Andy Montoya
Vegan cheese is a great alternative to dairy cheese, and it's easier than most people think to make your own. One of the most popular bases for vegan cheese is cashews, which create a creamy texture. However, for those with nut allergies, sunflower seeds can be used as a base instead. To make the cheese set, agar agar powder is used, which is a vegan gelatin made from seaweed. The process of making vegan cheese involves blending the base ingredients, such as cashews, water, lemon juice, and spices, into a smooth mixture. Then, the agar agar powder is combined with water and heated until it boils and thickens. Finally, the two mixtures are combined and poured into a mould to set, resulting in a delicious, sliceable vegan cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Agar agar, non-dairy milk, cashews or white beans, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, spices |
| Other ingredients | Water, coconut milk, vegan yoghurt, turmeric, paprika, tapioca flour, salt |
| Equipment | Food processor or blender, saucepan, baking sheet, cheese moulds |
| Process | Blend ingredients, heat until gooey, pour into moulds, refrigerate |
| Time | 2 hours minimum, up to several weeks |
| Storage | Airtight container in the fridge |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the moulds
Gather the Ingredients and Materials:
Firstly, ensure you have all the necessary ingredients and materials ready. You will need agar agar powder, a saucepan, a blender or food processor, cheese moulds or small bowls, and, of course, your prepared cheese sauce. The cheese sauce can be made with various ingredients, such as cashews, white beans, nutritional yeast, spices, and water.
Prepare the Agar Agar Mixture:
In a small to medium saucepan, combine the agar agar powder and water. For a firmer cheese, use agar agar powder instead of agar flakes. The general ratio is 1 cup of water to 2.5 tablespoons of agar agar powder. Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. It is important not to leave the saucepan unattended at this stage, as the mixture will thicken quickly. Reduce the heat to low and continue whisking until the mixture reaches a molasses-like consistency.
Combine the Cheese Sauce and Agar Agar:
Quickly pour the agar agar mixture into the blender or food processor containing your prepared cheese sauce. Blend the two together for approximately 30 seconds to one minute, until they are well incorporated and smooth. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the blender or food processor as needed to ensure a consistent mixture.
Transfer to Moulds and Refrigerate:
Once your cheese mixture is ready, it's time to prepare the moulds. Lightly oil several small bowls or cheese moulds to prevent sticking. You can use ramekins or any other small containers that you have on hand. Carefully pour the cheese mixture into the prepared moulds, taking care not to spill. Place the filled moulds in the refrigerator, leaving them uncovered, and allow them to chill for at least two hours or until the cheese has firmed up.
Storage and Serving:
Once the cheese has set, you can remove it from the moulds by turning them upside down onto a board or plate. Store your vegan cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Depending on the recipe, it should stay fresh for about a week to two weeks. You can serve your homemade vegan cheese on crackers, bagels, or use it as a topping for steamed vegetables. Enjoy experimenting with different flavours and textures!
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Making the cheese sauce
Making vegan cheese with agar agar is a simple process. It involves creating a cheese sauce, which can then be set in a mould in the fridge.
Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need agar agar powder, which is a vegan gelatin made from seaweed, as well as milk and any additional flavourings. For a basic cheese sauce, you can use cashews, water, lemon juice, coconut oil, tahini, carrot, salt, paprika, cayenne, dijon mustard, nutritional yeast and garlic powder.
Next, add your cashews, water, lemon juice, coconut oil, tahini, carrot, salt, paprika, cayenne, dijon mustard, nutritional yeast and garlic powder to a blender and blend until the mixture is very smooth. Leave this mixture in the blender and set it aside.
Now, it's time to make the cheese sauce. Add 1 cup of water and the agar agar powder to a saucepan. Heat this mixture, stirring regularly, until it reaches a boil. Continue to boil the mixture for 1 minute, stirring regularly. Remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly pour the mixture into the blender on top of your cheese mix. Blend until smooth.
It is important to work quickly at this stage, as the mixture will start to set up very fast. Once you have a smooth, blended cheese sauce, pour it into a round dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Place the dish in the refrigerator, uncovered, for several hours to allow the cheese to firm up.
You can also add flavourings to your cheese sauce before pouring it into the mould to set. For example, you could add jarred red peppers, pimentos, or canned or jarred peaches. If using jarred red peppers or pimentos, coarsely chop them and pat them dry with a paper towel to remove excess liquid. If using peaches, you will need two halves, which can be easily substituted with pears if preferred. Add your chosen flavourings to the blender along with the other cheese ingredients (except the milk and agar) and pulse a few times to mix. Then, proceed with making your cheese sauce as outlined above.
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Boiling the agar agar
To make vegan cheese using agar agar, the agar powder must be boiled to activate its setting properties. Agar is a vegan gelatin derived from seaweed and is responsible for solidifying the cheese.
