Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip Without Cream Cheese or Mayo Recipe

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by Maggie Turansky


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When I was developing my creamed spinach recipe, I was incredibly impressed with how well blended up cashews acted as a substitute for heavy cream. And it got me thinking of other applications I could use it in – for instance, could I use the same technique to make a vegan spinach artichoke dip without cream or mayonnaise or sour cream? Well, it turns out that I certainly can.

Spinach artichoke dip is one of my favourite dips, but it is undeniably rich and decadent. However, this recipe that omits the cream cheese, mayo and sour cream traditionally found in the dip is just as delicious and arguably more artichoke-y (and what’s wrong with that?!?) It also lightens it up significantly.

So if you’re on the hunt for the perfect spinach artichoke dip without all of the cheeses, creams and mayo, this is the recipe for you! It’s easy to throw together and super tasty – perfect for any barbecue or game-day snack!

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

How to Make Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip

First and foremost, you need to make the cashew cream that serves as the base of this dip and the substitution for all of the sour cream and cream cheese that often goes into more familiar versions of spinach artichoke dip.

The cashew cream is the same that I use in my aforementioned creamed spinach recipe and my peppercorn sauce recipe and it’s super simple to make.

Simply presoak some raw, unsalted cashew nuts either in boiling water for at least an hour or overnight in cold water. You just want to soften them up considerably.

Soaking the cashews
Soaking the cashews

Then, drain the cashews and add them to a blender with a bit of cool water.

Blend on high for a couple of minutes, just until the cashews are very creamy and have a smooth, thick consistency. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside for later. This is the same cream that’s used in my fish pie.

Blended Cashew Cream
Blended Cashew Cream

Now it’s time to make the dip itself. Start by adding a finely chopped shallot and some garlic along with a generous pinch of salt to a large saucepan with some olive oil.

Sautee over medium heat until the shallot is softened and translucent, about 2 minutes or so.

Adding the shallots and garlic to the pan
Adding the shallots and garlic to the pan

Then, add your spinach to the pot. I recommend using full-leaf spinach that has been trimmed and roughly chopped. I find that this stands up well to a longer cook-time. However, you can also use baby spinach or even thawed frozen spinach if that’s all you have.

Cook the spinach until it’s shrunk and wilted – you may need to work in batches if your pot isn’t big enough.

Adding the spinach to the pan
Adding the spinach to the pan

Once it’s wilted, sprinkle over a bit of flour along with some miso paste (which can be purchased online here).

The latter ingredient will add a salty, umami cheesy flavour that’s great for making a spinach artichoke dip without mozzarella, parmesan or any other cheese. It’s for the same reason I use it in my smoked salmon dip!

Adding the flour and miso paste
Adding the flour and miso paste

Stir this to combine and then add in some chopped, brined artichoke hearts. Stir in your cashew cream, a bit of cashew milk and a good grind of black pepper.

Bring the mixture up to a gentle simmer and allow to bubble over low heat for about 30 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally. At this point, the mixture will be thick and relatively cohesive.

Adding the artichokes and cashew cream
Adding the artichokes and cashew cream

Take the dip off the heat and transfer to the bowl of a food processor.

Add some nutritional yeast flakes (this, again, adds a level of cheesiness that you get without any dairy) along with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a bit of brightness.

Adding the nutritional yeast flakes
Adding the nutritional yeast flakes

Pulse the dip a few times – you want to keep it chunky but you also want to ensure that the dip is broken up enough to be easily dipable on some chips or toasts.

At this point, if you want to make the dip ahead of time, you can transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate it for several days before moving on to the next step before serving.

Dip ready to go into the oven
Dip ready to go into the oven

Now, transfer your dip to an oven-safe dish and pop it into a pre-heated 230°C (450°F) oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the dip is bubbling and browned along the edges. Allow the spinach and artichoke dip to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Spinach Artichoke Dip Without Cream Cheese

Spinach Artichoke Dip Without Cream Cheese or Mayo

This vegan spin on an old favourite lightens the dip up considerably without sacrificing creaminess, texture or flavour.
Tried This? Rate It!
5 from 4 votes
Servings 8
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 50 g (½ cup) raw, unsalted cashews soaked in boiling water for at least 1 hour or in cool water overnight
  • 1-2 small shallots finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic grated or very finely minced
  • 1 kg (2 lb) full-leaf spinach trimmed, washed, drained and roughly chopped (see note 1)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (1 ½ teaspoons) plain (all-purpose) flour
  • 300 g (10.5 oz) artichoke hearts in brine drained and roughly chopped
  • 250 ml (1 cup) unsweetened cashew milk
  • 1 tsp white miso paste
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes
  • 1 ½ tsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions
 

  • Drain the cashews and add them to the jar of a blender along with 60ml (1/4 cup) cold water. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until very smooth. Transfer the cashew cream to a small bowl and set aside.
    Blending the cashews to make cashew cream
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until shimmering. Add the shallots and garlic along with a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shallots begin to soften – about 2 minutes.
    Adding the shallots and garlic to the pan
  • Add the spinach and cook, stirring constantly, until the spinach is wilted and has significantly reduced in size, only a few minutes. You may need to work in batches here if your pot is not large enough.
    Adding the spinach to the pan
  • Once the spinach has wilted, sprinkle the flour over the spinach and stir to incorporate. Then, add the artichokes along with the cashew cream, cashew milk, miso paste and a generous grind of black pepper. Bring this to a simmer and, stirring occasionally, cook for about 30 minutes or until thickened, homogenous and creamy.
    Adding the artichokes and cashew cream
  • Preheat oven to 230°C (450°F). Transfer the spinach mixture to the bowl of a food processor and add the nutritional yeast flakes and lemon juice. Pulse a couple of times, just to chop the spinach and artichokes further and to make it "dippable" (see note 2)
    Adding the nutritional yeast flakes
  • Scrape the dip into an oven-safe baking dish. Transfer to the oven and bake until bubbling and browned at the edges, about 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving with tortilla chips or toasted bread.
    Dip ready to go into the oven

Video

Notes

1. Full-leaf spinach is a bit heartier than baby spinach and stands up to the longer cooking time a bit better. However, if you can only find baby spinach at your supermarket, that will work just fine in this recipe. Obviously, baby spinach does not need to be trimmed.
2. If you don't have a food processor, this step can be skipped. However, ensure you chop both the spinach and artichokes relatively finely before cooking. Stir in the nutritional yeast and lemon juice before transferring to a baling dish. Your finished dip will also not be as homogenous, however, it will still taste delightful.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 85kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 774mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 11722IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 4mg

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is automatically generated and provided as guidance only. Accuracy is not guaranteed.

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And that’s how to make an easy spinach artichoke dip without mayo, sour cream or cream cheese. Even though it leaves out these ingredients, it sacrifices nothing when it comes to flavour and decadence.

Are you making a mayo and dairy-free spinach artichoke dip? Have any questions about this recipe? Let me know in the comments!

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Maggie is the creator behind No Frills Kitchen. She is a world traveller, home cook and recipe developer who loves to experiment with new cuisines and techniques at every chance she gets. No stranger to improvising and making do with the equipment and ingredients she has available, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others. Read More

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