There are two foods I can’t live without, bread and cheese. Add in a glass of wine, and I’m in heaven! So, how do I manage a vegan diet without cheese – I must admit it’s a struggle. I am always in search of vegan cheeses that match the flavors I crave, like – 90-day Aged Manchego, Smoked Truffle Gouda, Creamy Brie, or Drunken Goat Cheese. The flexitarian side of me has me indulge once in a while, but my eco-conscious mind has me making vegan cheddar cheese!
The vegan cheese market has improved over the past few years, but nothing beats the taste of homemade “nut” cheese. You can use a variety of nut or grain milks to make cheese, but I love the taste of almond milk the most. Try this recipe, and you will agree!
How to make Vegan Cheddar Cheese
First, to make vegan cheddar cheese, you need to make your nut milk. The process is relatively easy, but if you are short on time, you can use store-bought nut milk. My favorite is the Pacific Foods brand, but the 365 Whole Foods brand works well, too. When making nut milk, I always recommend making more than you need in your recipe. The remaining amount can always be incorporated into other recipes.
Then mix and heat a few ingredients for thickening and flavor – agar flakes, arrowroot, chickpea flour, nutritional yeast flakes, garlic, oil, vinegar, and sea salt.
Pour the mixture into Silpat molds, refrigerate for 30 minutes, pop out of the mold, and use in a recipe.
Leftovers can be frozen for up to 3 months.
When you need cheese again, defrost it for 1 hour in the refrigerator, and you’re ready to enjoy!
Handy Equipment
When making fresh almond milk, you will need a high-speed blender and nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer. A silpat muffin mold is handy for forming individual-sized cheddar bites.
Don’t know what to do now? Here’s an idea: Click here for a recipe and make a Vegan Roasted Shiitake BLT with Cheddar Cheese!
If you want slices, pour the mixture into a heat-proof glass dish, refrigerate for 30 minutes, slice, and serve.
Recipe
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Vegan Cheddar Cheese Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Vegan Cheddar Cheese Recipe is a healthy alternative to milk based cheddar cheese. It is delicious to use in soups, sandwiches and salads.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups almonds, soaked overnight
4 cups water
6 tablespoons agar flakes
6 tablespoons arrowroot
3 tablespoons chickpea flour
¼ cup nutritional yeast flakes
¼ cup neutral oil (canola)
1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar
2 ½ teaspoons sea salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Strain and rinse soaked almonds. Place in a high speed blender with 4 cups water and process for 90 seconds.
- Pour thru a nut milk bag into a measure cup to remove pulp. Set aside pulp for other uses.
- In a medium pot, add 2 cups almond milk and agar. Bring to a boil, reduce and cook for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients (arrowroot, flour, nutritional yeast, salt, garlic powder) in a medium bowl. In a measuring cup mix 1 cup almond milk, oil and vinegar and whisk into the dry ingredients.
- Add starch blend to the agar mixture and cook on low heat for 3 – 5 minutes until it has thickened. Poor into silicone molds (or scoop) and refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm.
Keywords: vegan cheese recipe
Fail to understand why n how such products are named as cheddar cheese ? Just by adding thickening agents , yeast n garlic etc we can’nt name it as cheese. It may be ok to call it an alternative to spicy cottage cheese .
Chadder cheese is not so easy to make with non of these ingredients used in that .
I get what you’re saying about calling it cheddar cheese when it doesn’t taste exactly like that. It is cheesy though! And, what makes it a great vegan alternative to cheddar cheese is that it can be used in many recipes instead of cheddar cheese and taste great! If you haven’t made it yet, the consistency is more like cheddar cheese than cottage cheese. Give it a try … I’m sure you’ll love it!
Can almond flower be substituted for chickpea flour? (food sensitivity).
Thank you.
I haven’t tried making it with almond flour but it’s worth a try. It may bring out the taste of almonds a bit more in the recipe though. Another great alternative to chickpea flour is quinoa flour which is less dense than almond flour. Other options are oat or millet flour – hope that helps. Let us know what you end up using and how well it worked 😉!