Chipotle Sauce

By Jessica Swartz March 25, 2023 18 mins read 92 Views

Learn how to make easy Chipotle Sauce with just 6 ingredients and a blender! It’s a smoky and creamy sauce you’ll love drizzling over tacos, veggie burgers, and so much more. Plus it’s vegan friendly!

If there’s one sauce that can make your meals 10 times as fun, it’s Chipotle Sauce. It’s a creamy, savory, and smoky all-purpose sauce you can drizzle over tacos, use as a dip for french fries, spread on burgers… The list goes on!

Made in a blender with cashews, chipotle peppers, and a handful of other flavor boosters, vegan chipotle sauce is something you can whip up whenever your appetizers or snacks need a little extra pizazz. Best of all, it’s completely dairy free, gluten free, oil free, and tastes complex and irresistible!

Why you’ll love this all-purpose chipotle sauce

6 ingredients; 10 minutes. That’s all it takes! Cashew chipotle sauce is easy to make with a short list of simple ingredients and in less than 10 minutes.
Easy to make in a blender. Just pop all of the ingredients into a blender, blend until smooth, and you have a smoky, creamy, and subtly spicy sauce you’ll love using.
Use it anywhere! The rich and smoky flavors make this sauce a particularly perfect pairing for tacos, but it’s also incredible on burgers, wraps, with french fries, and so much more.

ingredients for chipotle sauce in individual bowls and glasses.

Ingredients needed (with substitutions)

Cashews – Raw, unsalted cashews are blended into a cashew cream, leaving you with a creamy base for the vegan chipotle aioli. Raw slivered almonds will also work in place of the cashews. Nut free? Make this recipe with sunflower seeds instead.
Water – You need fresh water (different from the water you used to soak the cashews) to help loosen up the sauce.
Chipotle peppers in adobo – Chipotle peppers are red jalapeno peppers that have been smoked and dried, then packed into cans with adobo sauce. Chipotle peppers are crucial to the sauce’s smokiness and depth of flavor, so try not to leave them out!
Garlic
Lime – Freshly squeezed lime juice is non-negotiable!
Salt

How to make chipotle sauce

Find the complete recipe with measurements below in the recipe card.

Quick soak the cashews by placing them in a bowl and pouring boiling water over top. The nuts only take about 5 minutes to soften but you can leave them for up to 1 hour if needed.

Drain the water, then add the soaked cashews to a blender. Add the fresh water, chipotle peppers from a can of adobo, garlic, lime juice, and salt. Blend until very smooth.

ingredients for chipotle sauce in a blender.

Give the sauce a taste and add more lime juice or salt if needed. You can also thin out the consistency with a little more water.

Use the sauce right away or store it for later. Enjoy!

blended orange chipotle sauce in a blender.

Serving suggestions

The list of ways to use chipotle sauce is endless, but these ideas should help get you started:

Tacos: Finish your potato tacos, Mexican tofu tacos, and jackfruit tacos with a drizzle of this sauce.
Dipping sauce: Pour the sauce into a bowl and use it as a dipping sauce for french fries, sweet potato fries, brussels sprouts, potato wedges, vegan sausage rolls, vegan pizza, and more.
Sandwich spread: Spread it onto jackfruit pulled pork sandwiches, vegan BLTs, veggie burgers, and more!
Buddha bowl topping: Drizzle a little on your favorite buddha bowl for an extra burst of flavor and heat.

a spoon lifting up a scoop of chipotle sauce from a jar of the sauce.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make vegan chipotle sauce without cashews?

Yes, you can easily swap the cashews for raw slivered almonds or sunflower seeds. Or, if you want to omit the nuts and seeds entirely, use 1/4 cup of vegan mayonnaise or plain vegan yogurt + 1 cup of vegan sour cream as the base instead.

Is chipotle sauce spicy?

The sauce is smoky and a bit spicy. Chipotle peppers can be spicy on their own but the cashew cream, garlic, and lime do a good job of tempering the heat. If you’re worried about it being too spicy, only use 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce. If you really don’t like spice, use a few tablespoons of the adobo sauce and leave out the peppers entirely.

How long does it last?

The sauce will last for up to 1 week when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can you freeze the chipotle sauce?

Yes, the sauce should freeze well for up to 6 months. Remember to thaw it completely before using it again; sometimes it helps to re-blend it or whisk it very well to retain its smooth consistency.

womans hand holding a spoon in a jar of orange chipotle sauce.

Want more easy vegan sauces?

Vegan Tartar Sauce
Easy Vegan Barbecue Sauce
Vegan Ranch Dressing
Vegan Tzatziki
Shawarma Sauce
Vegan Cheese Sauce

Chipotle Sauce

Learn how to make easy Chipotle Sauce with just 6 ingredients and a blender! It’s a smoky and creamy sauce you’ll love drizzling over tacos, veggie burgers, and so much more.

