Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion and cook for 2 minutes.. Add flour and mix in. Cook the flour in oil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in the bell pepper and cook for half a minute. Mix in the spices and cook for a few seconds.
Mix in about half the non dairy milk and all of the nutritional yeast. Whisk frequently to mix in the lumps. Add the rest of the non dairy milk and bring to a boil. Cook until thickened. Taste carefully and adjust salt and flavor. Add more cumin or smoked paprika for smokier, chipotle for heat). Add a pinch of turmeric for color if you like and mix in.
At this point, you can cool the mixture slightly and blend it to make it more creamier and smoother (optional). Mix in the salsa if using. Garnish with pickled jalapeno, cilantro and lemon if needed. Some chopped roasted pimiento or red bell pepper also is a great option to mix in. Serve over nachos, tacos, with chips, quesadillas and more.
Notes
To make this Oil-free: Toast the flour on a dry skillet for 3 minutes until it starts to smell toasty. Remove from the skillet. Add onion and garlic and saute in broth. Add bell pepper and toasted flour and mix in. Add the spices and continue to cook for a minute. Add all of the non dairy milk and nutritional yeast and continue from step 2. The flour takes longer to mix in well and thicken. So whisk really well and cook a minute longer. To make this gluten-free: Use 1 tbsp rice flour and 2 tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot starch instead of flour and tamari instead of soy sauce. Or use my chickpea flour Nacho sauce. Nutrition is 1 of 4 serves.