{"id":63406,"date":"2017-11-16T07:15:44","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T12:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=63406"},"modified":"2021-11-01T15:44:51","modified_gmt":"2021-11-01T19:44:51","slug":"best-vegan-cheese-substitutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/recipes\/best-vegan-cheese-substitutes\/","title":{"rendered":"Better Than Cheddar: 6 Vegan Cheese Swaps"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019re contemplating going vegan<\/a> or converting to the dairy-free life, you can\u2019t help think, \u201cBut what about pizza?\u201d Well, thanks to the invention of vegan cheese, you can have your pie \u2014 and wine and cheese \u2014 any day of the week.<\/p>\n

Vegan cheese is usually made from nuts and seeds, like cashews and walnuts, plus a combination of spices, herbs and nutritional yeast. Some vegan cheeses are also made with aquafaba<\/a> (the liquid inside canned chickpeas) and tofu. McKel Hill, MS, RDN, LDN, dietitian and founder of Nutrition Stripped<\/a>, says, \u201cMost have similar benefits and nutritional makeups since they\u2019re made from nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds provide an array of minerals, fiber, healthy fat and protein,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Even if you aren\u2019t dairy-free, vegan cheese is a great alternative for cutting back on saturated fat and calories. But it\u2019s important to read the label. \u201cKeep it simple and look out for added sugars or oils,\u201d Hill says. \u201cIt\u2019s best to opt for one that has limited amounts or none of those ingredients.\u201d Here are our picks to live your best dairy-free life \u2014 with some semblance of the gooey, stretchy, scrumptious stuff.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Your Cheat Sheet to Vegan Protein Powders<\/a><\/p>\n

The 6 Great Vegan Cheeses to Make at Home<\/h2>\n
\"Vegan
Photo: McKel Hill \/ Nutrition Stripped<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. For ricotta cheese\u2026swap in almond cheese.<\/h3>\n

Almonds are the perfect swap for creamy cheeses like ricotta, cream cheese or goat cheese. Almonds have a subtle nutty flavor, which plays well with a variety of spices and herbs. \u201cI use almond ricotta cheese in lasagnas, on top of pasta or even as a spread for sandwiches,\u201d Hill says. To make almond ricotta cheese yourself, soak one cup of almonds in water for at least an hour. Then add to a high-speed blender, along with a quarter-cup of water, some lemon juice and ground black pepper and salt. You can enhance the flavor by adding other ingredients, like Dijon mustard, nutritional yeast and minced garlic. For a store-bought version, Hill recommends Kite Hill.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a012 Genius Meal Prep Ideas to Free Up Your Time<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Vegan
Photo: McKel Hill \/ Nutrition Stripped<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. For Brie\u2026swap in cashew cheese.<\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s hard to find the complex taste and texture of Brie in vegan cheese, Hill says the thickness of cashew cheese is a good substitute. Cashew\u2019s buttery, indulgent quality makes it a great match for Brie. Just remember to stick to portion sizes because it\u2019s calorie-dense. In her classic cashew cheese recipe<\/a>, she blends cashews with nutritional yeast, white wine or apple cider vinegar<\/a>, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard and sea salt. A staple of vegan dishes, nutritional yeast is rich in B vitamins and protein, minus the saturated fat. Plus, it boasts a savory flavor that can mimic everything from cheddar to chicken soup.<\/p>\n

\"Vegan
Photo: McKel Hill \/ Nutrition Stripped<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. For Parmesan\u2026swap in hemp seed crumble cheese.<\/h3>\n

A small sprinkle of grated Parmesan can go a long way in everything from pastas<\/a> to soups. Parmesan is a hard cheese with sharp fruity and nutty flavors and a course texture. To get the same effect, Hill\u2019s hemp seed crumble<\/a> recipe includes walnuts, hemp seeds, pine nuts, nutritional yeast, garlic and sea salt. Toss the garlicky, seedy mixture into salads, use it to coat tofu or tempeh, or sprinkle over baked pasta for a nice crunch. It\u2019s nutritious, too: Walnuts and hemp seeds deliver protein, fiber and a big dose of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids<\/a>.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The Pegan Diet: Should You Try this Paleo-Vegan Hybrid?<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Vegan
Photo: Dana Schultz \/ Minimalist Baker<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. For blue cheese\u2026swap in garlic and herb cashew cheese.<\/h3>\n

Whether you prefer sharp and nutty flavors of Gorgonzola or the spiciness of Stilton, there are many varieties of blue cheese to perk up your dishes. And this garlic and herb vegan cheese<\/a> from Minimalist Baker is a close match. The use of garlic powder, nutritional yeast and fresh minced dill gives this cashew cheese the \u201cmoldy\u201d look and a prominent taste similar to Roquefort blue cheese. Serve with crudit\u00e9 and whole-grain crackers for a delicious wine and faux-cheese spread.<\/p>\n

\"The
Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. For mozzarella\u2026swap in Daiya cheese.<\/h3>\n

The stringiness and mouthwatering texture of mozzarella can be hard to replicate at home. That\u2019s why we recommend seeking out a store-bought, dairy-free cheese like Daiya<\/a>. Made with tapioca starch, arrowroot, coconut oil and potato protein isolate, Daiya\u2019s shredded, dairy-free mozzarella is perfect for making pizzas, tacos, quesadillas and salads. Tapioca, which comes from the root vegetable cassava, is used as a thickening agent in many foods, including vegan cheese. It lends vegan cheese that same hearty texture, but it\u2019s easier to digest. Did we mention it actually melts and stretches?<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a013 Drool-Worthy Breakfast Pizza Recipes<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Vegan
Photo: Alyssa Rimmer \/ Simply Quinoa<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. For queso\u2026swap in vegan kimchi queso.<\/h3>\n

Queso cheese dip is a Mexican food favorite that usually has a combination of cheeses, including Velveeta or American cheese and pepper jack cheese. To give it that spicy flair, it\u2019s usually seasoned with chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika. This vegan kimchi queso recipe<\/a> from Simply Quinoa calls for cashews, almond milk, nutritional yeast, Sriracha, smoked paprika, tapioca starch and, yes, kimchi. Cashews give this cheese its creamy texture, while Sriracha adds bold flavor. Bonus health benefits: The addition of kimchi<\/a>, which is packed with probiotics, makes it extra gut-friendly, too.<\/p>\n

Read More
\n<\/strong>Aquafaba: The Vegan Egg Substitute Hiding in Your Pantry
\n<\/a>13 Vegan Breakfast Recipes You\u2019ll Want Every Morning
\n<\/a>9 Healthy Dinner Recipes for Meatless Monday<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Going vegan doesn\u2019t mean you have to kiss mac and cheese goodbye. Packed with nutrients, these varieties of vegan cheese are your dairy-free cheese dreams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":63433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,9,17],"tags":[234,204,71,341,388,284],"class_list":["post-63406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy","category-recipes","category-vegan","tag-cheese","tag-cooking","tag-nutrition","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2nutrition","tag-vegan"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63406"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63406\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}