Forget the unhealthy fat laden dips of the past. This vegan chili cheese dip has all the flavor with all the healthy benefits! Only whole foods in this vegan queso!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of NOW Foods. The opinions and text are all mine.
Having the guys over for the big game? Or maybe you just feel like putting on some stretchy pants and digging in all by yourself. I don't judge, that sounds like a dream. Either way, this dip is it. It's made with all whole foods, no crap and tastes amazing. Realistically, you can call this dinner.
But How Do You Make Chili Without The Meat?!
Whole foods are the base of this vegan chili cheese dip. I'm talking veggies, beans, nuts...you can sit and eat the whole thing without regret. Well, you'd be quite full with all that whole food goodness, so perhaps share just a tad. Look at how this base reduces into legit looking chili!
I based this "meat" off of my vegan taco "meat" in my 7 Layer Taco Dip. The main ingredients are lentils and walnuts.
The walnuts I use are from NOW Foods, you need GOOD nuts. These are super flavorful, soft and perfect for this chili cheese dip. They are finely chopped in a blender before cooked to a soft tender perfection.
The other key is the lentils. I use french green lentils and I chop them in a blender BEFORE cooking. This helps achieve my chunky meaty texture. Texture is life.
But that cheese though?
This vegan queso dip also uses my fabulous whole foods based creamy cheese sauce from my mac and cheese balls. It is filled with veggies (WHAT?!), and has no nutritional yeast. I know, some of you are wondering if I even know vegan cheese. But, gasp, I am not a nutritional yeast fan.
And I don't think it is cheesy, more stinky socky. But the veggie cashew combo in my cheese sauce gives this chili cheese dip a gooey creamy consistency. And no stinky sock flavor!
So I'm thinking you really should try this vegan chili cheese dip out before you serve it to guests. You know, it's your job to test all foods first. It's what a good host would do. And also invite me over, because I should check it too.
This recipe was originally published on 2/1/2016
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Vegan Mexican Chili Cheese Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw walnuts , soaked overnight (see note, I use NOW Foods brand)
- ½ cup French green dry uncooked lentils
- 1 ¾ cups veggie broth , low sodium if needed
- ½ cup veggie broth , low sodium if needed (to saute)
- ½ cup sweet or yellow onion , chopped
- 1 cup fresh tomatoes , chopped
- 4 ounces chopped green chiles (1 small can)
- 2 tablespoons cumin
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (may need more or less depending on broth used)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for spice, adjust for preferred spice level)
- 4 cups vegan cheese sauce
Instructions
- Using a food processor, pulse dry uncooked lentils until partially chopped and chunky. Set aside.
- Next pulse walnuts until chopped into small pieces. Set aside.
- In a large pan over medium heat, sauté chopped onion in ¼ cup veggie broth until onion begins to get translucent. About 5 minutes.
- Add walnuts and 2 more tablespoons broth and sauté 3 more minutes until mixture begins to caramelize.
- Add chopped lentils and 2 more tablespoons broth to the pan and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add tomatoes and chopped green chiles and sauté 2 more minutes.
- Add 1 ¾ cups veggie broth and spices and mix well.
- Cook covered for 10-15 minutes until lentils have softened and broth is almost gone. Uncover and turn heat to low.
- Stir in cheese sauce and allow to bubble. Once bubbling, remove from heat and serve immediately.
- You can keep warm in a crockpot. Serve with chips or just eat with a spoon.
Notes
- Soaking the walnuts overnight helps soften them so they aren’t too crunchy in the overall recipe, however if you forget, you can also soak in hot water for 2-3 hours, boil for 30 minutes or not do anything and be okay with a slightly crunchier end result.
- You can use brown lentils instead of green but the green will cook a little more “al dente” than the brown.
- Make cheese sauce, chop onion, soak walnuts.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Mel @ avirtualvegan.com
Oh wow that that looks so good! You have some great flavours going on there :O)
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Mel! It's on our game day menu!
The Food Hunter
My family would love this!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much!!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
I love it, that dip is a full meal! Looks fabulous and I love the walnut addition.
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Alisa! I definitely ate it as a meal!
Nicole
Sophia, another delicious looking recipe! I agree, it's easy to go processed but whole foods is so much better.
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Nicole! Whole food successes always make me happy!
Linda @ Veganosity
A big bowl of this, and my cheesy queso, and a giant margarita and I'm a happy girl. YUM!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Linda! A margarita would pair perfectly with this!! OK, now I want one...
Cadry
Oh, my gosh. My stomach is grumbling just thinking about this dish. It sounds fantastic! I love a hearty dip, and this ticks all of my favorite flavor boxes.
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Cadry! It's such a great app, but I tend to eat the whole thing without realizing. LOL
Amanda
This recipe looks amazing, but unfortunately I'm allergic to walnuts! Any suggestions on substitutes?
veggiesdontbite
Hi Amanda! You can try pecans, are those ok? Both have that softish type texture and work well with cooked dishes.
Mandy
This sounds incredible!!!! What a wonderful combo of flavors - I already know this is going to be dangerous. Chips and dip are one of my weaknesses! YUM!!
The vegan 8
Looks so yum! Great idea to combine your two recipe of hour lentil meat and cheese sauce! The last time I made my walnut taco meat was probably over 2 years ago, it's one of my oldest recipes and I totally forget about it, lol. This will be perfect for game day.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Brandi! I adjusted my technique for the meat a bit for this dip, I wanted it more saucy where in my 7 layer dip I like it on the drier side, but it's so good and I'm already using it in another recipe too! I didn't know you had a lentil walnut meat, I'll have to check it out. I'm definitely making this on Sunday!
Christine | Vermilion Roots
Looks like I might just be focusing on this great dip instead of the game! 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Ha! Me too! Thanks so much!
Lucie
You and your dips and sauces are going to be the death of me Sophia! One day, I'm going to eat way too much of one and die of culinary bliss 😀 amazing as always! I can't wait to try that walnut taco meat, that's a brilliant idea (plus the extra omega-3s are a nice bonus 🙂 )
veggiesdontbite
I laughed out loud Lucie! But what a great end, to be filled with delicious food! LOL. Thanks so much for your sweet words. Definitely give the lentil walnut meat a try! It's so good and the technique will be coming again soon with more recipes!
Shadi
Love hoe easy and delicious this is! We love dips of any kind!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Shadi!! We love dips too!
Jenn
I think I could probably eat that whole bowl myself. Looks amazing, Sophia! Bring on the big game!
veggiesdontbite
Yes, I think I did?? LOL I am for sure making this over the weekend for Super Bowl!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm pretty sure nuts are just the magic superfood! From cashews to walnuts, you can do it all and make so many amazing NON processed goodies!!
(P.S. I'm glad you went with "chile" and not "chili" 😉 RIGHT)
veggiesdontbite
I know right?! I use them in so much. The walnuts are perfect here, especially when soaked and cooked to get them nice and soft. I wonder how I ever ate the processed crap! Thank you!!
Becky Striepe
Oh man, I think my kid would love this! It looks like it would make a good sandwich filling, too.
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Becky! My kids love it too!