Randy Chandler
There are a variety of vegan cheese brands that claim to have the perfect stretchy mozzarella alternative. However, the challenge with vegan cheese is that it often has a distinct artificial flavour and a powdery texture. Some of the more popular brands include Follow Your Heart, Miyoko's, Daiya, Violife, and Moocho. Many people also opt to make their own vegan mozzarella at home, with recipes that include tapioca starch, cashews, and olive oil to achieve the perfect stretch.
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What You'll Learn
Follow Your Heart Mozzarella
The Follow Your Heart brand offers a range of vegan cheese products, including dairy-free parmesan, crumbled blue cheese, shreds, and blocked mozzarella. The company's belief is that "a better world begins with better food choices", and they strive to create innovative plant-based alternatives. Their mozzarella, in particular, has received attention for its ability to mimic the characteristics of traditional cheese.
In a taste test by Steph Sunshine, the Follow Your Heart Mozzarella was compared to other vegan cheese options available at Target, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. The product stood out for its resemblance to real cheese, achieving a notable cheese pull when slices were pulled apart. While the stretch was not excessive, it outperformed its competitors in this aspect. This characteristic makes it ideal for those seeking a vegan cheese that can deliver the classic cheese stretch associated with dishes like pizza.
However, it's important to note that the same taste test highlighted a subtle artificial "vegan cheese" flavor in the Follow Your Heart Mozzarella. This artificial flavor was also present in other brands but was less prominent in Follow Your Heart's product. Additionally, the cheese's melting capabilities were noted, although the stretch was limited, giving it a cheese sauce-like consistency rather than that of a pizza cheese.
To enhance the melting and stretching characteristics of Follow Your Heart Mozzarella, some users on Reddit have suggested techniques such as freezing and then grinding the cheese in a food processor or blender to achieve smaller pieces. This method has been successful with various vegan cheese brands, including Follow Your Heart, Miyoko, and Violife.
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Miyoko's Cashew Milk Mozzarella
Miyokos Cashew Milk Mozzarella is a vegan alternative to traditional mozzarella cheese. It is made from organic cultured cashew milk using traditional creamery methods, resulting in a soft, silky cheese with a thick, creamy texture and a springy bounce. The cheese is packaged or cold-smoked over hickory chips to give it a pleasant, smoky flavour.
Miyokos Cashew Milk Mozzarella can be purchased from Target and Whole Foods Market, with prices and availability subject to change. The product is dairy-free, containing no milk, butter, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, whey, casein, ghee, or lactose. It is also gluten-free and vegan, containing no animal products.
The cheese has a mild, slightly sweet taste and can be enjoyed warm and melty or fresh from the fridge. It is perfect for salads, paninis, and delicious appetizers and snacks. The serving size is 1oz (28g), with 8 servings per container. Each serving contains 60 calories, 5g of total fat, 3g of saturated fat, and 210mg of sodium.
In terms of stretch, Miyokos Cashew Milk Mozzarella performs similarly to other vegan mozzarella cheeses, such as the homemade version made by a blogger. However, the homemade version has a bit more stretch than Miyokos. Another vegan cheese that offers some stretch is Follow Your Heart Mozzarella, which has a slight cheese pull when slices are pulled apart.
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Homemade cashew mozzarella
If you're looking for a vegan mozzarella that stretches and melts like regular mozzarella, then cashew mozzarella is your best bet. It's also quick and easy to make, requiring only a handful of ingredients and no oil. Plus, it's much better for your health than the processed store-bought varieties. Here's a simple recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- Raw cashews
- Tapioca starch/flour
- Plain non-dairy yogurt (or lemon juice)
- Miso
- Salt
- Garlic
- Hot water
Instructions:
- Soak the cashews in hot water for 2-4 hours, or overnight in normal temperature water. The longer you soak them, the softer they'll become, making them easier to blend.
- Drain the cashews and add them to a blender or food processor. Pulse until the cashews break down into crumbly pieces.
- Add the remaining ingredients (tapioca starch, yogurt, miso, salt, garlic, and hot water) to the blender. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Transfer the mixture to a saucepan, preferably non-stick. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
- After a few minutes, the mixture will start to thicken and look like it's curdling. Continue cooking and stirring until it turns into a cohesive, stretchy mass of vegan mozzarella.
- Once the mixture is smooth, cook for an additional minute, then remove from the heat.
- Transfer the cheese into a container and let it cool. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Your cashew mozzarella is now ready to use! It's perfect for pizza, lasagna, grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, and more.
Storage:
Tips:
- If you want an even stretchier cashew mozzarella, you can add more tapioca starch.
- For a stronger tangy flavor, you can add a little more yogurt or use lemon juice instead.
- Experiment with different add-ins like cornstarch, arrowroot, or white beans to change the texture and taste.
With this recipe, you can enjoy a delicious, stretchy, and gooey vegan mozzarella that's perfect for all your favorite dishes!
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Daiya
The product contains filtered water, tapioca starch/flour, coconut oil, canola and/or safflower oil, vegan natural flavours, pea/chickpea protein, salt, tricalcium phosphate, lactic acid (vegan), konjac gum/flour, xanthan gum, yeast extract, and vegetable juice (colour).
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Bob's Red Mill
The process of making vegan mozzarella involves using simple ingredients like tapioca flour and nutritional yeast. The cheese mixture is shaped into a ball using plastic wrap and then dropped into an ice-cold bowl of water to set. After a day or two in the refrigerator, uncovered, the vegan mozzarella develops a firmer exterior, making it perfect for slicing, grating, and melting.
In addition to their vegan mozzarella, Bob's Red Mill applies the same meticulous production techniques to create other vegan cheese varieties, such as cheddar and gouda. These cheeses require a longer setting time, but the end result is a delicious and firm product. The brand's commitment to quality and freshness ensures that their vegan cheese offerings are just as satisfying as their non-vegan counterparts.
Overall, Bob's Red Mill stands out as a brand dedicated to delivering high-quality, delicious vegan cheese options. Their vegan mozzarella, in particular, stretches and melts beautifully, making it a versatile and enjoyable plant-based alternative. With their focus on traditional production methods, they ensure that their products meet the expectations of even the most discerning palates.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several brands of vegan cheese that can stretch like mozzarella. Some popular brands include Follow Your Heart, Miyoko's, Violife, Daiya, and Moocho. You can also make your own stretchy vegan mozzarella at home using recipes that include ingredients like cashews, tapioca starch, and olive oil.
You can find vegan mozzarella cheese at various retailers, including Target, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. Additionally, some supermarkets in Spain carry the Violife brand.
Stretchy vegan mozzarella cheese is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, lasagna, quesadillas, and enchiladas.
To make stretchy vegan mozzarella cheese at home, you can follow recipes that involve blending soaked cashews with other ingredients to create a smooth liquid that can be heated to form a stretchy, gooey cheese.
Yes, some store-bought vegan cheese options that can stretch like mozzarella include the Follow Your Heart shredded mozzarella and Miyoko's Cashew Milk Mozzarella.
