Dig into chewy, cheesy, comforting goodness with this vegan take on the classic American side dish: scalloped potatoes.
Creamy, comforting, and stick-to-your-ribs, scalloped potatoes are simply dreamy. I don’t know why it took me this long to make a vegan version, but I’m so glad that I did! And boy, did this recipe take a million trials to get just right. . . it was so worth it, though!
This dish is garlicky and tangy (think “salt and vinegar” flavor!), with a hint of spice, crunch from the parm, and a bit of chew from the layered potatoes. It’s absolutely addictive, and if you are anything like us, you’ll find that you can’t stop at one helping!
For best results, it’s important that you use a mandoline to slice the potatoes thinner than ⅛ inch (2 mm is ideal). If you don’t own a mandoline and would rather not thinly slice the potatoes by hand, I’ve included a chopped potato version (see Tips). Often, acids such as vinegar or lemon juice can give cashew sauce a feta-like consistency once baked, so don’t worry if this happens to your Garlic Cashew Cheese Sauce after baking . . . the flavor is just as delicious!
Related: Sweet and Savory Plant-Based Sweet Potato-Lentil Meatloaf
Vegan Scalloped Potatoes With Garlic Cheese Sauce
Creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor, these vegan scalloped potatoes are a must-make.
- 2 lbs yellow potatoes, peeled
Garlic Cheese Sauce
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1½ cups water
- ¾ cup nutritional yeast
- ¾ cup grapeseed oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 8 medium garlic cloves
- 1¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp sriracha
Vegan Parmesan
- 1 medium 1 medium garlic clove
- ½ cup raw cashews or pepitas
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- ¼ to ½ tsp fine sea salt to taste
- A few pinches thyme for garnish
Prepare the Garlic Cashew Cheese Sauce, followed by the Vegan Parmesan (I like to make the parm quite coarse in texture to give this recipe some crunch). Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Liberally oil a 9 by 13-inch (3 L) casserole dish, making sure to coat the sides and bottom completely.
Using a mandoline, slice the peeled potatoes into very thin (less than ⅛-inch-thick/2 mm) slices (no thicker, or they’ll take a long time to cook through).
Spread a single layer of sliced potatoes over the bottom of the casserole dish, just barely overlapping them by about ⅛ inch (3 mm) and covering the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle a small pinch of salt over the sliced potatoes. Pour a scant 1 cup of the cashew cheese sauce over the potatoes so it covers the potatoes’ surface completely (you can use the measuring cup or your fingers to help spread the sauce over all the potatoes). The sauce will look very thin and watery, but don’t worry, because it thickens while baking. Repeat this layering process (remembering to lightly salt each layer of potatoes) until you have used all the sauce and sliced potatoes. (There should be five layers if you use a 9 by 13-inch/3 L casserole and your potato slices are less than ⅛ inch/2 mm thick.) Make sure your final layer is sauce, and use all the remaining cheese sauce on this final layer. It will look like a swimming pool of sauce, but this is normal and it will firm up as it bakes.
Sprinkle all the parmesan over the sauce. Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil. Using a sharp knife, cut about four 1-inch (2.5 cm) slits into the foil to vent steam.
Bake the casserole for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the foil and check for doneness by sliding a knife into the center of the casserole. You are looking for no resistance when you insert the knife (if your potatoes were sliced thicker than ⅛ inch/3 mm, the casserole may take longer to bake). If there is resistance to the knife, replace the foil and bake for 5 to 15 minutes more, then test again.
Serve with a sprinkling of thyme leaves, if desired, and prepare to fall into a heavenly trance while enjoying each and every bite!
For the Garlic Cheese Sauce
Place the cashews in a small bowl and add boiling water to cover. Soak for 1 hour, then drain. (Alternatively, soak the cashews in room-temperature water to cover for at least 8 hours or up to overnight, then drain.)
Transfer the drained cashews to a high-speed blender and add the water, nutritional yeast, oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sriracha (if using). Blend for 1 to 2 minutes, until very smooth. The sauce will be very bubbly and thin, but this is normal. Don’t be alarmed if the sauce tastes a bit tangy; it’ll mellow once baked into the potatoes!
For the Vegan Parmesan
In a food processor, process the garlic until minced.
Add the cashews, nutritional yeast, and salt to the food processor with the garlic. Process into a coarse meal, 10 to 15 seconds.
- STORAGE – This casserole can be tightly wrapped and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 425°F (220°C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until heated through.
- MANDOLINE-FREE VERSION – Prepare the recipe as written, but dice the peeled potatoes into ½-inch (1 cm) cubes instead of slicing them. Add the cubes to the prepared casserole dish and carefully stir in all the Garlic Cashew Cheese Sauce (alternatively, you can mix them in a large bowl). Spread out the potatoes in the dish and top with the Vegan Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10 minutes more, or until bubbling and golden brown on top and fork- tender.
- MAKE IT AHEAD – You can save some time by prepping the sauce and vegan parm 1 to 2 days before you plan to make the casserole and storing them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Let the sauce sit at room temperature for about an hour before you begin to ensure it’s soft and spreadable, since it will thicken in the fridge.
Related: Creamy Spiced Corn Chowder
Reprinted with permission from Oh She Glows for Dinner, by Angela Liddon, Avery 2020.