Not So Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip

I didn't make up the name, Vitamix did.  I recently made Vitamix's Not So Cheese Sauce and I have to say, I've been a little bit addicted.  I've used the base recipe to make a not so cheese queso and even mac and not so cheese.  While I love me some cheese sauce, I think I'm just in awe that you can throw cashews, roasted peppers and nutritional yeast and some spices into a blender, and have a creamy cheese-like sauce. 

The most recent experiment was turning this into a buffalo chicken dip and I have to say it was love.  Not just, "this is healthy so I guess I should love it" love but more like the  "I love the volleyball scene in Top Gun" love.  The fact that the ingredient list makes you feel a lot less guilty does contribute to this, but it tastes good as well.  Throw this on the table as game day eats and you might have a few people ask what's a bit different about your version, but I doubt it.  I served it up (with full disclosures that it contained nuts) and peeps thought it was just as good as the 45 packets of cream cheese version.  

What is nutritional yeast you ask?  I don't really know much except that it's full of Vitamin B, protein and is  popular amongst vegans as a cheese substitute.  I'm sure its unfortunate name precludes many from even trying it, but it's quite tasty.  It definitely doesn't taste like white cheddar on your popcorn but it's strangely addictive.  I actually prefer my popcorn with nutritional yeast these days.  

Blended with other ingredients, it definitely has that tangy cheese-like flavor.

I have to admit that when blended, the color was eerily so similar to nacho cheez with a "z" that I hesitated before tasting it.   Turns out it was pretty yum poured over broccoli.  Does it taste exactly like Nacho Cheez?  Probably not but that's not necessarily a bad thing in my eyes.  I've been eating a lot more broccoli recently.

To turn it into buffalo dip I reduced the salt, added a bit of garlic powder,  Ranch dry dressing mix, Franks Red Hot Sauce (you could use wing sauce but adjust amount to taste since pre made sauce usually has oil/butter/margarine as well) and of course shredded chicken.  

This dip definitely taste best served up in a platter like this.  

I topped it with blue cheese crumbles.  You can leave that off (and omit the ranch dressing)of course and the dip stays dairy free.  

Even though it's not a  identical to the version with the packets of cream cheese and cheddar, it's still super creamy, and full of tangy buffalo sauce.  Since buffalo sauce is the shining star, you don't miss the cream cheese.  And given that most of my Game Day Eats posts are hardly nutritional superstars, it feels good to get something healthier on the game day table.  This dip makes even celery palatable.  

This town is ready for a little football tomorrow.  Time to Ride folks.

Not So Cheese Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients
2 c water
1/4 c  lemon juice
1/2 c chopped roasted red peppers (if you use jarred make sure they are not pickled)
1 1/3 cup  whole raw cashews (or almonds)
1 1/4 teaspoons onion powder
1/2 c  nutritional yeast
1 tsp sea salt

1/3--1/2 c Frank's Red Hot Sauce

2 tbsp Ranch dressing dry mix

1 tsp garlic powder

3 c shredded cooked chicken
blue cheese crumbles for topping (optional)

Directions

1. Place all ingredients except Chicken into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Blend for 2-3 minutes until sauce is fully blended. 
3. Pour into pan, add chicken and heat through
4. Serve hot with celery sticks, tortilla chips and/or pita chips.
5. Top with blue cheese crumbles if desired.