Cream?

Simply put, it’s a substitute for sour cream, to be used in all the ways you normally use a dairy-based sour cream.

Imitation Sour Cream

For those who are not vegan or are eating plant based, this is an imitation sour cream. 

The obvious must be stated: this is NOT sour cream, simply a substitute. A swap, if you will.

Is Sour Cream Vegan?

The definition of a vegan is as follows: a strict vegetarian who consumes no food (such as meat, eggs, or dairy products) that comes from animals.

Since regular sour cream is made with dairy, the answer is no. Sour cream is not vegan.

Is Sour Cream Vegetarian?

The definition of vegetarian is as follows: a person who does not eat meat someone whose diet consists wholly of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and sometimes eggs or dairy products.

So, the answer is sometimes vegetarian, depending on if you consume dairy.

Best Dairy Free Sour Cream Recipe

Given that the recipe contains no dairy, how in the world is it creamy?

How can it possibly be a substitute for sour cream?

Enter the lovely cashew!

Cashew Sour Cream = Vegan Yum

This recipe uses the creaminess of cashews to produce a vegan substitute for sour cream.

Ta-Da!

How To Use Plant-based Sour Cream:

  1. On top of enchiladas, chalupas, and tacos!
  2. Dollops on a hearty meat sauce!
  3. Baked potatoes (of course)!
  4. Small batch potato salad!
  5. Mixed in with pasta!
  6. As a sandwich spread!
  7. Slathered on homemade tortillas!
  8.  Swirled into any soup!
  9. On Hungarian Goulash!
  10. ~Your favorite place to use sour cream here!~

You think of a place to use it = USE IT!

Ingredients Of This Vegan Sour Cream Recipe 

  • Cashews
  • Water
  • Lemon juice
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Seasonings of your choice

Simple! Easy!

It doesn’t get much easier, y’all!

Is It Really A Good Vegan Substitute For Sour Cream?

Lots of folks ask the question: What’s a good vegan substitute for sour cream. Is this recipe a good substitution?

Yes!

To recap what it means to be a vegan approved food = using or containing no animal products.

As you can see from the ingredient list, this recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based friendly.

You Can Also Buy Plant-based Or Vegan Sour Cream

You can grab a tub at literally at any grocery store.

But, with such a simple recipe and a good blender, you can make it at home and bypass any processed ingredients.

Clean eating at its best.

Vegan Sour Cream Is Considered A Non-dairy Sour Cream

For those of you who are lactose intolerant, this sour cream is ~drum roll, please~ lactose free!

No milk = no dairy!

Use all organic ingredients and you instantly have a organic, lactose-free, dairy-free, plant-based, vegan, vegetarian sour cream!

Whew!

How Long Does Homemade Plant-based Sour Cream Last?

You can store it in the fridge for a week, or so.

Just don’t expect it to last a week.

If you’re like us, you’ll use it on ever’thang!

plant-based sour cream in mason jar~ A gentle reminder: OMT! uses Amazon referral links at no cost to you.~

I’m linking the cashews I use at the end of the post, as well as the blender I LOVE and use almost daily: Blendtec

I had the red Vitamix listed below, and while I loved it as well, I have found, for the smaller batches of yums I make, the Blendtec handles those tasks much better.

You decide for you!

NOTE: You do NOT need one of these blenders for this recipe.

Need A Nut Free Vegan Sour Cream?

If you want to make a vegan sour cream without cashews, try using a 16-ounce package of Silken Tofu.

Blend it well, then add all ingredients.

Tofu Sour Cream

Most vegans have these common ingredients on hand, which makes life easy.

You may find you need a little bit more tang than with the cashew-based sour cream, which you can get from adding bit more of lemon juice.

Go slowly as you add ingredients until you find the perfect recipe for you!

Let’s get to the recipe (If you prefer, I have included a printable recipe at the end of the post).

Vegan Sour Cream

Looking for a plant-based or vegan sour cream? I got you covered! This recipe is delicious and nutritious!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
  • 1 1/2 cup of water
  • 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (or more to taste – up to 1 Tbsp)
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Kosher or Himalayan salt to taste

Directions:

  1. Place cashews in a shallow dish and cover with water.
  2. Place cover over dish and soak cashews overnight.
  3. After overnight soak, drain cashews, saving the water.
  4. Place cashews, lemon, and vinegar, in a blender.
  5. Blend, adding the drained water as needed for consistency, then add salt, if desired.

Notes:

* Keeps for 7-10 days in fridge.

Optional Additions:

I have added these ingredients (in different combos) to taste, to make a unique sour cream dip. Experiment!

  • Minced garlic
  • Fresh ground pepper
  • Dried minced onion
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder

 

plant-based sour cream in bowl on blue cloth

Vegan Sour Cream

Yield: 2 cups
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 12 hours 10 minutes

Looking for a plant-based or vegan sour cream? I got you covered! This recipe is delicious and nutritious!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups raw cashews
  • 1 1/2 cup of water
  • 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (or more to taste - up to 1 tbsp)
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Kosher salt to taste

Instructions

    1: Place cashews in a shallow dish and cover with water.

    2: Place cover over dish and soak cashews overnight.

    3: After overnight soak, drain cashews, saving the water.

    4: Place cashews, lemon, and vinegar, in a blender.

    4: Blend, adding the drained water as needed for consistency, then add salt, if desired.

Notes

* I use filtered water for my recipes.

* I have owned and loved a Vitamix, but I now use a Bledtec.

* Keeps for 1 week in fridge.

OPTIONAL ADDITIONS:

I have added these ingredients (in different combos) to taste, to make a unique sour cream dip. Experiment!

* Minced garlic

* Fresh ground pepper

* Dried minced onion

* Onion powder

* Garlic powder



Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 39mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Plant-based sour cream in bowl

Original Post: September 16, 2022  ~  Updated Post June 10, 2022

~ A gentle reminder: OMT! uses Amazon referral links at no cost to you.~




Tired of searching for a popular OMT! recipe?

Rest yer weary fingers.

Except to click on the image.

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COME ON!

YOU CAN DO IT!

If you liked this post, check these out:

The Best Pear Butter You’ll Ever Make!

This easy and delicious pear butter recipe is also a vegan and non-vegan treat!

Jar of pear butter with a spoon

What I’ve Learned: Wild Blueberries vs Cultivated Blueberries

While you’re snacking on this approved vegan snack of wild blueberries, come see what I learned. All blueberries are not the same!

blueberries graphic: wild vs cultivated blueberries

Why I’m switching from Plastic Food Storage Containers to Glass

Bormioli Rocco Frigoverre Multi Rectangle Glass Food-Storage Container

(Source: Amazon Affiliate)

I’ve included a link (you can also click the text under the above glass photo) to my absolute favorite brand of glass containers for the fridge, freezer, or pantry.

Store your Best Vegan Sour Cream in a glass container for the absolute best taste. Heck, store all yer food in glass containers. 

Get to whipping up some delicious and let me know what you think!

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Tricia Olson

Monday 23rd of November 2020

Have you tried it with onion soup mix like the old fashioned onion dip?

Do you have nutritional info?

Im going to try this, can't wait!

Patti Tucker

Monday 23rd of November 2020

The nutritional info is included in recipe card at end of post!

I haven't tried the onion mix, but that sounds amazing!

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