Course Sauce

Cuisine Mexican-inspired

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 74kcal

Author Nora Taylor

Ingredients

1 cup raw cashews
3/4 cup water
2 chipotle peppers from a can of adobo
1 clove garlic
1/2 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
1/2 teaspoon salt

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Quick soak the cashews: Bring a few cups of water to a boil (I use my tea kettle for this). Add the cashews to a bowl or glass measuring cup and pour the boiling hot water on top to cover. Let them soak for 5 minutes, or up to an hour.
Drain the cashews and add to high powered blender. Now add 3/4 cup fresh water, chipotle peppers from a can of adobo, garlic, lime juice and salt. Blend until very smooth.
Taste; add more lime juice or salt as desired. Pour into an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Notes

If you don’t have a high powered blender like a Vitamix OR you don’t want to use cashews, you can make this using vegan sour cream and vegan mayo or yogurt. Instead of the cashews and water, simply use 1/4 cup vegan mayo or plain vegan yogurt and 1 cup vegan sour cream. Blend using a blender or food processor until smooth.
Sunflower seeds or raw slivered almonds also work in place of the cashews.

Nutrition

Welcome to Paleovsketo.com, the trusted source for up-to-date knowledge on lifestyle nutrition! In this ever changing world where new diet trends are popping up left and right, we understand how hard it is to know what's best for you and your body. That's why here at Paleovsketo.com we offer reliable strategies for feeling - and looking - your absolute best with evidence based advice on diets such as paleo, keto, plant-based, mediterranean diets and intermittent fasting.

But it doesn't stop there - It's much more than just diets. We invite you to take part in our journey by sharing your stories and delicious recipes with our community so we can educate, inspire and empower each other to revolutionize how we think about healthy eating. With confidence, grace and integrity let’s work together towards healthy living.

Are you ready to embark on this exciting journey of health? Send us an email at [email protected] today! We look forward to working with you soon on creating a healthier tomorrow. Join us now in our mission of embracing healthier living through education, inspiration and empowerment!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you think it is necessary to consume supplements if you eat a plant-based diet.

While a healthy, balanced plant-based diet can provide all necessary nutrients for good health and well-being, you should supplement with certain micronutrients to correct any potential deficiencies. Vitamin B12 is crucial for cognitive and nervous health. This vitamin is not available in animal sources. However, vegetarians and vegans might benefit from supplementation. Additionally, many foods on a plant-based diet lack enough iron and zinc, two minerals important for healthy metabolism, red blood cell production, tissue growth, and repair. Omega 3 fatty acids also play an essential role in normal body processes, such as controlling inflammation and proper brain function. Due to their biochemical characteristics, most plant-based foods do not contain omega-3s. Supplementation can help maintain a delicate balance of this essential nutrient. Finally, calcium is important for strong bones. But it can also be found in small quantities through plants such as broccoli or kale. Consider taking separate supplements if you find it difficult to reach your daily calcium goal from food. It is always a good idea for you to check with your doctor before adding new supplements.

How can a plant-based diet improve your health?

There are many health benefits to a plant-based diet. A lower chance of developing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and stroke if you eat more plant-based foods than animal products. Plant-based diets have vitamins, minerals. antioxidants. Eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, beans, and legumes has been proven beneficial due to the presence of dietary fiber, which feeds gut bacteria and helps maintain digestive health. A lot of plant-based meals are low in saturated fats which may increase blood cholesterol. Research suggests that a plant-based diet can reduce the symptoms of common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Long-term satisfaction can be achieved by consuming a mixture of plant-based proteins as well as healthy fats like avocados and nuts.

What are some of the most common plant-based food?

Because of its potential health and environmental advantages, a plant-based diet is on the rise. Common plant-based diets are those that are made from plants. This includes fruits, vegetables as well as legumes and nuts. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. A variety of beans and pulses are good sources for plant-based protein. These include chickpeas (or lentils), beans, chickpeas (or kidney beans), lower-fat soya products like tempeh and edamame, and higher-fat nuts like almonds. Flaxseed oil, olive, avocado and other healthy fats are just a few of the plant-based options. You can also find ready-to cook meals, which can reduce your grocery budget. Plant-based diets may be cheaper than other options depending on what you buy and how many.

Are you able to get enough protein with a plant-based lifestyle?

Yes, it is possible to get enough protein from a plant-based food. A variety of legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, as well as grains provide amino acid to help you build muscle and stay healthy. Tofu, a soy product, contains all nine essential amino acids your body cannot produce and must get from food. Also, vegetables such a spinach, broccoli and kale are rich in protein. They can be combined with legumes to provide the required amount of protein for adequate nutrition. Plant-based protein are better for long-term satisfaction and support longer-lasting satiety. Additional nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids can be added to plant-based diets through the addition of flaxseeds (chia seeds), walnuts, and hemp seeds.

Statistics

Another found that following a diet rich in plant foods and lower in animal foods was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease and a 31 to 32 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. (everydayhealth.com)
In the United States, poor-quality diet is the most significant predictor of early death, according to an article published in the May 2017 Journal of Geriatric Cardiology. (everydayhealth.com)

External Links

How To

How do I make sure I get enough protein from a plant based diet?

It is possible to ensure you get enough plant-based protein with the right combination. A variety of plant-based protein sources include nuts, legumes and seeds as well as tofu, tempeh and quinoa. These foods can be incorporated into your daily meals to meet your nutritional requirements. You can optimize your nutrient intake by eating superfoods like spinach, green tea, and chia seed.

A vegan diet should include plant-based foods, such as protein powders, nuts, and collagen peptides. They can also be added to smoothies and other recipes. Finally, if you feel like you're not getting enough protein from food sources alone, opt for high-quality supplements: pills, capsules, or tablets that efficiently contain the required amount of protein.

If you make an effort to incorporate plant-based foods into your meals in many ways, vegans can quickly meet their daily nutrition requirements.