Firstly, prepare your cheese mixture in a blender or food processor. This typically involves blending plant-based milk, such as coconut milk, spices, and other flavourings. You can use any combination of spices and flavourings to create your desired cheese flavour profile. For example, you can use ingredients like cashews, basil, oregano, garlic, salt, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, maple syrup, coconut oil, tahini, carrot, salt, paprika, cayenne, Dijon mustard, and garlic powder.
Once you have blended your cheese mixture, it is time to prepare the agar agar. Measure out the required amount of agar agar powder, typically around 1 cup or 2 tablespoons, and add it to a saucepan. Then, pour in the specified amount of water, usually 1 cup or 1/2 cup, and stir the mixture well.
Turn on the heat to medium or high, and continuously stir the agar agar mixture as it heats up. It is important to ensure that the agar agar is thoroughly mixed with the water and does not stick to the bottom of the saucepan. Keep the mixture on the heat until it reaches a rolling boil. Maintain the boil for at least 1 minute, timing it precisely. Stir regularly during this process to prevent the mixture from boiling over or burning.
Once the agar agar has boiled for the required time, it is ready to be combined with the cheese mixture. Remove it from the heat and slowly pour it into the blender or food processor containing the cheese mixture. Blend the combined mixture until it becomes smooth and creamy. Work quickly during this step, as the agar agar will start to set and thicken the mixture promptly.
After blending, immediately transfer the mixture to a prepared mould, dish, or ramekin. You may want to lightly oil the container to prevent sticking. Place it in the refrigerator, and allow it to chill for several hours until it firms up and sets completely.
By following these steps and properly boiling the agar agar, you will create a delicious, firm, and sliceable vegan cheese with a creamy texture.
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Combining the sauce and agar agar
Preparing the Sauce
Before combining it with agar agar, prepare the cheese sauce base. This typically involves blending various ingredients such as cashews or white beans, nutritional yeast, spices, and flavors like garlic and herbs. The specific ingredients and their quantities can vary based on personal preferences and the desired flavor profile.
Combining with Agar Agar Powder
Agar agar powder is generally preferred over agar agar flakes for achieving a firmer texture. Measure out the required amount of agar agar powder, typically around 2-3 tablespoons per cup of water. In a separate saucepan, combine the agar agar powder with water and bring it to a boil. It's important to constantly stir the mixture at this stage to prevent it from thickening too quickly.
Incorporating the Sauce
Once the agar agar mixture reaches a boil, reduce the heat to low. At this point, quickly incorporate the prepared cheese sauce into the agar agar mixture. Continuously whisk or blend the combined mixture until it thickens to a molasses-like consistency. This step ensures that the sauce and agar agar are thoroughly combined.
Setting the Cheese
After achieving a well-combined mixture, it's time to set the cheese. Transfer the mixture to lightly oiled ramekins, moulds, or a thin layer on a baking sheet, depending on your desired shape. Place the containers in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until the cheese is fully set.
Storage
Once the cheese is set, you can remove it from the moulds or ramekins and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The vegan cheese will typically stay fresh for about a week, although some recipes may last up to 2 weeks.
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Setting the cheese
Preparing the Mixture
Firstly, prepare the cheese mixture by blending all the ingredients except the milk and agar agar powder. You can use a food processor or high-speed blender for this step. Pulse a few times to mix everything together. For a creamier texture, some recipes suggest blending cashews soaked in hot water with other ingredients like basil, oregano, garlic, salt, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, maple syrup, and water.
Boiling the Agar Agar
Next, add the milk and agar agar powder to a saucepan. The general ratio is 1 cup of water or milk to 2.5 tablespoons of agar agar powder. Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. It is important not to leave the saucepan unattended as the mixture can thicken quickly. If using agar agar flakes instead of powder, triple the amount (7.5 tablespoons) and whisk continuously until it reaches a molasses-like consistency.
Combining the Mixtures
Once the agar agar mixture has thickened, quickly combine it with the prepared cheese mixture. Return everything to the blender and blend for approximately 30 seconds to a minute, until well incorporated and smooth. Make sure to blend long enough to avoid a mushy texture in the final product.
Now, it's time to set the cheese. Pour the blended mixture into lightly oiled ramekins, bowls, or cheese molds. You can also spread it thinly onto a baking sheet for sliceable cheese. Place the containers in the refrigerator, uncovered, for at least 2 hours or until the cheese is fully set. The cheese will firm up as it cools.
Storage
Once the cheese is set, you can remove it from the molds or ramekins and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The cheese will typically last for about a week but can also stay good for up to 2-4 days, depending on the recipe.
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Frequently asked questions
Agar agar is a vegan gelatin made from seaweed. It is used to solidify vegan cheese.
Agar agar can be purchased from Amazon, Asian food stores, or natural foods stores.
Basic ingredients include agar agar powder, plant-based milk, and flavourings such as garlic, herbs, and spices. For a richer cheese, cashews can be used as a base.
Firstly, blend the ingredients except the milk and agar agar. Then, add the milk and agar agar to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Finally, combine the mixtures and pour into moulds to set.
