Andy Montoya
Vegan mozzarella cheese is a plant-based alternative to its dairy counterpart. It's soft, fresh, creamy, and delicious. It can be made from a variety of ingredients, including cashews, sunflower seeds, tofu, and tapioca starch. Some recipes also call for the addition of agar powder or kappa carrageenan to create a firmer texture that can be sliced or shredded.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Soft, fresh, creamy, stretchy, tangy |
| Ingredients | Cashews, sunflower seeds, soft tofu, soy milk, coconut oil, lemon juice, tapioca starch, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt, agar powder, kappa carrageenan |
| Gluten-free | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Cashews
When making vegan mozzarella with cashews, it is important to soak the cashews beforehand. This helps to soften them and make them easier to blend, resulting in a smoother, creamier cheese. It is also possible to store cashews soaking in water in the fridge for months, which can be useful if you plan on making vegan cheeses but don't know when exactly.
There are many benefits to using cashews in vegan mozzarella cheese. Cashews are naturally dairy-free and gluten-free, making them a good option for those with dietary restrictions. They are also a good source of nutrients, including vitamin E, magnesium, and copper.
Overall, cashews are an excellent choice for creating a delicious, creamy, and versatile vegan mozzarella cheese. With just a few simple ingredients and methods, you can create a plant-based cheese that is perfect for pizzas, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, and more.
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Tapioca starch
To make tapioca starch, the wet masa (the starchy part of the cassava root) is placed in a long woven tube called a tipiti. A large branch or lever is inserted into a loop at the bottom and used to stretch the tube vertically, squeezing out a starch-rich liquid. This liquid is collected and allowed to settle, leaving behind a wet starch sediment that is then dried to create the fine-grained powder.
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Nutritional yeast
Vegan mozzarella is often made from cashews, tapioca starch, nutritional yeast, coconut oil, lemon juice, and soy milk. Tapioca starch is key to the gooey, stretchy, cheesy consistency. Nutritional yeast provides a savoury, cheesy flavour to the mozzarella.
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Salt
The amount of salt added to the brine can be adjusted to taste, but it is important to use a good quality salt, such as sea salt or Himalayan pink salt. These salts have a higher mineral content than regular table salt, which gives them a stronger flavour and makes them more nutritious.
When making vegan mozzarella cheese, it is important to use a high-powered blender to ensure that all the ingredients, including the salt, are fully incorporated. This helps to create a smooth and creamy texture, which is essential for a good cheese.
Overall, salt is an important ingredient in vegan mozzarella cheese, as it enhances the flavour and helps to preserve the cheese. It is added to the brine and the pot of filtered water, and the amount can be adjusted to taste. Using a good quality salt, such as sea salt or Himalayan pink salt, will also improve the flavour and nutritional value of the cheese.
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Agar powder
Vegan mozzarella cheese can be made with a variety of ingredients, including cashews, sunflower seeds, soft tofu, tapioca starch, agar powder, kappa carrageenan, yoghurt, soy milk, coconut oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, nutritional yeast and salt.
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Frequently asked questions
Vegan mozzarella cheese is often made with cashews, which become wonderfully mild and creamy when soaked. Other ingredients include tapioca starch, which gives the cheese its gooey, stretchy, cheesy consistency, and nutritional yeast.
A good recipe for vegan mozzarella cheese includes cashews, yoghurt, soy milk, coconut oil, lemon juice, tapioca starch, garlic powder, nutritional yeast and salt. You can also add sunflower seeds for a nut-free version, or soft tofu for a low-fat version.
You can add kappa carrageenan or agar powder to make your vegan mozzarella sliceable.
There are many good brands of vegan mozzarella cheese on the market, including Daiya, So Delicious, Follow Your Heart and Violife.
