CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces are Boldly Vegan and Paleo

Strangely enough, I’m not someone who misses or craves cheese, but I do love taste-testing dairy-free cheesy sauces. They each have their own flavor and consistency nuances. And the rising paleo demand has brought even more interesting options to the table, like CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces. These jarred creations are wholesome blends that actually list pumpkin as one of the first ingredients!

Please note that some of the pictures below are my own, and were taken before a packaging change. The photo immediately below and the ones next to the ingredients show the current jars. But I’ve left my photos up since they show what the “cheese” itself looks like.

Tasting Notes for CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces

Unlike many cheesy sauces, CORE + RIND doesn’t tend to thin when when heated. It stays quite thick and hearty, but can easily be thinned with water or unsweetened milk beverage, if desired. Both varieties have a spoonable, dippable consistency that clings marvelously to pasta, rice, and veggies.

Original

A lot of the cheesy sauces I’ve tried recently don’t have enough punch to shine in pasta. But CORE + RIND Original is bold and intriguing. It’s a very mustard-forward sauce, which we liked. I didn’t think it tasted very cheesy, but Tony thought it did. Either way, it has a unique, full-bodied flavor and creamy finish that is quite versatile.

Ingredients: water, pumpkin, cashews, apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, sea salt, tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric powder.

Nutrition (per 1/3 cup): 60 calories, 4g fat, 5g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 3g protein.*

Spicy Chipotle

Wow, this has a serious flavor punch! It reminds me of cheesy sauce and spicy salsa blended together into a smooth, thick sauce or dip. I used it to make some Mexican-style rice with roasted zucchini, black beans, and corn, which was husband approved. But it would also be marvelous on nachos, or perhaps in other Mexican-inspired dishes, like enchiladas.

Ingredients: water, pumpkin, cashews, apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional yeast, dijon mustard, sea salt, tomato paste, chipotle chili pepper powder, chili powder (chili pepper, paprika, black pepper), garlic powder, onion powder, turmeric powder.

Nutrition (per 1/3 cup): 60 calories, 4g fat, 5g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 3g protein.*

Smoky

Wow, this has a serious flavor punch! It reminds me of cheesy sauce and spicy salsa blended together into a smooth, thick sauce or dip. I used it to make some Mexican-style rice with roasted zucchini, black beans, and corn, which was husband approved. But it would also be marvelous on nachos, or perhaps in other Mexican-inspired dishes, like enchiladas.

Ingredients: water, pumpkin, cashews, apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, nutritional yeast, mustard seed, sea salt, tomato paste, paprika, garlic powder, natural liquid smoke, onion powder, turmeric powder.

Nutrition (per 1/3 cup): 60 calories, 4g fat, 5g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g sugars (includes 0g added sugars), 3g protein.*

The Facts on CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces

• Price: $12.99 per 14-ounce glass jar.
• Availability: CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces are available at Sprouts and other select natural food stores in the U.S. You can also order direct from the Core + Rind website or via Amazon.
• Certifications: CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces are labeled as organic, paleo, and vegan, but I don’t believe they are certified.
• Dietary Notes: By ingredients, CORE + RIND Cashew Cheesy Sauces are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian.*
• For More Product Information: Visit the CORE + RIND website at www.coreandrind.com.

*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy. 

not cheesy

Rated 1 out of 5

December 14, 2022

This is just too heavy with vinegar and mustard.

Tony

The spicy one

Rated 3 out of 5

December 1, 2022

It doesn’t taste anything like cheese, but it’s tasty.

Eleanor

Mustard-forward Sauces

Rated 4 out of 5

December 29, 2019

We thought these sauces were delicious in their own right. They were more mustard than “cheesy” but still added nice bold flavor to dishes and were nice with chips.

Alisa Fleming