Category: Vegan Cheeses

Italian, Tofu, Vegan Cheeses

Tofu Ricotta

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Tofu Ricotta
Tofu Ricotta

Before all of the wonderful plant-based products on the shelf these days, if I wanted ricotta cheese, I had to make it myself. It was one of the recipes that I learned how to make in culinary school.

Lately, the cost of my favorite ricotta has gone from reasonable to ridiculous.  I just cannot pay nearly $10.00 for an 8 oz container of ricotta when I can easily make it for half the price.  If you don’t have a food processor, do not fret!  You can easily make it the old-fashioned way in a bowl and mash the tofu with a fork.

I love it as a spread on toast with fresh or roasted veggies!  It’s terrific for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!  Frankly, the possibilities are endless!

This tofu ricotta is easy to assemble and tastes much like milk-based ricotta!  You can also add fresh herbs like basil or oregano.  Add 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin and some fresh nutmeg, and make my stuffed shells!

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Tofu Ricotta

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 8 1x
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Description

Used as a spread or a dip, this is wonderful in pasta or on toast!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 block of extra firm tofu (12 oz), finely crumbled (no need to press)
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil; olive or grapeseed oil
  • 2 1/2 tbsp shallot, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Drain tofu. I didn’t press mine but did hand squeeze a lot of the water out.
  2. Add the crumbled tofu, tahini, nutritional yeast, and shallot to a food processor.
  3. Pulse it in the food processor. Don’t let the food processor run. You don’t want this to turn into a paste. Just pulse it a few times until your ricotta is chunky.
  4. Remove tofu from the processor and add to a bowl.
  5. Add the garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  6. Slowly drizzle oil, and mix well.
  7. Stir and add sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
  8. Enjoy!

Notes

This freezes super well! The texture may even get better after freezing and thawing. Freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy as usual.

 

 

Mexican, Vegan Cheeses

Nut Free Vegan Queso

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Nut Free Vegan Queso
Nut Free Vegan Queso

Greetings! A few weeks ago, I was asked to create vegan, gluten-free, nut-free meals for a woman and her family of five. One of the trickiest recipes to make vegan and nut-free is cheese! Cashews and almonds are a staple in most plant-based cheeses! This one uses flour and is like a béchamel but with nutritional yeast and seasonings. I like this recipe because it can be as thick or as thin as you want.

If you want a dip, skip the stock, or at least don’t use as much of it. Use all the stock if you want it thin for a drizzle on enchiladas or nachos. It makes an excellent base for a broccoli cheddar soup, too! I like it atop my veggie scramble! 

I made this gluten-free using a 1:1 gluten-free flour. If you have no aversions to regular wheat flour, go for it! I am one of the unlucky 5% of people with a true wheat allergy (like hay fever) and a gluten allergy. Gluten is a super sticky protein and very inflammatory for some of us.

I added green Tabasco to mine, and the dip was gone within a few hours! Green Tabasco is a milder version of regular Tabasco, and I use it on everything, including popcorn! Anyway, enjoy this recipe! It’s a good one! And, as always, when you make it, tag me and let me know how you liked it!

XOXO,

Steph

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Nut Free Vegan Queso

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 20
  • Yield: 4-6 cups 1x
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

I love this recipe and I think you will too!  It is super good with a few dashes of green tabasco!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 Tbsp vegan butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 cloves)
  • 4 Tbsp gluten free 1-1 all-purpose flour*
  • 1 3/4 – 2 cups unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 2 – 2 ½ cups vegetable stock
  • 5 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • 4 Tbsp mild green chilis (optional)
  • 1 Tbsp green Tabasco
  • ½ Tbsp maple syrup or organic cane sugar

Instructions

  1. Heat large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add butter and let it melt and start to sizzle – about 1 minute.
  2. Add minced garlic. Cook for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.
  3. Add flour 1 Tbsp at a time and whisk. (Don’t worry if it’s a little lumpy).
  4. Cook for 1 minute, then whisk in milk slowly. Stirring constantly.
  5. Add vegetable stock and whisk until smooth. Bring to a low boil.
  6. Add nutritional yeast, salt, cumin, chili powder, maple syrup, and green chilis, and tabasco, if using.
  7. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more nutritional yeast for extra cheesiness, salt or tabasco for savoriness, or sweetener for flavor balance.
  8. Garnish with red pepper flakes and fresh cilantro or pico de gallo. Enjoy with chips, or atop Mexican dishes, such as nachos, enchiladas, or tacos!
  9. Store leftovers in a glass jar or container in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a small saucepan over medium heat. Best when fresh.

