Whether you’re vegan or just looking to restrict dairy altogether, there may be one thing you’re struggling to part ways with: cheese.
For years, we’ve had it hammered in our heads that we need to consume dairy to be healthy. Without it, our bones would break and our teeth would fall out. Or so we were led to believe. However, it’s thought that over 75 percent of humans are unable to process dairy, and are therefore becoming lactose intolerant. When you are lactose intolerant, your body doesn’t produce enough lactase to break down lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk-derived products, causing all kinds of problems including abdominal pain, bloating and painful cramps.
In addition, dairy isn’t as safe as once thought. As the population has grown, so has the demand for dairy, and many farmers have turned to mass production in order to keep up with the demand. The welfare of cattle on dairy farms has been proven to be shocking to say the least – they simply can’t give milk cows a quality of life when they’re bred in such astronomical numbers. Infections increase, antibiotics are administered, and suddenly the milk supply is loaded with antibiotics and even pesticides.
So, whether you’re allergic to dairy or looking for a more environmentally-conscious choice, we’ve rounded up some of the most delicious “cheese” recipes that require absolutely no dairy. These cheeses are all made from plant-based foods, including cashew nuts and sweet potatoes, and they’re not only brimming with goodness but they’re pretty versatile, too. We also tried the products at the markets, and found one product to be a shining vegan star.
9 vegan cheese recipes that will make you drool. Promise:
1. Roasted Garlic & Fresh Herbs Cream Cheese
Smeared onto a freshly baked baguette or added atop a baked potato, this recipe is versatile, and in it, cashews play the starring role.
Get the recipe here.
2. Smoked Paprika Cheese
This smoked paprika cheese recipe is probably the closest to cheddar and like cheddar (and unlike many other vegan cheeses), can be sliced, making it the perfect cheese to have on hand to add to sandwiches or to grate onto other savory dishes. And there’s also zero nuts involved! The secret ingredient you may ask? Sweet potatoes! P.S. There’s also a YouTube video to follow which is helpful if you’re making this for the first time.
Get the recipe here.
3. Tofu Feta Cheese
I absolutely love this recipe. Before this recipe, I made vegan feta cheese with cauliflower but the tofu works much better as it has a firmness that the cauliflower doesn’t. Also, tofu is great in a marinade, enabling it to be nice and salty similar to feta. In the summer, there’s nothing more delicious than a fresh Greek salad with lots of juicy tomatoes, fresh onion and, of course, feta!
Get the recipe here.
4. Mozzarella
Mozzarella is a cheese that is often missed on a vegan or dairy-free diet. Well, now you can still enjoy a mozzarella salad or a cheesy pizza without a single bite of dairy! This cheese even pulls apart and stretches like traditional mozzarella.
Get the recipe here.
5. Baked Vegan Goat Cheese (With Spiced Cranberry Spread)
Anyone else love their freshly baked bread topped with something a little creamy? This cheese may just be what you need to jazz up your baguette. Based on goat cheese, yet baked like a camembert cheese, this recipe is made with cashews and topped with a cranberry spread.
Get the recipe here.
6. Basic Parmesan Cheese
If spaghetti feelings meaningless without Parmesan, then all of your prayers have been answered. You can now make your favorite Italian cheese with just four ingredients! Super cheap and easy to make, this one will take your Italian dishes to the next level.
Get the recipe here.
7. Vegan Blue Cheese
Its hard to believe that a vegan blue cheese is possible. But with a bit of time (a month) and only four ingredients this show-stopper is great for salads or for your next dinner party.
Get the recipe here.
8. Vegan Nacho Cheese
If you love Mexican food, you’ll be thrilled to find this gloriously runny cheese sauce for all of your nacho needs. But the possibilities do not end there, my friends. You’ll be able to use this recipe for popular dishes such as mac and cheese or even drizzle it over a potato. Yep, carbs really are #life.
Get the recipe here.
9. The Best Store-Bought Vegan Cheese
If you’re not wanting to make your own, look to the artisanal line of cheeses from Treeline Cheese. Made from cashews, Treeline cheese comes in both a soft-style and a hard slicing cheese, and is made with probiotics and is free of dairy, lactose, casein, gluten, soy and added oils. And hands-down it is the best vegan cheese on the market. We love the soft French-style nut cheese that comes in such flavors as scallion, herb-garlic, green peppercorn, and chipotle-serrano pepper, on crackers or as a dip. Did we mention that Treeline is Paleo friendly, too?
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