You soak cashews over night or for around 4 hours. Then blend it with water, garlic, salt, nutritional yeast (gives a cheesy flavour and is rich in all vitamin B's), a little lemon juice, pepper and a little rosemary if you like. 
Of course you can heat it...but I do it completely raw...
C'est tout 🤗  And it's sooooo yummy! Try and let me know! Oh and don't tell your Italian friends 😅