Quick Guide To Cheese Substitutes
- Parmesan Cheese = Nutritional Yeast
- Cream Cheese = Cashew Coconut Cream Cheese or store brought brands
- Crumbly cheese, eg Aged Gouda, Aged Cheddar or basically most aged hard cheeses = Cauliflower Cashew Cheese
- Ricotta = Dairy-free yoghurts
- Feta = Store brought brand or make your own
- Mozarella = Store brought brand or make your own
- Gouda = Store brought brand or make your own
Is Vegan Cheese Healthy For You
It really depends on the type of vegan cheese youre talking about. According to Go Veggie, those who follow a vegan diet that eschews eggs, meat, and dairy, tend to have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol than those who dine upon animal-based fare. In addition to never containing cholesterol , vegan cheeses never contain hormones or antibiotics. Thus, eating vegan cheese is definitely a healthier idea than eating regular cheese.
Nevertheless, eating too much cheese, vegan or otherwise, can have an adverse effect on ones health, especially if those plant-based products could be considered junk food. There are almost as many unhealthy plant-based products as there are conventional ones and many dairy-free kinds of cheese can wind up becoming junk food if they arent eaten responsibly. The trick is to read the labels on the foods you buy, to determine what ingredients may or may not be ideal.
For those trying to eat as healthy as possible, Mama Sezz recommends looking for vegan cheeses that contain whole foods and minimal ingredients. Avoid any cheese that lists fillers or gums in their ingredients, try to find cheeses that contain low sodium, and look for cheeses that contain “healthy” fats like cashews as opposed to oil.
Will It Taste Like Coconut
Surprisingly, this cheese doesnt have as much of a coconut flavor as you may think. There is a slight coconut taste in the plain cheese, but it’s almost undetectable in the smoked Gouda or garlic herb versions. If you really hate the flavor of coconut, you may choose to use a different type of plant-based milk, but your cheese will not be as rich and creamy as the coconut cheese.
Recommended Reading: How Many Calories In Mac And Cheese
Raw Spiced Cashew Cheese
Source: Raw Spiced Cashew Cheese
Besides the cashew soaking process, this Raw Spiced Cashew Cheese by Sophie Yotova is a breeze to make! Simply blend the ingredients, shape it, and wait a few hours until your cheese is dense and ready to be spread. Add some extra flavor by coating your cheese in your favorite spices, red pepper, rosemary, and turmeric all add a gorgeous color and taste.
I Havent Seen Too Much On The Market With Any Kind Of Stretch
Thus, while some vegan cheeses such as Miyokos Farmhouse Cheddar feature navy beans and chickpeas high up the ingredient list most vegan cheese slices, blocks, and shreds feature water, oil, and starch as the first three ingredients , although pea or potato protein is sometimes added a bit further down the ingredients list, along with hydrocolloids such as carrageenan or xanthan gum.
Were looking at 20 different starches, different fibers, several different hydrocolloids, and also partnering very closely with our oils group to get the melt profile right, says Addington.
She adds: We formed a vegan cheese team a couple of months ago as we were getting requests from customers maybe once or twice a week about how do we get better stretch or better mouthfeel we need to really understand how these ingredients are interacting and what they are each bringing to the table.
If you ask consumers whats lacking in current vegan cheese products, she says, Theyll ask, Where is the stretch? I havent seen too much on the market with any kind of stretch.
While consumers are fairly neutral on starch, some customers dont want to see the word modified on a label, she says: In the vegan cheese space youll still see a lot of modified starch on labels, so were getting requests for native starch.
Read Also: What Can I Eat Cream Cheese With On Keto
What Kinds Of Cheese Can Vegans Eat
5th Dec 2020
Cheese is one of the most popular dairy products to consume but unfortunately, some cant indulge in it. For those with dietary restrictions or lifestyle changes, trying to find dairy-free and plant-based cheeses as an alternative can be a challenge, but were here to show you that it doesnt have to be!
Due to the growing popularity for dairy-free and vegan products, there is an array of cheese substitutes available. Whether you are lactose intolerant or simply trying to switch to a plant-based lifestyle–we offer variety of vegan cheese products to fit your diet and lifestyle.
Garlic And Herb Cream Cheese
Source: Garlic and Herb Cream Cheese
This cashew-based Garlic and Herb Cream Cheese by Sirke Reivo can be whipped up in a cinch! Simply blend the soaked nuts with basil, thyme, sea salt, garlic, and a few other ingredients to create a flavorful herbed cream cheese. You can crumble this cheese and use it as a salad topper, spread some on bread, crackers, or veggie patties, or layer it onto pizza the list of options is endless!
