Cheese substitute - the best alternatives from the vegan cheese counter
Theresa Aicher
01/09/22
Reading time: 8 minutes
" I would like to be vegan if only it wasn't for the cheese. " What do vegans actually eat if something like cheese isn't even allowed? Do such sentences from others sound familiar to you? Or are you struggling with giving up cheese yourself?
Don't worry : thanks to the growing number of vegan cheese alternatives, you don't have to miss out on anything. There are also many options for making tasty cheese substitutes yourself .
This also has nothing to do with the industrially produced and often frowned upon analogue cheese , which is used, for example, in the catering industry or in ready meals.
A look at the vegan substitute products from the supermarket
When it comes to vegan substitutes for dairy products, there has been a noticeable development in the recent past. More and more alternatives are appearing on grocery store shelves. In addition to the growing number of plant-based drinks, products such as yogurt substitutes and, increasingly, cheese alternatives should not be missing .
Thanks to the large selection, there is hardly anything left to be desired if you want to prepare something with cheese substitutes . Or you simply want to enjoy cheese vegan on its own or as cold cuts. The product range includes everything you would find in the regular cheese range . This includes :
- plant-based cheese in pieces and in slices
- vegan cream cheese
- plant-based scattered cheese and parmesan
- vegan feta and shepherd's cheese
- plant-based mozzarella
- vegan Camembert
What is vegan cheese substitute?
The composition of the cheese substitute products depends on what they should correspond to. Accordingly, they are based on different raw materials. For classic variants in the form of vegan sliced cheese, the list of ingredients includes water, vegetable oils and starch.
Other raw materials, flavors, spices and additives support consistency and taste. For example, many varieties contain nuts. Yeast is also standard as it supports the desired cheese taste .
On the nutritional value of vegan cheese variations
In the omnivorous diet, dairy products play a role as protein sources, among other things. The question therefore arises as to whether plant-based cheese variations are also suitable as vegan protein sources . This depends on the product in question and which raw materials were used in it.
Unfortunately, many industrially produced products (still) leave something to be desired in terms of nutritional value. They contain a lot of saturated fatty acids, a high proportion of carbohydrates, as well as large amounts of salt and flavors. This is usually offset by a low protein content.
Of course, there are also praiseworthy exceptions among industrially manufactured products . In addition, new products regularly come onto the market that offer better nutritional content. This applies, for example, to products based on lupins. In addition , some variants of vegan cheese tend to contain more protein than plant-based cream cheese.
The protein content of vegan cheese alternatives therefore varies between products. Which is not surprising given the diverse raw materials. The only thing that helps here is to take a closer look at the list of ingredients to estimate how much it contains.
If you are consciously looking for plant-based protein sources , it is best to stick to foods that are as natural as possible. Legumes and vegetables such as broccoli are popular examples of valuable sources of protein. These are not only important in the daily plant-based diet . But also, for example, if you experience a vegan pregnancy .
Vegan cheese substitutes serve more as a supplement to your diet. But let's be honest. When it comes to real and plant-based cheese, one thing counts above all else - the taste. Consider it - at least in the case of industrially highly processed products - more of a luxury food.
With regard to the recommendation to enjoy in moderation, cheese alternatives can therefore be handled in the same way as real cheese .
What you should pay attention to when buying vegan cheese substitutes
When it comes to vegan cheese substitutes, tolerance is particularly important. This applies to the sometimes high fat content of some varieties. If this concerns you, you also need to be careful about potential allergens. These include soy, nuts or legumes.
Luckily, there may be vegan alternatives and the option to make your own vegan cheese.
By the way: If you are looking for other high-quality replacement products , then Greenforce is the right place for you. In our shop you will find the right vegan alternatives as a mix to mix.
From meat and fish substitutes to egg and milk alternatives to dips & sauces and vegan spreads, everything is included. There are also delicious vegetable breadings and spices to give your dishes even more pizzazz.
When it comes to vegan cheese , it's worth looking for products with organic ingredients. This is particularly true with regard to the use of palm and coconut oil. Here, organic quality plays a central role in terms of environmental protection.
What is the best vegan cheese?
