Andy Montoya
Almond cheese is a vegan, lactose-free, and dairy-free cheese substitute with a slightly sweet, tangy, and creamy flavour. It can be made at home with a few simple ingredients, such as blanched almonds, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and water. The process involves soaking the almonds, blending them into a smooth paste, and then shaping and setting the mixture. Commercial almond cheese is also available from brands like Lisanatti and Trader Joe's, as well as online retailers like Amazon.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Online stores | Amazon |
| Trader Joe's | |
| Lisanatti | |
| The Hidden Veggies | |
| Vegetarian Times | |
| Lands & Flavors | |
| Delightful Adventures | |
| Whole Foods Market | |
| Kite Hill | |
| BLUE DIAMOND ALMONDS | |
| Sargento | |
| Violife | |
| Make at home | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Making almond cheese at home
Almond cheese is a great vegan, lactose-free, and dairy-free substitute for cheese. It has a slightly sweet, tangy, and creamy taste. It can be crumbled like feta and is very adaptable. You can add ingredients like nutritional yeast, lemon, rejuvelac, and miso to give it a different character.
Ingredients:
- Raw almonds
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Water
Steps:
- Soak the almonds in cold water for 6 hours or overnight. If you want to remove the skin, drain and rinse the almonds, and then rub them with a towel or use your fingers to peel and pop the skin off. Removing the skin gives the cheese a smoother texture and lighter color.
- Drain and rinse the almonds well.
- Put the almonds in a food processor or high-powered blender with the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and water.
- Blend until smooth, about a few minutes.
- Scrape the mixture into a double-layered cheesecloth lining a colander.
- Gather the cheesecloth tightly around the almond mixture and secure it with a rubber band or string. Gently squeeze the bundle to remove the liquid.
- Leave the bundle in the colander and place it in the refrigerator overnight over a bowl to catch any liquid that might drain. Refrigerate for at least 12 hours to help the cheese become firmer.
- Discard any liquid that drains out. Carefully peel the cheesecloth off of the almond “cheese." The cheese will have a cookie dough-like consistency.
- The almond cheese can be eaten immediately as a spread or flavored with ingredients such as fresh garlic, herbs, and spices. It can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.
- For a different texture, shape the cheese into a 3/4-inch thick round and bake it at 300 F for 30 to 40 minutes. The top will be dry and slightly firm, while the inside will remain creamy.
You can also experiment with different variations of this basic recipe, such as adding vinegar or using almond pulp instead of whole almonds.
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Buying almond cheese online
There are several options for buying almond cheese online. Amazon offers a variety of almond cheese products, including those from brands like Kite Hill, BLUE DIAMOND ALMONDS, Sargento, and Violife. You can also find almond cheese at specialty online retailers like Vegan Cheese Making, The Hidden Veggies, and Delightful Adventures. These sites offer a range of almond cheese products, such as garlic herb spreads, hard vegan parmesan, and basic almond cheese.
When purchasing almond cheese online, it is important to consider the ingredients and your dietary preferences or restrictions. For example, some almond cheese products may contain milk casein, an animal product, while others are strictly vegan and dairy-free. Reading the product descriptions and reviews can help ensure that you are getting a product that aligns with your dietary needs and preferences.
Additionally, consider the shipping options and costs offered by the online retailer. Look for free shipping promotions or subscribe to membership programs that may provide benefits like discounted or free shipping. Compare prices and shipping fees across different websites to ensure you are getting the best value.
Before purchasing, it is advisable to check the product's shelf life and storage instructions. Some almond cheese products may have a shorter shelf life than traditional cheese, so proper storage is essential to maintain freshness and quality. Check if the product needs to be refrigerated or frozen and plan your purchase accordingly.
Finally, online shopping provides an opportunity to explore a diverse range of almond cheese products that may not be available in your local stores. You can discover unique flavors, textures, and formats, such as spreadable almond cheese, grated almond parmesan, or almond cheese blocks for slicing. Don't be afraid to try something new and read reviews to get a sense of the product's taste, texture, and potential uses.
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Almond cheese recipes
Almond cheese is a great vegan, lactose-free, dairy-free substitute for cheese. It has a slightly sweet, tangy, and creamy flavour and can be used in a variety of ways.
Recipe 1: Basic Almond Cheese
This recipe is adapted from the Vegetarian Times recipe. It is a 4-ingredient recipe that can be used as a topping for salads, pasta dishes, or pizzas. It has a crumbly, creamy texture and a tangy taste, making it a great all-purpose white cheese.
Ingredients:
- 160g or 5.5 oz unroasted, blanched almonds, soaked for 6 hours or more (1 1/4 cups of whole blanched almonds or 1 3/4 cups of almond flour/meal)
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Salt
- Water
Steps:
- Soak the almonds in water for 6 hours or overnight.