You May Like: How To Make Nachos With Shredded Cheese
Is Vegan Cheese Healthy
If you’re avoiding regular cheese because of the saturated fat, you may not need to. Recent research shows cheese may actually be good for your health and reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Vegan cheeses are typically lower in fat, protein and calcium than regular cheese and are likely gluten-free. Because vegan cheese is a processed food, it tends to be higher in sodium, so check your labels. Vegans can’t count on vegan cheese as a protein source, the way that vegetarians may sometimes rely on regular cheese. So while it’s not a super vegan health food the way kale and lentils are, vegans may rejoice in eating pizza, grilled cheese and queso dip again.
Keep Reading:9 Vegetarian & Vegan Protein Substitutes
Popular Food Chains Using Plant
As of 2016, 20,000 restaurants nationwide have adopted the use of plant-based cheese, including many popular food chains:
- Just Salad: The chain has curated a series of plant-based salads, which incorporate ingredients such as breaded chicken substitute as well as creamy vegan feta.
- Mellow Mushroom: Customers can build their own pizzas with vegan cheese, as well as plant-based meat substitutes like tofu and tempeh.
- Blaze Pizza: In addition to their vegan-friendly dough and vegan chorizo, Blaze offers vegan cheese as a pizza topping as well as part of their signature cheesy bread.
- Fatburger: Fatburgers Impossible Burger is topped with dairy-free cheese and can easily be made vegan by removing the mayo. The restaurant also makes vegan milkshakes to sip alongside their plant-based burgers.
- Freshbrothers: The California-based pizza chain offers several vegan-friendly toppings, including plant-based cheese, vegan meat, and even vegan ranch for dipping.
Based on these trends, now is the perfect time to take advantage of consumer demand for plant-based nutrition. If youre looking to add more dairy-free options to your menu, check out Oddlygoods plant-based cheddar and mozzarella.
Also Check: Which Cheese Is Best For Toddlers
How Vegan Cheese Is Made
The purpose of vegan cheese isn’t just to eliminate the milk and cream though thats important. In addition to milk and cream, there are other ingredients that can find their way into cheese or cheese-derived products that arent vegan, says Hamshaw. Vegan cheese will also lack additional animal products, such as casein, whey, lactose, animal-derived forms of lactic acid, rennet, and gelatin, she says.
Cheese Is The Most Technically Challenging Space In Dairy Alternatives
When it comes to ingredients lists, the shorter and more pronounceable the better, he adds: Theres actual science, and then theres internet science so for example, carrageenan is still something some customers want to avoid, but formulators love carrageenan and theyre bummed they cant all use it.
When it comes to dairy-free cheese, however, theres a little more forgiveness on the ingredients label than youd get with milks, because people just want it to function , observes senior technical account manager Christine Addington.
Carrageenan is still widely used in vegan cheese as it really helps firming up blocks to make them more shreddable, and it helps with melt, so replacing it is hard. Weve worked with customers that say they only want to work with proteins, oils and water, but theyre not getting any kind of functionality.
If you want an artisanal cream cheese type product made with cultured nuts, thats one thing, but if you want something thats going to function like a processed dairy cheese slice in a burger, or in a grilled cheese sandwich, or on top of a pizza, there are significant challenges around melt and stretch that right now necessitate the use of starches and sometimes hydrocolloids too, she says.
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Havarti Cheese
Why Make Your Own Vegan Cheese
- The cheeses that you buy at the store have sat on the shelf for a few weeks, they’re wrapped in plastic and have preservatives that change the flavor.
- You will not be able to buy vegan cheese that tastes this good in a store!
- It will save you a ton of money to make your own.
- And… once you make it, you will see how simple it is to make your own!
How To Make Plant
So youre trying to be a fromager? Your best bet to start is with vegan cheese sauces to douse over pasta, nachos, burrito bowls, and more. Hack a celebratory creamy cheese ball with Minimalist Bakers version made with nutritional yeast and pimento peppers. Opt for a cashew and macadamia nut option from chef Lauren Montgomery for a tangy spread. You can also whip up a five-ingredient goat cheese in your food processor a la Fork and Beans. Or if youre feeling ambitious, go full cheesehead and attempt Miyoko Schinners feta recipe that develops flavor over time. Voilà: Wine and cheese nights will never be the same.
Originally published April 24, 2020 with reporting from Betty Gold.
Oh hi! You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts for cult-fave wellness brands, and exclusive Well+Good content. , our online community of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards instantly.
Recommended Reading: Does Feta Cheese Have Lactose
What Is A Plant
A plant-based cheese substitute is really any product that you can use in place of cheese. It could be as simple as placing avocado on your sandwich instead of cream cheese, or sprinkling a plant-based seasoning or nutritional yeast on your pasta to replace parmesan, or it can be as complex as producing your own vegan or plant-based cheese.
One alternative, which you will come across in many recipes, is nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is a non-living yeast which starts out the same as brewers or bakers yeast. It can be described as having a slightly salty and cheesy taste and it makes an excellent substitute for parmesan cheese. In addition, it contains no animal or dairy products, no wheat, starch, soy or corn, has low salt and contains no artificial colours or flavours, which makes it an ideal substitute for those with sensitivities as well as for those just wanting a plant-based cheese substitute.
