If you’re dairy-free (even if you aren’t) you’re going to love, love, love this sauce.
The lime and cashew combine to make the most delicious creamy zesty goodness. As much as I love sour cream, I’d eat this instead any day.
These quick taco ‘bowls’ have been on high rotation around here. Even in the Winter when you’d think a bowl of crispy lettuce leaves wouldn’t be very satisfying. But that’s how good this sauce is.
Feel free to use any cooked protein. In our house I serve canned tuna for my Irishman, canned mackerel for the boys and sardines for me. #everyonehappy
If you’re really watching your carbs, best to use almonds instead of cashews. Almond sauce will give only 16g/serve for the total dish. Compared with 35g carbohydrate /serve for the cashews.
Quick Taco Bowls with Lime & Cashew 'Sour Cream'
Ingredients
- 1 cos (romaine) lettuce or 2 baby
- 200 g roast cashews or almonds
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 300-400 g cooked protein eg canned fish, beans, boiled eggs
- hot sauce eg. Tabasco to serve
Instructions
- Discard the most outer 2 leaves then wash and dry lettuce. Finely slice crosswise into 1cm (1/4 inch) ribbons. Divide shredded lettuce between two bowls.
- For the sauce place cashews, soy sauce, lime juice and 1/2 cup water in a tall jug or bowl. Using your stick blender puree until you have a creamy sauce. Or use your blender or food processor. Taste and season with salt and more lime (if needed).
- Scatter cooked protein over the top of the lettuce bowls. Finish with big dollops of the cashew 'sour cream'. Serve hot sauce at the table for everyone to add their own.
Nutrition
Variations & Substitutions
cooked protein ideas – canned fish (tuna / sardines / mackerel / salmon), smoked fish, quick pulled chicken, cooked sausages, cooked chorizo, any leftover meat, any ground (minced) meat browned in a pan + see the vegetarian protein ideas below.
vegetarian – use vegetarian protein like canned chickpeas, lentils, black beans, boiled eggs or poached eggs. Avocado + extra nuts is another good option.
pantry-friendly – use shaved cabbage or frozen spinach instead of the lettuce.
nut-free – replace cashew sauce with sour cream or I have made a similar sauce with pepitas (pumpkin seeds) instead of the cashews which would be lovely here.
Keto / ultra low carb – cashews = almonds or macadamias.
nightshade-free – skip the hot sauce.
more substantial (carb lovers) – warm tortillas or tortilla chips or corn chips.
more substantial (low carb) – avocado, extra protein, roast nuts, zucchini tortillas or kale chips.
Low FODMAP – use macadamias instead of cashews.
family-friendly – skip the hot sauce and add the tortilla chips.
different vegetables – add any cooked veg to your bowls. I also like using different lettuce or finely sliced raw kale or collard greens.
no lime – use lemon juice or apple cider vinegar.
more fancy / for entertaining – add zucchini tortillas or other tortillas. Serve with smashed avocado or guacamole and extra roast nuts. Fun to put all the prepped ingredients in the middle and let everyone create their own bowl. To really impress your guests make a batch of my fermented chilli hot sauce.
Waste Avoidance Strategy
lettuce – will keep in the fridge for 1-2 weeks in a plastic bag. Otherwise use for another meal as it’s not great once frozen.
roast cashews / almonds / soy sauce / hot sauce – keep them in the pantry.
lime – will keep in a plastic bag in the fridge for months.
Problem Solving Guide
bland – more salt! more lime! more hot sauce! more tequila! (actually no. forget the tequila)
no stick blender – use your food processor or blender instead. Or use regular sour cream instead of the cashew sauce.
sauce too watery – add some extra nuts or almond meal and blend again. Next time use less water.
sauce too thick / lumpy – add a splash of water and keep blending – it will happen!
Prepare Ahead
Yes! Just make sauce and prep ingredients as per the recipe but keep everything separately. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. Everything can be frozen apart from the lettuce.
Add to my Old Favourite Recipes
I find it really hit and miss to buy nice nuts. Often they come from the supermarket and are softish or tasteless, would this recipe still work with those to use them up?
Absolutely Ciara!
And I buy my nuts from Aldi – they’re always really food.
And if you get soft nuts it’s sign that they’ve picked up some moisture – roasting them in the oven will help freshen them up. Go-to Roast Nuts
Instead of lettuce, I sauteed 4 small zucchini and a red capsicum (both sliced) then warmed a tin of kidney beans for protein. This application seemed designed for the Nutri-bullet that I claimed as a credit card award a few years ago, but the mix could have done with a bit more liquid. One lime yielded about 3 Tbsp of juice, but the sauce came out a bit sweet, so probably could do with more lime (I’ll dilute the leftovers with a bit of white wine vinegar) and soy. The hot sauce did give some necessary balance. Quite good.
Yes cashews have that sweetness Mark – and some limes are less acidic. Soy sauce and some vinegar will help.
This line & cashew sauce was absolutely delicious in this recipe AND today I discovered it made an amazing addition to a vegan lasagna! Seriously great replacement for the creaminess of ricotta in layer with a tomato basil sauce, a vegan pesto, plant based mozzarella type shreds, GF noodles & a simple sautéed veg (onion, garlic, red bell pepper, zucchini & spinach). I can’t even tell you how EXCITED I am to have finally found the KEY to a satisfying vegan GF pasta dish!!! Thanks a million, Jules!
LOOK AT YOU Jen! So fun
Just made this for dinner and gotta say it really delivered on the flavor. Being dairy free has left most taco bowls bland without the cheese but the cashew lime sauce with the heat of the hot sauce really came through for me! Easy to adapt for my vegan kids too! Thanks, Jules!
Yay for cashews Jen! So good!
Could I use raw cashews Jules?
Absolutely! The flavour will just be milder
Yum! This is going straight into my favourites folder. I used apple cider vinegar as I didn’t have a lime. I can’t wait to try it with the lime next time, as I’m sure it will be extra yum.
So glad it was good with the ACV Julie 🙂
I made this with ground lamb and brown rice and it was delicious. Will definitely make again and next time I’m going to try adding some roasted cherry tomatos.
ooh yum Lisa!
The sauce was very good ! I added cappers and dill. Everything yummy, thank you Jules.
ooh can imagine the dill was lovely Emilie 🙂
Delicious! Pinto beans for protein and salsa is perfect for me.
Oh nice addition with the pinto beans Gay 🙂
What hot sauce do you recommend that is not full of junk?
I like Tabasco or something similar which is just fermented chilli, vinegar and salt Steve. Or I sometimes make my own like this red one or this green coriander one.
Cashew sour cream. Yum! You make adding variety so easy.
Glad you liked it Heather!
This is delicious!
Wonderful Marita!