Vegan Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

I’m always looking for twists on classics, and honey mustard is a definite childhood classic for me. I used to love chicken tenders with honey mustard sauce. I haven’t eaten them in years, largely because I steer clear of most fried foods these days.

Lately, I’m also staying away from gluten and dairy as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I still indulge in the sweet treat from time to time, and there are some things that I just have to use cheddar cheese for, but really, I have found that there are substitutes for most things that I love that are just as, if not more, delicious as the original.

I’ve found that using cashews as a dairy substitute has really helped curb any dairy cravings. When pureed, cashews form a super creamy texture. It’s great for sauces, dips, icings, and more! I was working on a recipe for air fryer chicken tenders, so I decided to use my beloved cashews to come up with a healthier sauce for the chicken tenders. I love the result, and I hope you will too!

Some tips and tricks:

• If you don’t have time to soak your cashews overnight, don’t fret! You can simply bring the vegetable broth to a boil, and add the cashews. Let them soak for an hour or two and then you are ready to go!

• Make sure you scrape down the blender. If not, there could be chunks of cashew that don’t get pureed.

• Do NOT use yellow mustard in place of dijon mustard. Dijon has the right ratio of spices to make this vegan dip taste like the real deal.

What makes this recipe so delicious?

• Cashews - when blended, they become so super creamy

• Nutritional Yeast - This yummy addition to this vegan dip helps create the creamy texture, but it also gives a healthy dose of B vitamins!

• Dijon Mustard - Dijon mustard is my favorite mustard. It has just the right zing that balances out all the spices. It’s just so good.

• Honey - I suggest clover honey. If you use something like a sourwood honey, it could cause your sauce to taste a little “floral” if that makes sense!

How does this come together?

This is such a simple dip. It literally requires time to let the cashews soak, and that is it! After that, it is just a matter of placing everything in a blender!

ENJOY! And as usual, let me know what you think in the comments below or over on Instagram @sugarandsalt_co!