Recipe: Cashonnaise (mayonnaise substitute using cashews)

CASHONNAISE
(mayonnaise substitute using cashews)
Source: The Seventh-Day Diet by Chris Rucker and Jan Hoffman
Makes about 2 1/2 cups

This is a wonderful substitute for mayonnaise, creamy and delicious! One tablespoon of traditional mayonnaise contains almost a tablespoon of fatty empty calories. However, one tablespoon of Cashonnaise has only a little over a teaspoon cashews, which are not empty calorie foods but a source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. What gives it texture is not egg yolks (those natural sources of calories and cholesterol!), but kosher gelatin. If you wish, you may substitute 1 teaspoon regular unflavored gelatin for the 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher gelatin called for in this recipe.

1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored Kosher gelatin*
1/4 cup cool water
1 cup raw cashews, well rinsed
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast flakes
2 teaspoons honey
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dried sweet basil
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (juice of 2 lemons)

Place gelatin in blender with cool water. Let soak while preparing other ingredients.

To blender add rest of ingredients except boiling water and lemon juice. Place lid on blender with insert removed; turn on blender and immediately begin to pour boiling water in steady stream through opening in lid. After all water has been added, continue to blend until very creamy, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. No cashew pieces should be visible! Finally, briefly blend in lemon juice.

Pour into jar with tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate several hours until set. (Stored in the refrigerator, this recipe will keep for 10 days or more.)

*Plain unflavored gelatin may be used in the recipe, but many Adventists use Emes Plain Kosher-Jel, available in the kosher section of your supermarket or from kosher groceries.