Use cubes of tofu in place of cheese in our simple palak paneer recipe you'll probably want to swap out the Greek yogurt for dairy-free yogurt , too.

If you're in the mood for Italian, why not try using tofu instead of ricotta in your next lasagna? You can do a exchange if you're pressed for time, but mixing in lemon juice, salt, sugar, and herbs will help mimic the flavor of dairy ricotta even more via VegNews.

Now, there are many different types of tofu, and when you're using tofu to replace cheeses such as paneer, ricotta, or feta, opt for a firm texture. The secret to making your tofu extra crispy is pressing it, a technique that removes any excess water from the block. Without frying, this will also go a long way to ensuring tofu's place as one of the best dairy-free cheese alternatives.

However, you can cook it for a shot at some vegan mozzarella bites. Considering how many kinds of nut milk are on the market, the popularity of nut cheese will likely come as no surprise to you. In fact, many people make nut cheese with the leftover pulp from their homemade almond milk via Academy of Culinary Nutrition.

Almonds — and macadamia nuts — are also popular choices for dairy-free cheese that work particularly well in fermented applications. Since almonds are drier nuts, it's hard to get them perfectly smooth in your own kitchen. That's why they work really well in homemade baked fetas, cheese spreads, or ricotta.

Make sure to soak your almonds overnight before blending them with lemon and nutritional yeast, two ingredients that will help mimic the acidity and unctuous flavor of dairy cheese. Almonds have the added benefit of being really good for you. They're also rich in protein, fiber, magnesium, and monounsaturated fats.

So, if you want a nutritious and delicious dairy-free cheese snack, why not try almond cheese? Cashews are one of the most versatile nuts out there when it comes to dairy-free cooking. After being soaked, you can blend cashews ridiculously smooth in even the most average blenders.

Because of this consistency, cashews are texturally great in cheese-free sauces. Given that Healthline reports that they are filled with nutritional benefits, this swap also has a high potential to feel good for your body.

Additionally, research shows that many varieties of cashews are high in glutamic acid, which is a derivative of that umami-developing protein, glutamate. So, cashews also make a great dairy-free alternative when it comes to flavor.

Nut cheeses are very simple to make at home, but they're also becoming more readily available in supermarkets.

To make this vegan cashew cheese recipe , all you need to do is soak your nuts for at least half an hour. Drain the water and then blend them with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, water, salt, and some spices. Bonus tip: if you don't have a high-powered blender, try soaking your cashews overnight.

In general, the longer they soak, the softer they will become. Nut cheeses are great in recipes but also as part of any cheese platter or charcuterie board. If you're looking for a dairy-free cheese that isn't very processed, nut cheeses may be for you!

If you have a nut allergy, sunflower seeds work well in plant-based cheeses, but be aware they do leave a greenish tinge behind. Speaking of the supermarket, dairy-free cheeses are more widely available than ever.

But store-bought vegan cheese isn't a recent invention by any means. We weren't kidding when we said tofu is the original vegan cheese. Moreover, the report suggests that the first recorded sale of fermented tofu as a piece of cheese was in France in While we think tofu is one of the best plant-based cheese choices, people want options.

They want that ooey-gooey, melts on your pizza, pulls when you slice your grilled cheese, kind of deal. And dairy-free options are constantly fighting against the idea that vegan cheese doesn't melt like regular cheese.

Luckily, there are now so many brands and flavors available to mitigate this. com has a comprehensive list of all available vegan cheese brands on the market.

Whether you want cream cheese, mozzarella, pepper jack, or halloumi, there truly is something for everyone these days. If you want to achieve this texture at home, all is not lost. The secret to that stretch in homemade dairy-free cheese is tapioca starch.

A word of caution: Since some lactose-free cheeses contain casein, which is a milk protein, they're not actually vegan per Healthline. Even more strangely, some vegan changes aren't dairy-free.

According to VegNews , food scientists have managed to make plant-based whey identical to that derived from cows' milk. With that in mind, read food packaging carefully to ensure what you're buying fits your dietary needs.

It's no secret that a vegan or plant-based diet is an easy way to increase your vegetable intake, but did you know you can turn veggies into dairy-free cheese?

