Frederic Melton
Blue cheese is a medium-fat cheese with a distinctive flavour and appearance. It is made from cow's, sheep's, or goat's milk, and the blue or blue-green veins are caused by mould that grows during ageing. Blue cheese is often used in salad dressings, and some people make their own dressings at home. Some people with allergies or dietary preferences may wish to avoid soy, and soy is often found in mayonnaise, a common ingredient in blue cheese dressings. However, some people substitute mayonnaise with other ingredients such as sour cream, avocado oil, or yogurt. There are also soy-free blue cheese options available for vegans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Blue cheese made from cow's milk | Maytag blue cheese |
| Blue cheese made from sheep's milk | Roquefort |
| Blue cheese made from goat's milk | |
| Blue cheese made from plant-based milk | Vegan blue cheese |
| Blue cheese dressing | Mayonnaise, sour cream, avocado oil, buttermilk, yogurt, etc. |
| Blue cheese allergy | Soy allergy |
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What You'll Learn
Soy-free blue cheese options
Blue cheese is a popular ingredient used in various dishes, but for those with soy allergies or dietary preferences, finding soy-free options can be challenging. Here are some suggestions for soy-free blue cheese and blue cheese dressing options:
- Vegan Blue Cheese: For those seeking a plant-based alternative, vegan blue cheese can be a great option. Some brands to look for include TyK Affinage, which is made in Brittany, France, and uses simple ingredients with zero soy. Additionally, Nutty Artisan Food Co. offers a range of vegan blue cheeses that are soy-free.
- Artisanal Vegan Cheeses: Many artisanal vegan cheese makers produce soy-free options, and you may be surprised to find some local options near you. These cheeses often use nuts, such as cashews, almonds, or macadamia nuts, as a base, creating a creamy and spreadable texture.
- Homemade Vegan Blue Cheese: If you enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, you can make your own vegan blue cheese at home. A popular recipe uses raw cashews or blanched almonds for a creamy base, refined coconut oil to help the cheese firm up, and other ingredients to add tang and flavor.
Soy-Free Blue Cheese Dressing Options:
- Cindy's Kitchen Real Blue Cheese Dressing: This brand offers a blue cheese dressing that is soy-free and has received positive reviews for its flavor.
- Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing: Making your own blue cheese dressing allows you to control the ingredients and ensure it is soy-free. You can use blue cheese, cream or sour cream, and lemon juice, along with other flavorings of your choice. Additionally, you can use avocado oil or canola oil as a base instead of mayonnaise.
- Tofu-Based Dressing: For a vegan option, you can create a blue cheese dressing using vacuum-packed super firm tofu, vegan mayonnaise (such as Vegenaise), non-dairy milk, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and herbs and seasonings.
When seeking soy-free blue cheese and blue cheese dressing options, it is always important to carefully read the ingredient lists and labels to ensure that the product meets your dietary needs.
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Blue cheese dressing with soy allergies
If you have a soy allergy, it is important to be cautious when consuming store-bought blue cheese dressings, as soy is a common ingredient in many mayonnaise-based dressings. However, there are alternative options and recipes available to accommodate your allergy.
Firstly, it is essential to carefully read the ingredient lists on product labels when purchasing any food product. While it may be challenging to find a pre-made blue cheese dressing without soy, some sources suggest that certain brands, such as Toby's Family Foods, offer soy-free options. Additionally, some users have recommended checking the refrigerated section near the lettuce for better quality dressings that may not contain soy.
If you prefer to make your own dressing, there are several recipes you can try that use alternative ingredients. One option is to use sour cream or full-fat plain yogurt as the base instead of mayonnaise. You can also experiment with different oils, such as avocado oil, EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), or coconut oil, to create an emulsion with the blue cheese. For a thicker consistency, you can blend in raw cashews or blanched almonds for a smooth and creamy texture.
It is worth noting that some people with soy allergies can tolerate soybean oil due to its highly refined state and the removal of protein. However, it is always advisable to consult a medical professional or a dietician for personalized advice regarding your specific allergy.
If you are open to exploring vegan options, there are several artisanal vegan cheese makers that offer soy-free blue cheese alternatives. These cheeses are often crafted with simple ingredients and can be purchased online or in specialty health food stores. Some brands to look out for include TyK Affinage, made in Brittany, France, and Nutty Artisan Food Co.
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Making vegan blue cheese
Vegan blue cheese can be made using traditional cheese-making techniques and only a few ingredients. The result is a sharp, creamy, and rich vegan blue cheese. The real challenge in making vegan blue cheese is creating the characteristic blue veins. One method involves ageing the cheese for a few weeks, scrambling it, and then reassembling it while leaving some small holes inside. This process results in a cheese with prominent blue veins and a sharper taste.
To make vegan blue cheese, start by soaking raw cashews in water for at least 5 hours or preferably overnight. The cashews provide a smooth and creamy base. If you are allergic to cashews, blanched almonds or macadamia nuts can be used instead. Next, add refined coconut oil, which helps the cheese firm up and gives it a spreadable texture. Make sure to use refined coconut oil, which is flavourless, instead of unrefined coconut oil, which has a strong coconut taste.
