How to make vegan cheese

To those unfamiliar with plant-based cooking, the term ‘vegan cheese’ might sound like a bit of an oxymoron, but going vegan doesn’t mean having to give up on the tastes and texture we know and love. For those who love a bit of cheese, there’s a huge array of vegan cheeses available on the market for just about anyone’s taste.

And if you prefer to enjoy homemade flavours or just want to get creative in the kitchen, we’ve got a few great vegan cheese recipes for you to try:

Easy Vegan Parmesan

This super quick and easy vegan parmesan recipe can add a nutty, umami twist to just about any dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cashews - natural or unsalted roasted

• ½ cup nutritional yeast

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp onion powder

• ½ tsp salt

Method:

Pop all your ingredients in a high speed blender until the ingredients are well combined and look more uniform in size. Yep, that’s it!

Fresh Cheese

Enjoy this light, tangy and crumbly vegan cheese that’s along the lines of ricotta or queso fresco.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup blanched almonds

• ½ cup cashews

• 2 tbsp white vinegar

• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ cup water

• 3 tbsp neutral oil

• 2 tsp agar powder

Method:

1. Soak the nuts overnight or for at least 1 hour in boiling water.

2. Blend all the ingredients except for the agar powder in a high speed blender until smooth.

3. Once everything is well combined, add in the agar powder and blend again until smooth.

4. Transfer the mixture into a saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture reaches a low boil.

5. Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue stirring until it thickens.

6. Transfer mixture to a cheesecloth-lined ramekin or another heat-safe bowl.

7. Allow cheese to set overnight.

8. Enjoy crumbled over salads, spread on toast or on top of crackers.

Nut-Free Cheese Sauce

We know a lot of vegan cheese recipes rely on nuts for that rich and creamy texture, but our nut-free friends deserve some love, too! Here’s a delicious nut-free cheese sauce we know you’ll love.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oat or soy milk

• 1 tbsp tapioca or arrowroot flour/starch

• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast

• Salt to taste

Method: 

1. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking constantly.

2. Once the mixture begins to boil, bring it down to a simmer and continue whisking just before it thickens to your desired consistency - it will keep thickening as it cools.

3. Use the sauce however you’d like! It’s great on pizza, nachos, as a dip, and much more.

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