These options are often the best dairy-free cheese alternative if you're looking for something lower in fat and calories and higher in vitamins A and C. Some common hacks include carrots and potatoes, like in our all-purpose vegan cheese recipe.

Consider using this sauce for nachos or mac and cheese. And while most people are familiar with sweet potatoes as an alternative to regular spuds — did you know they're a great cheese alternative, too?

Sweet potatoes are another common vegetable base for dairy-free cheese since they've already got that orange cheddary color. To make a yummy mac and cheese using sweet potatoes, all you have to do is mix some mashed sweet potatoes with some oil, flour, plant milk, and seasonings.

Mix the sauce on the stove until it's thick and smooth, and then toss it with your noodles via The Washington Post. If you're missing that thick shmear of cream cheese on a bagel, look no further than this totally vegan cream cheese.

The WH testers preferred flavored plant-based alternatives over plain, and this creamy and tangy almond-based spread was a hit. The everything-but-the-bagel vibe is delicious without being too overpowering. Vegan shredded cheese has a bad rep for tasting plasticky.

Of the plus options WH sampled, though, these plant-based shreds melted the most like the real thing. They have a coconut-meets-mozzarella flavor that makes them mild and versatile, just like the OG mozz.

Along with Treeline's herb-garlic flavor, their tangy scallion cashew-based spread scored big with WH 's vegan cheese testers.

Made with just seven ingredients, this soft vegan cheese pairs well with dried fruit, crusty bread, and crackers. Of the plus vegan cheeses WH tasted, this bright white block of vegan feta was the true MVP. With a melty and creamy texture and a salty, cheesy flavor that actually tasted like a cross between real feta and goat cheese , it impressed testers so much that they actually went back for seconds.

Of the seven sampled, though, this tub was the best of the bunch. Made primarily of water, oil, and soy milk powder, it has a beige color, creamy texture, and mild, slightly sweet flavor.

The strong, smoky flavor of these sandwich-worthy slices scored big amongst the WH team. These slices are made with coconut and fermented tofu say what?

Though this tangy almond milk-based cheese from the popular brand Kite Hill is a bit crumbly, it still somehow feels ricotta-like in texture. Its nice consistency makes it prime for baking a la lasagna or even cream-filled vegan cannolis.

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JUMP TO Latest News Recipes Guides Health Shop. Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA. Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the vegan lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing.

Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission. In no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.

Treeline Is vegan cheese healthy? Find it here Follow Your Heart 2 Follow Your Heart This year-old company makes more than just Vegenaise, and it does it well. Find it here Kite Hill 3 Kite Hill The search for the best vegan cream cheese ends with Kite Hill. find it here 5 Violife A popular and widely available brand in the US, Canada, UK, and throughout Europe, Greece-based Violife comes in shreds, slices, blocks, and more, impressing people with its flavor and meltability.

find it here 6 Daiya Daiya is one of the early influencers of the vegan cheese movement. find it here 7 Good Planet Foods Offering a variety of familiar flavors, Good Planet Foods delivers dairy-free slices, shreds, wedges, cubes, and blocks.

find it here 8 Moocho From the Tofurky makers comes Moocho, boasting meltier, cheesier, more Wisconsin-y vegan cheese. find it here Parmela Creamery 9 Parmela Creamery Parmela uses the classic cheesemaking processes to transform cashews into cultured vegan cheeses with just the right amount of funk.

Find it here Vevan 11 Vevan Vevan tapped traditional cheesemakers to help create dairy-free cheese that delivers on flavor, texture, and meltability. find it here For more on vegan cheese, read: The VegNews Guide to Vegan Cheese How to Pair Vegan Cheese With Wine Like a Pro 8 Fabulous Vegan Cheese Shops Across the US.

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Load more. Get the Newsletter Never miss out on breaking stories, recipes, and vegan deals. Get the Magazine. All-things vegan, in your mailbox and inbox Subscribe. Unlike the animal proteins in dairy cheeses, however, those in vegan cheeses don't naturally bond to one another.

