Patrick Oconnell
Cooking with plant-based cheese is a great way to add a creamy, tangy, and rich element to your dishes. Whether you're making a grilled cheese sandwich, a dip for tortilla chips, or a topping for pizza, plant-based cheese can be a delicious and healthy alternative to dairy cheese. With just a few simple ingredients, such as cashews, coconut oil, nutritional yeast, and spices, you can make your own vegan cheese at home that melts, slices, and grates just like traditional cheese. So, whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or just looking to experiment with new ingredients, cooking with plant-based cheese offers a world of tasty possibilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Cashews, white beans, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne powder, agar powder, coconut milk, plant-based milk, olive oil, arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, sweet potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, apple cider vinegar, olive brine, refined coconut oil, salt, black pepper, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, herbs |
| Equipment | Blender, oven, saucepan, pot, cheesecloth |
| Preparation time | 10 minutes to 15 minutes |
| Cooking time | 30 minutes to 15 minutes |
| Total time | 40 minutes to 55 minutes |
| Chilling time | A few hours to overnight |
| Serving suggestions | Crackers, bread, pasta, roasted vegetables, toast, salad, vegan cheeseboard, grilled cheese sandwich, charcuterie board, nachos, dip, tortilla chips, fresh veggies |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
How to make plant-based cheese sauce
There are many ways to make plant-based cheese sauce, and it can be made with a variety of different ingredients. Here is one easy recipe that uses cashews as the base. This recipe is nut-based, but there are also options for those avoiding nuts, which typically use white beans or potatoes, carrots, and onions as a base.
Ingredients:
- Raw cashews
- Water or plant-based milk
- Nutritional yeast
- Spices (e.g. garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika)
Method:
- Soak the cashews in water for at least 2 hours, or speed up the process by bringing them to a boil and then letting them sit for 30-45 minutes.
- Drain the cashews and add them to a blender with the rest of the ingredients.
- Blend until smooth, adding more water or milk if necessary.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
This cheese sauce can be used in a variety of dishes, such as nachos, tacos, pasta, or as a dip. It can also be frozen and will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Variations:
For those avoiding nuts, white beans can be used as a base for the sauce. Some recipes also include potatoes, carrots, and onions. Coconut milk, tapioca flour, and nutritional yeast flakes are other common ingredients in plant-based cheese sauces.
The Perfect Queso Cheese: A Quick Cooking Guide
You may want to see also
Using plant-based cheese for grilled cheese
There are many options for creating a grilled cheese sandwich using plant-based cheese. You can make your own cheese or buy it from a store.
Making Your Own Cheese
To make your own plant-based cheese, you can use cashews, coconut milk, or any plant-based milk. If using cashews, soak them in very hot water for at least an hour, then add all the ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. You can also make a cheese sauce using coconut milk (or plant-based milk of choice), tapioca flour/starch, and nutritional yeast flakes.
Buying Plant-Based Cheese
If you don't want to make your own cheese, you can buy plant-based cheese from a store. Some popular brands include Daiya, Follow Your Heart, Violife, and Field Roast Chao.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Once you have your plant-based cheese, you can make a grilled cheese sandwich. You will need:
- Plant-based cheese (either homemade or store-bought)
- Bread (sourdough, whole-grain, or gluten-free)
- Vegan butter or vegan mayonnaise
- Vegetables of your choice (such as spinach, onion, or carrot)
To make the sandwich, start by spreading vegan butter or mayonnaise on a slice of bread. Then, top with the cheese and your desired vegetables. Add another slice of bread on top. Cook the sandwich in a skillet or on a grill over medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Tips
- If using store-bought cheese, look for cheese slices that have a strong cheesy flavor for a more authentic grilled cheese experience.
- If making your own cheese, you can add arrowroot powder or starch to thicken the cheese sauce.
- If you're short on time, opt for store-bought cheese and a simple bread and vegetable option for a quick and easy lunch or snack.
Mac and Cheese: Roaster Oven Style
You may want to see also
Making plant-based cheese without nuts
There are several ways to make plant-based cheese without using nuts. Many recipes use coconut milk as a base, which can be purchased or made by blending coconut flakes with water and then straining them. Coconut milk can be used to make a rich and creamy vegan cheese that melts and slices.