As well as having an excellent cheesy taste though, nutritional yeast also harbours an impressive list of minerals and vitamins. It is high in B vitamins, and often Vitamin B12 is added to it, as this is not naturally present. It is also high in protein , and it is a complete protein which means it can add to your daily protein requirements. It also contains magnesium, copper and manganese and is high in dietary fibre. Nutritional Yeast is available at most major supermarket chains in Australia, but can also be obtained from health food stores, or online.
How To Make Your Own Vegan Cheese
Believe it or not, vegan cheese doesnt necessarily have to require such a complex processing method that can only be done in a factory. In fact, its far healthier if you make it yourself — because then you have total control over exactly what goes into it.
Here are a few delicious vegan cheese recipe ideas to get you started.
You May Like: How Many Calories In Provolone Cheese
Vegan Cheddar Olive Balls Recipe
Rather than making your own vegan cheese right from scratch, you can purchase good quality varieties to incorporate in your recipes. Serve these vegan cheddar balls at your next dinner party and blow your guests away by telling them its completely dairy-free!
Ingredients
1 cup of Daiya cheddar style shreds 4 tablespoons of your choice of vegan butter 1/2 cup of flour 1/2 tablespoon of salt 1/2 tablespoon of paprika
Macadamia Nut Queso Fresco
Source: Macadamia Nut Queso Fresco
This recipe for Macadamia Nut Queso Fresco by Dora Stone is a must-try. This cheese is perfect for a fruit and jam cheese plate, topped with a chipotle pineapple salsa and served with some chips, its perfect. The texture is light and easily spreadable and it has a touch of sweetness but is savory in all the right ways.
Don’t Miss: Is Kraft Shredded Cheese Gluten Free
How To Make Firm Sliceable Cheese
The Time Is Now For Plant
What is it about NewFields plant-based cheese? Well, a few words come to mind. Vegan. Lactose-free. Non-GMO. Kosher. Planet-conscious. And smart. Along with flavorful, creamy, tangy, meltable and delicious. Simply put, NewFields makes a great-tasting, plant-based cheese alternative that doesnt compromise animals, the environment or health. The time is right for nutritious, dairy-free plant-based cheese that is 100% on-trend with evolving consumer choices.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Make A Roux For Mac And Cheese
Tangy Cashew Tofu Ricotta
Source: Tangy Tofu and Cashew Ricotta
Its tough to break up with cheese. Thankfully, you dont have to, even if youre cutting back on cheese. This Tangy Tofu and Cashew Ricotta by Molly Patrick is perfect for all your ricotta needs and its so easy to make! Try it in manicotti, baked ziti, and lasagna. Its so tasty, you might even just want to eat it on toast!
Does Vegan Cheese Taste Like Real Cheese
The big difference between real cheese and vegan cheese is the consolidated protein otherwise known as the curd. Real cheese goes through stages where the proteins physically bond to each other, which is why you can get so many different unique flavors and textures by aging the cheese.
Since vegan cheese doesnt experience any modification in proteins the way real cheese does, it may not deliver the same complex flavors that come from coagulated, acidified, pasteurized, and aged milk. But through the bacterial and aging process many vegan cheesemakers are now employing, there are some well-loved vegan cheeses that many say rival the taste and texture of dairy cheeses.
You May Like: Are Kraft Singles Real Cheese
How To Make Meltable Vegan Cheese
*This will make the cheese softer so it melts and stretches when heated, but it is not as good for slicing since it is not as firm when cold.
Vegan Cheese Brands And Cookbooks
The first time you try an upscale vegan cheese, you just might be blown away by its sophisticated textures and flavors. You can find excellent brands in stores worldwide, and you can also make fantastic versions right in your kitchen. I know the idea of making dairy-free cheese at home might sound daunting, but its surprisingly easy and the results can rival anything made commercially. This article ends with a list of cookbooks specifically devoted to dairy-free cheese recipes.
Recommended Reading: Who Moved My Cheese Read Online
The Evolution Of Vegan Cheese
If the last time you last tried vegan cheese was ages ago, you owe it to yourself to try the newest offerings. The first non-dairy cheese brands on the market deserved their bad reputation. They were usually made from highly processed ingredients, and most brands didnt even melt properly.
Thats all changed as companies have stepped up their game. Today, many vegan cheese brands qualify as truly gourmet. Most use premium ingredients such as nut milks that carry rich and satisfying flavors. Theyve also innovated production methods that deliver the satisfying texture and flavors of real cheese. With so many superb dairy-free cheese products crowding the market, mediocre offerings dont survive long.
The following lists feature the best vegan cheese brands available in North America and worldwide. These products come in every variety, including artisan hard cheese blocks, spreadable soft cheese in tubs, and pre-shredded varieties perfect for pizza and casseroles. You can even buy a vegan grated Parmesan-style cheese, which is the ideal dairy-free spaghetti topping.