The result is flavors that tend not to be as complex and unique. Try These: Healthy Vegan Dinner Recipes. The biggest thing you'll notice with your dairy-free cheese is that it doesn't melt quite the same. Don't expect quite the same ooey-gooey experience when you top your pizza with vegan cheese.

Keep in mind that all brands are different, so if you try one brand you don't like, don't give up on the rest. Vegan cheesemakers are coming up with new processes all the time that are making these cheeses taste even more like the traditional stuff.

Keep Reading: The 5 Best Vegan Cheeses to Try. If you're avoiding regular cheese because of the saturated fat, you may not need to. Recent research shows cheese may actually be good for your health and reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Vegan cheeses are typically lower in fat, protein and calcium than regular cheese and are likely gluten-free.

Because vegan cheese is a processed food, it tends to be higher in sodium, so check your labels. Vegans can't count on vegan cheese as a protein source, the way that vegetarians may sometimes rely on regular cheese. So while it's not a super vegan health food the way kale and lentils are, vegans may rejoice in eating pizza, grilled cheese and queso dip again.

We reached out to vegan cookbook author Dreena Burton of Plant Powered Kitchen and The Colorful Kitchen blogger Ilene Godofsky Moreno to find out their recommendations for the best vegan cheeses on the market.

Here's what they said:. Vegan Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan substitutes vary from simple shakers made with blends of nutritional yeast and nuts by companies like Parma to more authentic-looking shreds and wedges from Violife , Burton says. Vegan Mozzarella Cheese: " Miyoko's Fresh Italian-Style Vegan Mozz is the real deal," Moreno says.

Vegan Cheddar Cheese: Moreno's go-to Cheddar is Daiya Cheddar shreds: "It gets super melty when grilled in a sandwich or mixed into pasta. Vegan Ricotta Cheese: Kite Hill has nailed the unique texture of ricotta cheese, Moreno says.

Vegan Cream Cheese: Tofutti and Go Veggie are among the best companies offering soy-based cream cheeses, says Burton, who also recommends trying out artisanal nut-based cream cheeses. Many artisanal cheeses have their own unique flavors that you may enjoy, so if you're looking for a fun Friday night activity, buy a few and create an at-home cheese plate taste test.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Cashew Cheese — Soak two cups of cashews overnight, then drain and rinse. Blend until combined, then use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

This one makes a great spread! So, if you need the cheese for pasta night , try using some pesto instead! It's actually great on tacos and in sandwiches, too. Sour Cream — Obviously, if your recipe calls for a block or shredded cheese, sour cream won't work, but if you need a substitute for ricotta or cottage, sour cream is a perfect alternative!

Hummus — Maybe this sounds weird, but don't knock it until you try it! Hummus works as a great spread in place of cheese. Try it as a pasta sauce, pizza topping, or in a quesadilla or panini.

CAN YOU FREEZE CHEESE? Here's the skinny: Ricotta Cheese — A word of warning: the consistency may change just a bit. However, there are so many ways to use ricotta cheese after it's thawed!

Lasagna roll-ups , anyone? Cream Cheese — Again, the consistency may change, so try to plan ahead if you can. If you thaw it slow and steady in the fridge, you'll get the best result! Cheese, Sliced or Shredded — It's always great to have cheese on hand! While you can freeze a whole block of cheese, we wouldn't suggest doing that since it's hard to use once you thaw it.

Slice or shred it before you freeze to make it more convenient for meal prep. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF CHEESE? You might also like.

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Vegan cheese is made from a variety of plant-derived ingredients. Cehn adds that traditional cheese is mostly comprised of fat, so added oils like coconut oil are common in processed vegan cheese. To gain more control of what your vegan cheese is made from, you can give DIY recipes a try.

You can make vegan cheese at home with ingredients like potatoes, cashews, and nutritional yeast. Since vegan cheese has come a long way, there are many types of vegan cheese that can melt similar to real cheese, allowing people who avoid or limit dairy products to enjoy melted cheese on sandwiches, burgers, and pasta.

Ingredients like coconut oil also increases the chances that vegan cheese will melt. Not all vegan cheese will melt, but many do—and some melt better than others.

