• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
    • the book
    • our journal

    village for mama

    Nourishment for the fourth trimester

    • our story
    • shop
      • Stockists
      • Cart
      • Email
      • Instagram
    • Recipes
    • Tips
    • Resources

    Cashew Ricotta

    November 24, 2020 · Recipes

    A delicious, nourishing and easy to make plant-based cashew ricotta recipe. The perfect ‘cheezy’ spread, dip or sauce.

    NOURISHING A NEW MAMA

    Plant-based cashew ricotta is incredibly versatile. It’s wonderful for new mamas who are avoiding dairy either for dietary reasons. Or because they are breast feeding and their Bub may have an intolerance.

    This plant-based cashew ricotta recipe is also used as the ‘cheeze’ sauce in the village for mama Hearty Vegetable Bake. It can also be used as a ricotta replacement in the Seeded Sweet Potato Savoury loaf.

    It is delicious spread to go on seeded crackers or sourdough toast topped with fresh tomatoes and basil.

    Cashews

    Cashews are a great source of healthy fats and minerals such as copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium, as well as fibre and protein. All of the essential nutrients needed for postpartum recovery. You can maximise the nutrient absorption by activating the cashews. You can learn how to activate cashews at the end of the recipe under ‘SUPERCHARGE’.

    Lemon

    Lemon is high in vitamin C, great for tissue repair and immune function.

    Mustard

    Mustard is high in lots of healthy phytonutrients. It helps facilitate absorption of nutrients from other foods.

    Nutritional Yeast

    Nutritional yeast is high in B vitamins which are great for everything in the body especially energy production. Energy production is definitely needed during the postpartum period. It has been shown to improve immune function, digestion and prevent/ treat gastrointestinal infection. It is a complete protein containing all the amino acids.

    Cashew Ricotta

    Plant-based cashew ricotta recipe

    jar of plant-based cashew ricotta

    INGREDIENTS

    • 2 cups organic cashews (see supercharge for activated option)
    • 1 tablespoon organic mustard (dijon or wholegrain)
    • 1 tablespoon tamari
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 4 tablespoons nutritional yeast
    • 1/4 cup filtered water

    METHOD

    Combine all the ingredients in a high speed blender.

    Blend until smooth.

    Pour into a glass jar or an airtight container and refrigerate.

    SUPERCHARGE

    Activating the cashews

    You can activate cashews by soaking them in filtered water and a teaspoon of Himalayan salt for 3 – 6 hours.

    Rinse in filtered water, drain and dry before use.

    Activating nuts might seem unnecessary but there are two really good reasons to add in this extra step.

    1. Activating nuts and seeds removes the phytic acids. Never heard of it?Well, when we eat phytic acid, it binds to all the good stuff in nuts, the minerals like copper, zinc, magnesium, iron and manganese. When these minerals are bound, they cannot be absorbed in the intestines, which can sometimes lead to mineral deficiencies.
    2. If that’s not a good enough reason to add in this extra step, then activating nuts also makes them a whole lot easier to blend!

    CAN BE STORED IN THE FRIDGE FOR UP TO 5 DAYS

    love, village for mama x

    Previous Post: « Supercharge Liver Cubes
    Next Post: Postpartum Nutrition Studies with Oh Baby »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    JOIN OUR VILLAGE

    we will write to you now and then with recipes, resources, tips and love

    welcome mama x 
    buy the book

    Products

    • Village for mama wholesale $240.00

    GIFT

    the perfect gift for a mama to be, a book she will treasure and a wonderful activity for a baby shower

    GATHER

    hand out the recipe cards to friends and family to organise homemade meal giving

    NOURISH

    recipes designed alongside a naturopath to help replenish and nourish a new mama post birth