Another option is to use plant-based milk, such as soy milk, oat milk, or cashew milk, and thicken it with arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, corn starch, or potato starch. You can also add nutritional yeast to give it a cheesy flavor. This type of plant-based cheese is more of a sauce or spread, but it can be frozen and grated.
Some recipes for plant-based cheese use vegetables as a base. For example, one recipe calls for blending boiled carrots and almonds, which are not technically nuts, with water, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. This creates a smooth and creamy cheese sauce that can be used for dipping or poured over pizza and baked.
It's also possible to make plant-based cheese without any nuts by using a combination of potatoes, onions, carrots, broth, tamari, and garlic. This creates a spreadable cheese that can also be frozen and grated.
When making plant-based cheese without nuts, it's important to consider the texture and flavor you want to achieve. Some recipes create a creamy spread, while others result in a firmer cheese that can be melted or grated. Experimenting with different ingredients and techniques will help you find the plant-based cheese recipe that best suits your taste and needs.
Crispy Halloumi Cheese Fries: The Ultimate Recipe
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking: Vegan Recipes, Tips, and Techniques [A Cookbook]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81XPMiwBzxL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Adding flavour to plant-based cheese
There are many ways to add flavour to plant-based cheese. The base of the cheese is usually made from raw cashews, which give the cheese a smooth and creamy texture. To add flavour, you can include ingredients like refined coconut oil, olive brine, garlic, salt, and nutritional yeast. Coconut oil will also make the cheese firmer when it's chilled. Olive brine adds an aged tang to the cheese, while garlic and salt are flavour enhancers. Nutritional yeast gives the cheese a nutty, savoury flavour.
You can also add freshly chopped herbs like thyme, dill, rosemary, parsley, or basil, as well as lemon zest, coarsely ground black pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes. If you want to make a smoky cheese, add smoked paprika. For extra heat, blend in pickled jalapeños or chipotle peppers.
If you're making a cheddar-style cheese sauce, sweet potatoes add a vibrant orange colour and a light sweetness that pairs well with the rich, tangy flavours. Apple cider vinegar gives the cheese a tangy finish.
Cooking Ricotta Cheese: Simple Techniques, Delicious Results
You may want to see also
How to make plant-based cheese sliceable
There are many reasons to cook with plant-based cheese, whether it's for health, ethical, or environmental reasons. Making plant-based cheese that is sliceable can be done in a few different ways, and it's important to note that the purpose of homemade vegan cheese is not to perfectly replicate the flavour of dairy cheese, but to fulfil a similar function in a dish.
One way to make sliceable plant-based cheese is to use agar powder, a plant-based vegan gelatin made from seaweed. It is tasteless and can be used to solidify the cheese. To do this, combine agar agar with water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Whisk the mixture continuously for one minute while it boils, then remove it from the heat. Pour the mixture into a blender with the rest of your cheese ingredients and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a mould and transfer it to the fridge to set.
Another option is to use a higher-protein non-dairy milk, such as pea protein milk, along with vegan yoghurt, turmeric, and paprika for colour. Simply add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a pot and cook over medium-high heat for about five minutes, stirring continuously, until it thickens and becomes stretchy. Lower the heat to medium and continue cooking for ten more minutes, stirring occasionally. Quickly pour the mixture onto a lined baking sheet and place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.
You can also make sliceable plant-based cheese using coconut milk and no nuts. This method produces a rich and creamy cheese that melts and slices perfectly. Additionally, you can make a spreadable version of plant-based cheese and adjust it to make it sliceable. For example, you can add non-dairy milk or vegetable broth to thin the mixture and turn it into a sauce.
There are many ways to make plant-based cheese sliceable, and it is a fun and rewarding process to experiment with different ingredients and methods to find what works best for your taste and preferences.
Delicious Breakfast: Frozen Sausage, Egg, Cheese Croissant
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You can use raw cashews, refined coconut oil, olive brine, garlic, and salt. You can also add chopped fresh herbs, lemon zest, coarsely ground black pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes. Other recipes suggest using sweet potatoes, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, and garlic powder.
First, soften your cashews so that they will be easier to blend into a smooth and creamy cheese. Then, blend all the ingredients until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, adding more liquid if necessary. Finally, set the cheese sauce aside to prepare the thickener.
Plant-based cheese is a great alternative to dairy cheese. You can use it as a dip with tortilla chips or fresh veggies, toss it with pasta, or drizzle it over nachos. It can also be used as a topping for baked potatoes or steamed broccoli.