This cannot be answered in general terms. Because of the large variety of plant-based alternatives . It depends on how you want to use vegan cheese , what you like and what you like. If you buy a finished product, the same applies as for other products. The shorter the ingredients list, the better.
Homemade cheese substitutes are clearly ahead. There are many options here to create a healthy and affordable alternative .
The difference between analog and vegan cheese
For vegan substitute products, the name is often a specific thing. The point is to clearly distinguish them from the originals and at the same time recommend them as an appropriate alternative .
The following question quickly arises: What do you call fake cheese ? Here we quickly stumble upon the term analogue cheese . And thus about a potential misunderstanding. Because analogue cheeses and vegan cheese are rarely identical.
It is true that both variants have nothing to do with real cheese . And also that there are overlaps in the ingredients. For example, both products contain vegetable fats, starch and certain additives.
Many vegan cheeses definitely score points with more natural ingredients. What is important, however, is that not all analogue cheeses are vegan. The reason for this is the milk powder that is often added. Make sure that any cheese substitute is declared vegan .
Cheese substitute: 5 recipes from the local vegan cheese variety
Homemade, vegan cheese alternatives offer you many advantages . They range from the transparency with regard to the ingredients to the variety of recipes to the possibilities of refining the whole thing individually.
As with other vegan alternatives, cheese substitutes also depend on the right basis. This is about which type of cheese and flavor you want to imitate.
Accordingly, the following are suitable for preparation :
- Legumes such as beans or chickpeas
- Nuts, such as cashews or walnuts
- Soybeans and tofu
- nutritional yeast
- Psyllium husks
- rice
- Plant-based yogurt
- various spices such as onion, paprika or garlic powder
- additional vegetable starch
Depending on the desired consistency of your vegan cheese, you can also use a vegetable gelling agent in the form of agar-agar.
Below we would like to introduce you to some simple recipes for the most popular types of cheese . If you have the basic ingredients mentioned above in the house, you can get started straight away.
Vegan sliced cheese
You only need a few ingredients for this. Use previously soaked cashews - about 50 to 150 grams, depending on the recipe - along with about 15 to 30 grams of nutritional yeast. The whole thing goes into the blender together with water, a little lemon juice and the desired spices.
In addition to salt and pepper, onion and garlic provide a good base for cheese alternatives . A little turmeric provides the typical yellow tinge. Separately, mix cold agar-agar and boil it until a thick mixture is formed.
Now add the remaining chopped ingredients. Bring everything together briefly and let the mixture thicken a little while stirring. Then fill them into a suitable mold and let the whole thing rest in the fridge for a few hours.
Delicious variety with cashew nuts
Because of their nutty taste, cashews offer a versatile base for cheese substitutes . For further processing , the first step is to soak them in water for at least two hours.
However, it is best - even when using other nuts - to give them one night. You then create your very own vegan cheese alternatives using additional ingredients.
Plant-based mozzarella
Here you can grab the previously soaked cashew nuts that are common for vegan alternatives . Plus about two tablespoons of previously soaked psyllium husks. Put these in the blender together with the liquid, the cashew nuts, a little lemon juice and a little salt.
Other spices are added to taste. The mixer creates a thick mass that just needs to be shaped into the right shape. Let it cool down a bit in the fridge and you're done.
Vegan cream cheese
Here too, cashew nuts are used as a base. Together with miso paste and bread drink plus suitable spices or herbs, a creamy mass is created. This goes into a sieve lined with cotton cloth, which you hang over a bowl.
Now let the mixture drain at room temperature for up to 24 hours. The cheese substitute for vegan cream cheese is ready.
As an alternative to cashews, you can also use a plant-based unsweetened yogurt substitute as a base. You can season the mixture as you wish. Here too, you use the sieve method so that the liquid drips off. A small dash of oil makes the consistency creamier.
Vegan parmesan and grated cheese substitute
To make vegan parmesan, it is enough to mix yeast flakes with ground cashews. The nuts make the consistency a little firmer, as is usual with the original grated hard cheese. As a quick cheese substitute for grated cheese, you can also simply use the yeast flakes on their own.
We hope you have fun trying it out!
Theresa studied media communication, loves writing and her favorite product are the vegan turmeric balls. With their help you should be able to turn your question marks into inspiration. If you have any comments or requests, please write to her here: online@greenforce.com