    buy the book
    Perhaps this year we can be a little kinder to our Perhaps this year we can be a little kinder to ourselves. We can celebrate and admire the beauty in all stages of motherhood. Remove the words ‘bounce back’ from our pregnancy and postpartum vocabulary. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I was gifted @katejbaer stunning book, ‘what kind of woman’ for Christmas and wow what a gift. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Her words are beautiful and resonate so deeply.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As I awoke this morning... I glanced at the words next to my bed and thought.... 
What kind of woman.
What kind of woman will you be this year? 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
As mothers, our identity is greater than motherhood despite at times it feeling all consuming. More often than not we get lost in the background and everyone and everything else comes first. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It’s true, birth is a right of passage. A transformation from maiden to mother. Although that transformation doesn’t end at motherhood. We can be mothers and so much more. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Today I spent some time setting my intentions for the year as well as thinking about what kind of woman I would like to be and become alongside my role as a mother. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Have you taken any time today to think about you, and what you would like to do and achieve for yourself? To set your intentions? What changes will you make? What kind of woman will you be this year?
    New year, new life, new beginnings. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I was going to sit and type a bit of a reflection on this year. Instead I just want to say this... 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This year has been a weird and wonderful one... 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Most have faced hardships and challenges like no other. Some have experienced loss greater than ever and others have welcomed new little loves. I’ve watched people adapt, evolve, collaborate, laugh, cry, dream, hope and most importantly prevail against all odds. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
That’s the wonder of life, despite the hardship there is still beauty. So much beauty. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This year I launched village for mama and self published the book. It was a hard juggle whilst being a mama to an adventurous, spirited and determined daughter who never sleeps! But, I wouldn’t have it any other way, for without her, this village would not exist. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I have made it my mission to help more mamas experience a magical well supported and nourished fourth trimester. However, as I reflect on this, I actually hope that we all experience a magical, well nourished and supported new year. A year of connection, community, inspiration, collaboration and happiness. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you to every single one of you who have supported me along the way. To all the beautiful mamas who have purchased a book and to all of you who have made up my virtual village. I am beyond grateful for your support and I look forward to a new year of growing and connecting. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Happy new year mamas,
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Leila x 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
New life captured by @shelleylawnikanis
    I didn’t ever imagine there would be a time in m I didn’t ever imagine there would be a time in my life when I would look at a photo of a woman in a nappy (and holding a beautiful bub) and feel all the feels. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sounds silly I know, but those early tender postpartum weeks are incomparable to any other moment in time. The hormones, love, discomfort, awe, overwhelm, fear, angst, admiration all bubbling away in one big mixing pot of postpartum magic.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
After you give birth, regardless of how,
vaginal, cesarean, medicated, unmedicated ... bleeding post birth is a thing, and it can continue for several weeks. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You see, your uterus is tender and contracting down to its original size (ahhhhmaazing body mama) and the where the placenta (magical organ) once was, is now a large wound. An empty space the size of a dinner plate, raw, repairing and causing lengthy blood loss.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So not only are giant nappies the best thing ever for the weeks to follow... a comfortable cuddle for your bits and a perfect solution for dealing with the inevitable. Rest and warm nourishing food are equally as valuable for the healing process after your body has just gone through the extraordinary gift of birthing new life. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So mama, put your feet and your bits up, keep warm, rest and devour delicious deliveries from your village 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ps. This a repost from a while ago because over the last few months so many new mamas have joined me on here and I am so so grateful for all of you! Hello and welcome if you are one of them and have read this far.  This  is one of my favourite posts from this year while I’m reflecting on all that has happened in the world of @villageformama.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🧡
mama beauty and babe @newdarlings  #postpartum #fourthtrimester #thisismotherhood
    After you give birth, everything changes. Everythi After you give birth, everything changes. Everything you thought you knew changes.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You develop a whole new scale of emotions and priorities. Your body slowly reduces back to a new normal and all that is left behind are small lines and tokens; a glorious road map of growing new life and your transformation from maiden to mother.  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo via @jollymamafrance
    Did anyone announce their pregnancy over Christmas Did anyone announce their pregnancy over Christmas? We’ve got the the perfect gift for them...  A postpartum recipe book with recipe gift cards to help modern mamas gather their village and organise homemade meal giving during their fourth trimester.  A wonderful gift for a mama to be, a book she will treasure and a wonderful activity for a baby shower or mother’s blessing.  Free shipping Australia wide for today & tomorrow too mamas!
    Wishing you all a beautiful Christmas. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
❤️ Village for mama
    Dear villager, ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With lo Dear villager,
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
With love and gratitude, I have chosen you to be a part of my village. Would you kindly deliver this meal to our family after we welcome our new baby.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Nourishing and nutrient dense food is essential during the early weeks and months after giving birth. Not only to help support my healing process but to ensure I have enough energy to feed and nurture the latest addition to the family. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’d be so grateful if you could prepare this meal for me using the best quality ingredients you can find and afford.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Consider doubling this recipe to feed your own family too or triple it to bring me a frozen backup in the later weeks of my motherhood journey. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you aren’t sure what some of the ingredients are or where to source them, www.villageformama.com has some great resources and additional recipes to inspire and help you too. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
One of the greatest challenges a new mother faces is the time to allow herself to heal. If the sign on the door invites you in, be sure to offer a helping hand before you snuggle the baby. Pop a load of washing on and make us both a cup of tea! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If the sign on the door says that today’s not the day, please do not be offended; I may not be up for hosting or perhaps I’m deep in a much-needed nap. There will be plenty of opportunities for cuddles in the future.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you for being part of my village,
All my love 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
New mama,

    Footer

    Village for mama acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

    • the book
    • our journal
    • Recipes
    • Tips
    • Resources

    Privacy Policy & More

    • Email
    • Instagram
  • Copyright © 2021 · village for mama · Hearten Made ⟡