Quick Taco Bowls with Lime & Cashew Sauce (Sour Cream Substitute)

Quick Taco Bowls with Lime Cashew Sour Cream

If you’re dairy-free (even if you aren’t) you’re going to love, love, love this Lime Cashew Sour Cream Substitute 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

Lime Cashew Sour Cream Substitute
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Quick Taco Bowls with Lime & Cashew 'Sour Cream'

Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword cashews, dairy-free, lime, taco bowls
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  • 1 head cos (romaine) lettuce or 2 baby lettuces
  • 200 g roast cashews or almonds
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • zest 1 lime optional
  • 300-400 g cooked protein eg canned fish, beans, boiled eggs
  • hot sauce to serve
Metric - US Customary

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. For the sauce place cashews, soy sauce, lime juice, lime zest (if using) 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).
  3. 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.

Recipe Video

NET CARBS: 35g/serve with cashews OR 16g/serve with almonds.

Variations & Substitutions Lime Cashew Sour Cream Substitute

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 Lime Cashew Sour Cream Substitute

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.

Lime Cashew Sour Cream Substitute

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Have fun in the kitchen!

With love,
Jules x

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4 Comments

  • Jules,
    I am excited to try this! (Quick Taco Bowls)…..but I am very allergic to soy, what can I substitute the soy sauce with?

    Thanks so much!

  • That was filling and will have the rest of it for tea.
    Easy to prepare and I used canned salmon.
    A real good aspect is the number of variations on a theme one can do to get nutritious tasty food.
    My medical treatment has really messed up my taste and appetite for some time now and am quite excited as I explore this 6 ingredient meal method further.
    Thank-you for the opportunity.

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