- Drain and put the almonds into a blender with the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and water.
- Blend on high until the almonds become as smooth as possible. Depending on your blender, this may take a few minutes.
- Cover with minced herbs like parsley, dill, rosemary, and thyme, or crust with chopped roasted walnuts or hazelnuts.
Recipe 2: Garlic Herb Vegan Almond Cheese Spread
This recipe is adapted from Delightful Adventures. It is a soft spread that can be used on crackers, sandwiches, or as a veggie dip.
Ingredients:
- Raw almonds
- Water
- Lemon juice
- Nutritional yeast
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Chopped herbs
Steps:
- Place the raw almonds into a glass container and cover with water.
- Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
- Drain and rinse the soaked almonds.
- Place the soaked almonds, water, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, olive oil, garlic powder, and salt into a high-speed blender.
- Blend until smooth.
- Empty the mixture into a bowl and add the chopped herbs. Mix until everything is combined.
- Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for a few hours so the flavour can develop.
Recipe 3: Creamy Vegan Almond Cheese
This recipe is adapted from The Curious Chickpea. It is a versatile, spreadable cheese that can be used on toast, as a filling for homemade ravioli, or as a topping for pizza.
Ingredients:
- Soaked almonds
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Salt
- Water
- Lemon juice
Steps:
- Put the soaked almonds, olive oil, garlic, salt, and 1/2 cup of water into a blender or food processor.
- Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down as you go.
- Add more water a little at a time if necessary.
- Add lemon juice and blend to incorporate.
- Taste and add salt or more lemon juice if desired.
Where to Get Almond Cheese
Almond cheese can be purchased from Amazon.com and other online retailers. It is also available at specialty food stores and some supermarkets. However, making almond cheese at home is a fun and easy project, and there are many recipes available online to choose from.
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Vegan almond cheese
There are several recipes for vegan almond cheese available online, with most requiring just four basic ingredients: almonds, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Some recipes also include garlic, water, and vinegar. The almonds should be soaked in water for at least six hours, or overnight, and then blended with the other ingredients until smooth. This mixture is then placed in a cheesecloth and left to refrigerate for at least 12 hours. The resulting cheese will have a cookie dough-like consistency and can be eaten immediately or flavored with herbs, spices, or garlic. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Some people choose to experiment with the basic recipe, adding nutritional yeast, miso, or rejuvelac to give the cheese a different flavor. The recipe is versatile and can be adapted to suit individual tastes.
So, while there may be some store-bought options available, making vegan almond cheese at home is a fun and easy project that allows for creativity and customization.
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Almond cheese brands
Almond cheese is a vegan, lactose-free, and dairy-free alternative to traditional cheese. It has a slightly sweet, tangy, and creamy flavour and can be made at home or purchased from select brands.
While almond cheese can be made at home, there are also several brands that offer this vegan alternative. Here are some popular almond cheese brands:
Kite Hill: Kite Hill offers a range of dairy-free products, including cream cheese made with an almond milk base. Their cream cheese comes in various flavours, such as strawberry, garden veggie, chive, and everything. Kite Hill's cream cheese is priced at $6.99 for an 8-ounce container.
Go Veggie: Go Veggie offers cheddar-style shreds made with modified potato starch. Their product has been described as lacking a cheese flavour and not melting easily, resembling tiny shreds even when heated. Go Veggie also offers other dairy-free products such as slices and cream cheese.
Vern's Cheese: Vern's Cheese offers a popular Swiss and Almond Cheese Spread that combines the creamy richness of Swiss cheese with the nutty flavour of almonds. This spread is known for its firm yet spreadable texture and can be purchased in 12-ounce tubs.
North Country Cheese: North Country Cheese offers a Swiss Almond Cheese spread made with premium cuts of Wisconsin Swiss cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and California almonds. This blend creates a rich and creamy spread with a distinct flavour.
In addition to these brands, Amazon also offers a variety of almond cheese options from different manufacturers, allowing customers to explore various choices and find their preferred almond cheese products.
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Frequently asked questions
Almond cheese can be purchased from some specialist vegan food shops and online retailers. However, it is worth noting that some shop-bought almond cheeses contain dairy products.
Yes, you can make almond cheese at home. It is a relatively simple process that requires just a few basic ingredients and kitchen equipment.
The basic ingredients are blanched almonds, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and water. Some recipes also include vinegar, coconut oil, and nutritional yeast.
You will need a food processor or blender to mix the ingredients, and a cheesecloth to strain the mixture. Some recipes also require an oven for baking the cheese.