Notes

*Makes a great Queso dip!  You can use it in a crockpot but be sure to keep a cup of stock nearby so you can add to it as the dip may thicken with the heat.

Keywords: Queso, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, cheese

Almonds, Vegan Cheeses

Almond Chèvre

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Almond Chèvre
Almond Chèvre

This is THE best recipe for creating a rich vegan-style goat cheese! It’s tangy like goat cheese, creamy, and a bit crumbly like a Boursin, and You can slice it, diced, crumbled, even baked! It is also the rock star of my vegan cheese board! Made with coconut milk and almonds, this cheese can be ready to eat in as little as an hour. Quick note, be sure to buy “refined” coconut oil. If you use extra virgin or unrefined coconut oil, your cheese will taste like coconut.

Since it’s a cultured cheese, the longer it sits at room temperature, the tangier it will be. The sweet spot seems to be about 48 hours! I added one probiotic capsule to culture it. But if you like it tangier, you can add the contents of an additional probiotic capsule!

I found many recipes that use macadamia nuts or cashews, both of which are very expensive. For this recipe, I opted for blanched, slivered almonds. They’re inexpensive, and yet they have the mild flavor and similar fat content of the other two nuts. Fat is important for making cheese!

This cheese makes a great filling for ravioli or tortellini! It also makes a mean bruschetta! If you make this, please tag me and let me know how you like it!

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Vegan Cheeses

Vegan Romano Cheese

Featuredby Stephanie Bosch2 Comments on Vegan Romano Cheese
Vegan Romano Cheese

This recipe is an excellent substitution for Romano cheese. And it’s cheaper than buying some of the pre-made vegan cheeses in the store. Not that I’m opposed to those cheeses. Some of them are great! It’s hard to find the ones I prefer locally, so I buy a favorite vegan parmesan through Thrive Market.

It can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 6 months in the refrigerator, too! The texture of this “cheese” is a lot like a grated romano cheese, and we always keep a jar of it on hand! It works well as a topping on pasta, popcorn, and salads. You name it. I love it on top of my potatoes au gratin and use it in my Cacio E Pepe.

Enjoy!

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Vegan Romano Cheese

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
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Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 Cup Organic Raw Cashews
  • 3 Tbsp Organic Almond Meal
  • 2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
  • 1/2 tsp Organic garlic
  • 1/4 Tsp Organic Dehydrated Onion
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse ingredients into a fine meal texture.  Store in an air-tight container for up to four months in the pantry, or six months in the refrigerator. 

Appetizer, Holiday, Vegan Cheeses

Easy Vegan Nosh Platter

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Easy Vegan Nosh Platter
Easy Vegan Nosh Platter

The holidays are a great way to showcase your artistic side! Making a great vegan charcuterie board such as this just a few years ago would have been much more complicated than it is now! There are so many great choices out there for vegan meats, cheeses, sauces, and even plant-based meats!

The key is knowing how to put it all together! To me, variety is the spice of life! So I like to find a variety of hard cheeses, soft cheeses, dips, and crackers. Daiya makes a great Farmhouse style block cheese, and of course, Miyoko Schinner, the original Queen of the Vegan Cheese, makes some pretty amazing cheeses that will blow your vegan minds!  I like to slice the cheeses in different ways. Cubed, quartered, triangled, wavy, or ribboned, there is no wrong way to slice! In face the more the merrier!

Other accouterments might include olives (if you can find olive branches, they make a great garnish), pimentos, any variety of nuts, seasonal fruits, fresh figs, and don’t forget your garnishes! Sometimes, I will slice and use a toasted baguette! In the photo above, I made a sun-dried tomato cheesecake with rosemary. As a garnish, I used fresh sprigs of rosemary with some fresh cranberries for a festive look!

The other key to a good board is to have things spread out evenly. If you have a spread on one side, make sure you have one on the other side too! Balance is key! The best part is that it will allow you to showcase your artistic side and delight your guests! Don’t forget to add a few cheese knives and picks! I like the stainless steel picks because they can be reused! Whatever your style, have fun and enjoy!

Dairy Free, Vegan, Vegan Cheeses

Herbed Vegan Goat Cheese

Featuredby Stephanie Bosch2 Comments on Herbed Vegan Goat Cheese
Herbed Vegan Goat Cheese

I adore Julie Piatt, aka Sri Mati. She is the author of “This Cheese is Nuts” and is also what you might call my spiritual mentor. She is a peace-loving hippie momma and a vegan. And she has created the best vegan version of goat cheese or chèvre that I’ve ever had. I make this recipe at least 2-3 days before I want to use it. I think the longer it has to sit and ferment, the better.