To create the tangy flavour of blue cheese, add apple cider vinegar and white miso paste. The white miso paste also gives the cheese an aged flavour. To create the blue veins, add spirulina, a green-blue algae that makes the cheese look more authentic. You can also add a little avocado oil to make the cheese more dip-like.
Once you have added all the ingredients, smooth the top of the cheese and cover it. Chill the cheese in the fridge for 6 hours or overnight to let it firm up. The cheese will be firmer when it first comes out of the fridge but will soften as it sits out. You can also put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before serving to make it even firmer. This vegan blue cheese will keep for about 1-2 weeks in the fridge or can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Vegan blue cheese can be served with crackers or bread, spread on a sandwich, added to a salad, or used in any other way you like. It can also be crumbled and used as a topping for soups, such as potato leek soup or butternut squash soup.
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Blue cheese and its nutritional comparison to soy sauce
Blue cheese is made with a specific type of mould, which gives the cheese its blue veins, bold flavour, and pungent smell. The mould in question is the bacteria Penicillium Roqueforti, which grows within small punctures created on top of the cheese loaves at the beginning of the cheese-ripening process. Blue cheese is available in a handful of varieties, including gorgonzola, stilton, and cambozola.
Blue cheese is high in sodium, so those with high blood pressure or on a low-sodium diet should consume it in moderation. It is also high in potassium and phosphorus, so those with kidney disease should consult a kidney specialist before eating this food. Blue cheese is an excellent source of dairy protein, providing 6 grams of protein per ounce. The protein content is the milk protein casein, which is a complete protein and contains all nine essential amino acids. Blue cheese also contains vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are fat-soluble and are best consumed with high-fat foods.
Blue cheese dressings, however, often contain soy, in the form of soybean oil or canola oil. As such, those with a soy allergy should carefully read the ingredient lists of blue cheese dressings and similar products. Some blue cheese dressings may also be made with a base of sour cream or mayonnaise, which may also contain soy.
Soy sauce is an Asian condiment that originated over 2000 years ago in China. It is made through the fermentation of soybeans, to which other ingredients such as wheat or barley are added. A one-tablespoon serving of soy sauce contains 85 calories, 0.8 grams of carbohydrates, 0.1 grams of fat, and 1.3 grams of protein. It also contains 879 mg of sodium.
In summary, blue cheese is a nutrient-dense food, containing protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, it should be consumed in moderation due to its high sodium content. Blue cheese dressings often contain soy, so those with soy allergies should carefully check ingredient lists. Soy sauce, on the other hand, is very high in sodium and provides no significant nutritional benefit. While blue cheese and soy sauce both contribute flavour to dishes, their nutritional profiles are quite different.
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Blue cheese made with cow's, sheep's, or goat's milk
Blue cheese is made with the addition of cultures of edible moulds, which create blue-green spots or veins through the cheese. Blue cheese can be made with cow's milk, sheep's milk, or goat's milk.
Blue Cheese Made with Cow's Milk
Some blue cheeses made with cow's milk include:
- Stilton: This is a popular blue cheese that was first sold in the village of Stilton, England. It is made from pasteurized milk and inoculated with Penicillium roqueforti to give it its blue vein characteristic.
- Roquefort: This is one of the oldest blue cheeses, believed to have been discovered when a young boy left his bread and ewe's milk cheese in a cave for months, accidentally creating the mould (Penicillium roqueforti) that gives Roquefort its distinctive flavour and appearance.
- Gorgonzola: This whole milk, white, and "uncooked" cheese originates from the village of Gorgonzola in Italy. It is inoculated with Penicillium glaucum, which produces blue-green veins during ripening.
- Danablu: This blue cheese was created in the 20th century to fill the demand for Roquefort-style cheeses.
- Cambozola: Another blue cheese that was developed to meet the demand for Roquefort-style cheeses.
Blue Cheese Made with Sheep's Milk
Ewe's Blue is a semi-soft sheep's milk blue cheese with a tangy flavour and a hint of spice. It has a buttery-rich mouthfeel that has made it a favourite among cheese enthusiasts.
Blue Cheese Made with Goat's Milk
A Reddit user described their attempt at making a Gorgonzola-inspired blue cheese with goat's milk. They noted that it was tricky to make and that some parts had a moderate blue flavour while the mouldiest parts had a piquant blue flavour. The combination of the subtle goat flavour and the blue mould made it similar to Roquefort.
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Frequently asked questions
Most blue cheese is made from cow's milk, but there are also sheep's and goat's milk versions. As such, blue cheese itself does not contain soy. However, blue cheese dressings often contain soybean oil.
Blue cheese is made from milk, most commonly cow's milk. The blue mold that runs through the cheese is usually from the bacteria Penicillium roqueforti or Penicillium glaucum.
Yes, there are some blue cheese dressings that do not contain soybean oil. For example, Toby's Family Foods Blue Cheese Dressing & Dip does not contain soy.
Yes, there are several vegan blue cheeses that do not contain soy, such as the TyK Affinage vegan blue cheese made in Brittany, France.
Yes, you can make your own blue cheese dressing without soy. You can use ingredients such as sour cream, avocado oil, or coconut oil as a base instead of mayonnaise, which often contains soybean oil.
