Baked Vegan Jalapeño Poppers
Servings: 3
These vegan jalapeño poppers are stuffed with a smoky cashew cheese made with lime, nutritional yeast and smoked paprika, then topped with breadcrumbs and baked instead of fried. Creamy, crunchy and 17g protein per serving.
Ingredients
- 7 jalapeño peppers
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked in water at least 20 minutes
- 1 tablespoon lime juiced
- 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- ⅛ tsp sea salt, unrefined
- 3 tablespoon water for blending
- ½ cup green onions thinly sliced
Toppings
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash the jalapeños and pat dry. Finely mince a jalapeño and set it aside. Halve the rest and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drain the cashews and pulse them in a small food processor until finely chopped. Add the lime juice, nutritional yeast, tamari, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne and salt and pulse again, adding the water a little at a time as needed until the mixture is thick and creamy but not runny. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- Stir in the green onions and the minced jalapeño. Fill each jalapeño half with the cashew mixture.
- In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast and avocado oil. Sprinkle over the poppers, pressing gently so the topping adheres to the filling.
- Bake until golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Prep Tip: Soak the cashews in hot water for at least 20 minutes, then drain so they blend smooth.
- Spice Level: Wear gloves when cutting the jalapeños, and scrape out the seeds and ribs for milder poppers.
- Air Fryer Method: Cook in batches at 380 °F for 8 to 12 minutes, until golden.
- Storing: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven; the microwave makes them soggy.
Nutrition
Serving: 2poppers, Calories: 424kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 17g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Sodium: 619mg, Potassium: 758mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1679IU, Vitamin C: 44mg, Calcium: 84mg, Iron: 6mg