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Julie Piatt’s Macadamia Nut Herbed Goat Cheese

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
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Description

If you don’t have a dehydrator, don’t fret. You can use your oven on the lowest setting (mine is 150°) and bake for 1 hour.  Because I make a lot of vegan cheeses I always keep acidophilus caps in the fridge.  Also, I think it goes without saying that you do have to open the capsules before using, but I’ll say it anyway!  

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups raw macadamia nuts
  • 1 capsule acidophilus (3-billion active-cultures strain)
  • 1/2 tsp. + 1/8 tsp Celtic sea salt 
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 tsp refined coconut oil (make SURE it says “refined”)
  • 1 tsp Himalayan sea salt
  • 2 Tbsp za’atar, or other herb combo such as thyme, oregano, marjoram

Instructions

  1. Add everything but the za’atar to blender.  Blend on medium speed until smooth.  Depending on your mixer this could take anywhere from 45 seconds to 3-4 minutes.  
  2. Transfer mixture to the center of cheese cloth.  Gather the edges and tie off each end with string.  Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 90° for 24 hours.  If you do not have a dehydrator you can achieve something similar in a low oven at 170° for one hour.  
  3. Once aging is complete remove cheese from the cloth  including the rind, and add to stand mixer. Mix until light and fluffy.  
  4. Adjust seasonings to taste.  She recommends adding the remaining 1/8 tsp, if too mild.
  5. Turn cheese out onto clean workspace and divide in half.  Roll 1/2 of the cheese inside wax paper until it forms a nice even log.  Repeat with the other half. 
  6. After the logs have set roll in herb mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.  
  7. Serve

 

Dairy Free, Mexican, Vegan, Vegan Cheeses

Vegan Queso Blanco

Featuredby Stephanie Bosch3 Comments on Vegan Queso Blanco
Vegan Queso Blanco

Sweet dreams are made of cheese! I think I’ve mentioned this a few times, but the most challenging part of being a vegan was giving up the cheese. I even went so far as to create and teach a vegan cheese class! I adore this vegan Queso Blanco! It is so yummy and so easy to make. I put it on everything from my enchiladas to making a delicious mac-n-cheese. Mostly, I stand around with a plate of warm tortilla chips and dip until my heart’s content! I hope you love it as much as I do!

The other great thing about this recipe is that it is cholesterol-free, yep 100% plant-based, and no oil! Serve this dip piping hot, and don’t be surprised when it disappears quickly! Easy to re-heat with just a tablespoon or two plant-based milk and microwave on medium heat for 30 seconds. Stir, and add 30 seconds as needed until warm!

Vegan Queso Blanco
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Vegan Queso Blanco

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 cups 1x
  • Category: Vegan Cheese
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This oil-free vegan queso is ready in less than 15 minutes! So yummy, you can add as much or as little heat as you want by skipping the jalapeños or doubling them up! Enjoy!

 

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup raw cashews, soaked overnight, if not using high powered blender
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • 1 cup plant-based milk (I use Oatly oat milk)
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp tapioca starch (for a gooey consistency)
  • 1–2 tsp salt
  • 1 (4 oz) can pickled jalapeños with juice
  • 1 can tomatoes with green chili’s, like Rotel
  • Dash turmeric for color, if desired

Instructions

  1. Warm a medium-size skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp vegetable stock and onions. Sauté onions until done and translucent, about 7-8 minutes. Remove onions from pan, and add to blender. Add all remaining ingredients except the Rotel tomatoes, if using. Blend until very smooth. If using a Vitamix, about 45 seconds on high.
  2. Transfer to a saucepan and put on the stove over medium-low heat. Heat until desired consistency, continually stirring so as not to burn the bottom. 
  3. Taste and add extra salt if desired. Pour vegan queso into a serving bowl and stir in the 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeños and drained can of Rotel if using. Garnish and serve.
  4.  

Notes

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge about 5 days. When reheating, add additional unsweetened plant-based milk, if desired, to thin to desired consistency.

You can use chicken broth instead of vegetable if you’re not vegan.

I use a Vitamix and love it.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 12
  • Calories: 101
  • Fat: 7g
  • Protein: 3g

Keywords: Vegan Queso Blanco

Soups, Vegan, Vegan Cheeses

LG’s Smoky Beer Cheese Soup

Featuredby Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on LG’s Smoky Beer Cheese Soup
LG’s Smoky Beer Cheese Soup

I’ll be honest. I love cheese. It was, in fact, the most challenging thing for me to give up as a vegan. As a result, I even created and taught a class around the art of vegan cheese making. Years ago, when I first went plant-based, the vegan cheeses at the store always fell flat. The texture was off, and the taste was subpar, at best. Fast forward to now, my friends. I am so happy to say that Daiya has come up with a Farmhouse Style block cheese that is extremely good and quite impressive!