There are some perks to freezing your vegan cheese. Like regular cheese, many dairy-free cheeses are highly perishable and prone to going bad. Some manufacturers recommend against freezing some of their products, so check the label to see if your vegan cheese can be frozen.

If getting a longer lifespan out of your product is more important than the potential textural changes, then freeze away! All vegan cheese is plant-based, but not all plant-based cheese is vegan. In some cases, "plant-based" can also refer to a product that is made mostly from plant-derived ingredients but also contains small amounts of animal-based ingredients.

Our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best vegan cheeses on the market, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, meltability, and price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used our own knowledge and first-hand experiences to choose the items listed above.

Lacey Muinos is a wellness and food writer with six years of vegan experience under her belt. Her cheese adoration is so strong that she has a whole podcast dedicated to it. She is a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society. She wrote the original version of this story. Use limited data to select advertising.

Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content.

Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources.

Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. What to Buy Food. The 9 Best Vegan Cheeses of Here are our picks for the most delicious dairy-free mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, and more.

By Lacey Muinos. Lacey Muinos. Lacey Muinos has written about health, wellness, food, and skincare for five years. Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process. Our Top Picks. Best Mozzarella:. Best Cheddar:. Best Shredded:. Best Grated Parmesan:. Best Hard Cheese:. Best Slices:. Best Cream Cheese:.

Best Ricotta:. In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look for. How We Selected. Why Trust The Spruce Eats? Best Mozzarella. Miyoko's Fresh Vegan Mozzarella. View On Amazon View On Instacart. What We Like Short list of organic ingredients Soy- and gluten-free Melts, slices, and shreds.

Best Cheddar. Field Roast Chao Creamy Original Chao Slices. What We Like Pleasant mouthfeel Fermented tofu adds tanginess and creaminess Melts easily. What We Don't Like Pricey for 10 slices. Best Shredded. Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Cheddar Shreds. Pros Contains sustainable palm oil Melts easily Convenient.

Cons Long ingredient list. Best Grated Parmesan. NOOCH IT! What We Like Good source of B vitamins Wholesome ingredients Organic.

What We Don't Like The bottle is small. Best Hard Cheese. Violife Just Like Parmesan Block. What We Like Holds up when grated Good source of vitamin B12 Suitable for those with nut allergies.

What We Don't Like Polarizing flavor. The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Turkey Alternatives of Best Slices. Daiya Swiss Style Cheese Slices.

com View On Safeway. What We Like Allergen-friendly Provides calcium and potassium Melts and stretches. What We Don't Like Takes a while to melt. Best Cream Cheese. Kite Hill Original Almond Milk Cream Cheese Spread. com View On FreshDirect. What We Like Tart flavor Smooth, spreadable consistency Versatile.

What We Don't Like Pricey Goes bad quickly. The 9 Best Dairy-Free Ice Creams of Good Foods Plant Based Queso Style Dip. What We Like Wholesome ingredients Smooth and creamy Can be enjoyed hot or cold. What We Don't Like Can be hard to find. Celebrate the Vegetarians in Your Life With These Veggie-Friendly Gifts.

Best Ricotta. Tofutti Better Than Cheese Ricotta. com View On Albertsons. What We Like Large tub Halal certified Melts easily in baked dishes. What We Don't Like Dry and crumbly when raw Contains palm oil. Did You Know You Can Make Cheese at Home?

Here Are the Best Cheesemaking Kits. Originally written by Christine Clark. Christine Clark. Christine is freelance food writer, certified cheese expert, and podcast host. Her work has appeared in AllRecipes, Bon Appetit, and VinePair.

This creamy Pink Peppercorn Nut Cheese by Edelweiss and Lorelei is can be made from any kind of nuts, like cashews, almonds, or even hazelnuts. Pink peppercorns are the star ingredient, though you could also add herbs of any kind to give it more flavor.

This versatile cheese is amazing on crackers, sandwiches, or even on bagels. Source: Paprika Cheese. Nut-free, soy-free, and dairy-free cheese that slices and grates — amazing! This Paprika Cheese by Anja Cass is so easy to make and is great for a cheese platter, on crackers in a toasted sandwich or anywhere where you would normally use sliced or grated cheese.

Best of all, it has no nuts or soy-based ingredients so it is a great option for anybody with food allergies ingredients commonly found in dairy-free cheese. Source: Cashew Blue Cheese.

Yes, this is real! This vegan version of Cashew Blue Cheese by Carla Rendon and Jessica Ruiz is made with cashews. This appetizer is guaranteed to blow your guests away. Source: Smoked Coconut Gouda. This Smoked Coconut Gouda by Somer McCowan will satisfy your need for a nut-free vegan cheese that melts, stretches, slices, and grates.

You can use it to top pizzas, eat it with crackers, or pair it with one of the sandwiches on this list for some extra-smoky goodness. This stuff might make you swoon over how satisfyingly melty it is. Source: Cashew Dill Mozzarella. This dairy-free cheese is made from protein-rich cashews, given a subtly sweet undertone from dill, and is incredibly stretchy thanks to tapioca.

Melt this cheese on pizza, in a grilled cheese, or simply enjoy it with some crackers! Source: Herbed Soft Cashew Cheese.

Making vegan cheese has never been so easy. This Herbed Soft Cashew Cheese by Jean-Philippe Cyr is delicious, dairy-free, and has no added oil. Serve on bagels, bagel chips, crackers, or celery. Source: Macadamia Nut Queso Fresco. This recipe for Macadamia Nut Queso Fresco by Dora Stone is a must-try.

The texture is light and easily spreadable and it has a touch of sweetness but is savory in all the right ways. Source: Baked Herb-Crusted Cashew-Almond Cheese.

This recipe for Baked Herb-Crusted Cashew-Almond Cheese by Meredith Youngson is unbelievable. The base of this cheese would also pair beautifully with dried cranberries, figs, and sun-dried tomatoes.

Source: Sliceable Zucchini Cheese. This is a two-in-one recipe! First up we have a delicious Sliceable Zucchini Cheese by Lena Ksanti.

Yep, you heard right! Then, we have a creamy, dreamy orange nacho cheese that you can dip chips and veggies in, or use as a sauce for mac and cheese! The possibilities are endless! Source: Loaded Queso Dip. In this particular Loaded Queso Dip by Kirsten Kaminski , potato, onions, vegetable broth, and spices join together to create the perfect creamy base which you can then top with anything you want!

Stick to these traditional queso toppings or go for a fusion dip, up to you! Source: Raw Almond Parmesan. This Raw Almond Parmesan by Julie West is so easy to make — all you need is a high-powered blender. Add in some nutritional yeast, garlic powder, a little sea salt and you have yourself a nice healthy topping.

It will add tons of flavor to your salads, soups, pastas, and so much more. Sprinkle away! Source: Raw Nut-Free Sesame Cheese. This simple, Raw Nut-Free Sesame Cheese by Amanda Nicole Smith makes the impossible possible with a blend sesame seeds, nutritional yeast, apple cider vinegar, and agar agar.

Un-hulled sesame seeds have a very nutty, almost smoky flavor that makes this cheese unique. This is an absolute mus-try on crackers. Source: Tangy Tofu and Cashew Ricotta. Try it in manicotti, baked ziti, and lasagna. Source: Pepper Jack Cashew Cheese.

This is an incredibly simple recipe, but when making this Pepper Jack Cashew Cheese by Somer McCowan , work quickly and without interruptions if possible. The cheese sets fast and needs your complete attention!

Source: Moxarella Cheese. This is homemade Moxarella Cheese by Somer McCowan is almost instant and without any artificial anything. It browns and stretches. Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation , heart health , mental wellbeing , fitness goals , nutritional needs , allergies , gut health , and more!

Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne , hormonal imbalance , cancer , prostate cancer , and has many side effects. For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App which has thousands of delicious recipes making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy!

And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet. For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter!

Lastly, being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!

You must be Login to post a comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. No it does not. Just because culturally cheese means dairy cheese, does not mean we cannot change the meaning of what cheese implies.

Some us do not want to kill and torture animals just to satisfy our taste buds and cheese cravings. For those of us that want to live a more compassionate life while still partaking in cheese, these non-dairy cheeses are a perfect alternative. This looks delicious!