I serve in on my charcuterie boards, and many of my non-vegan friends are amazed at how delicious it is! It looks like cheddar, feels like cheddar, and tastes like cheddar! That said, I had never really used it in a recipe until now! It was everything I’d hoped it would be! It melts exceptionally well and adds a rich depth of creamy goodness! Very pleased, and I think you will be, too! This soup is for you, Lisa G. I hope you like it!

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LG’s Smoky Beer Cheese Soup

  • Author: Stephanie Bosch
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 cups 1x
  • Cuisine: Soup
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

Delicious smoky cheddar beer soup!  Serve it in a bread boule, and voila, you are in cheese heaven!  

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, finely chopped
  • 2 medium shallots, finely chopped
  • 1 large jalapeño, seeded and chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • ⅛ tsp liquid smoke
  • One 12-ounce bottle lager or pilsner
  • About 2 1/4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup plant-based milk
  • 1 package of Daiya Cheddar Farmhouse Style block, coarsely grated
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • Bread Boule, for serving

Instructions

In a dutch oven, bring ¼ cup veggie stock to a simmer over medium heat. Add celery, carrots, shallots, and jalapeno, cook until tender, about 7 minutes.  Add more stock 1 tbsp at a time, as needed, to prevent sticking.   To the dutch oven add the flour and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until lightly browned about 2 minutes. Whisk ½ the beer and all the stock into this roux until incorporated and bring to a simmer. Cook until thickened, about 8 minutes. Add the milk, and cheddar cheese, and the remaining beer and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick and creamy, about 5 minutes. Blend with an immersion blender, or blend half of the soup in the blender, then add the remaining soup, and blend until smooth.   Stir in the liquid smoke and season with salt and pepper. Add a few tablespoons of broth if the soup is too thick. Serve the soup with french bread!

Notes

I used a Belgian style farmhouse ale, and it was delicious! You can use Daiya’s Farmhouse Jalapeño Havarti, or their Smoked Gouda, for this recipe as well.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 300
  • Fat: 14
  • Saturated Fat: 2
  • Carbohydrates: 31
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 13
Appetizer, Dairy Free, Vegan, Vegan Cheeses

Chili Cashew Queso

Featuredby Stephanie Bosch1 Comment on Chili Cashew Queso
Chili Cashew Queso

What an awesome day on Show Me St. Louis.   Dana and Anthony were fantastic!  Here is the Chili Cashew Queso recipe that I made on today’s show.  The recipe is a variation of a Dana Schultz recipe from “The Minimalist Baker.”    Love her, and love her recipes!

Just because you give up dairy doesn’t mean you have to give up cheese!   Many things can make milk!  You just need milk with higher fat content to make good rich cheese.  Hence, cashews! I keep this cheese on hand all the time. I use it as a sauce for macaroni and cheese, and as a base for my famous black bean dip!  But one of my favorite things to use it for is the base for a broccoli potato soup!  Sometimes, I just shamelessly stand over the bowl and eat it until I’m about to burst.  Loaded with protein and spices, this cheese sauce it my absolute favorite.

To heat or reheat microwave, covered, in 30-second bursts, whisking at each interval and thinning with water as needed.  Or re-warm on the stovetop, whisking occasionally and thinning with water as needed.

AMAZING-10-minute-Vegan-Queso-No-cashew-soaking-involved-just-blend-season-and-add-hot-water-vegan-glutenfree-208x300

Easy Chili Cashew Queso

1 ½ C. raw cashews

1 cup hot water

3 Tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cumin

Pinch chili powder (optional)

1 chipotle in adobo with a little sauce

Instructions:

  • To make the Queso, add all ingredients to a high -speed blender and blend until smooth. Stop to scrape down the sides at least once.
  • Feel free to substitute salsa, roasted jalapenos, or your favorite hot sauce in place of the chipotle pepper.   The sauce is also really delicious with no heat!
Classes, Vegan Cheeses

Vegan Cheese Class–August 8th

by Stephanie BoschLeave a Comment on Vegan Cheese Class–August 8th

Please join me for my next vegan cheese class at Bike Stop Café in Chesterfield on August 5th. I will be featuring four cheeses including a cashew queso, a melty mozzarella, a delicious golden cheddar, and an almond chèvre that is to die for!

http://www.bikestopcafes.com/vegan-cheese-making