Vegan Cheeses and 'cheesy' recipes
Cheese is often the very last animal product a prospective vegan dispenses with. However, giving it up need not be traumatic since there is now a growing selection of vegan cheeses available. While some people don't want to replace an animal product such as cheese with something that looks and tastes very similar, others find these products a useful and interesting addition to their diet.
Where can I buy vegan cheese?
Vegan cheeses are available from health food shops and larger branches of Sainsbury's and Waitrose. We have also provided details of manufacturers at the bottom of this page so you can enquire about suppliers in your area.
What are vegan cheeses made from?
Vegan cheeses are made from ingredients such as soya protein and vegetable oil.
Varieties of vegan cheese and how to use them
Hard cheese
Hard vegan cheese can be grated and sliced and used in lasagnes, scones, pizzas, sauces, sandwiches, rolls or baked potatoes. The various brands (listed at the bottom of the page) are quite different so do experiment! Most vegan cheese does not melt in quite the same way as cheese from cows’ milk. If you are making a dish with cheese on the top – such as pizza or cheese on toast – Redwoods ‘Super Melting Cheezly’ is perfect for the job, melting delightfully and turning brown and bubbly in the process. It is at the smoother and softer end of the hard vegan cheese range.
Soft cheese
For a really smooth mouth-feel try Bute Island vegan cream cheese in your savoury butties and rolls. The original flavour of both these brands can also be spread on to scones with some jam for a vegan cream tea.
Nutritional Yeast Flakes
These have a wonderful cheesy flavour and can be useful for cheese flavourings and toppings. They melt into sauces and casseroles and can be used on top of lasagnes and pizzas. If you are craving cheese, try the creamy cheese sauce recipe overleaf. The combination of vegan cheese and nutritional yeast flakes in this recipe is hard to beat.
Nutritional yeast flakes (such as the Engevita brand) are available from independent health food shops or online retailers, or failing that, contact Marigold Health Foods. Nutritional yeast flakes should not to be mistaken for brewers yeast powder, which is a different product.
Recipes using Vegan Cheese and Nutritional Yeast Flakes
Cheese Scones
Creamy Cheese Sauce
Hard White Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Quick Lasagne
Quick Pizza
Vegetable & Bean Moussaka
Suppliers of vegan cheeses
Hard Cheeses:
Bute Island Foods 01700 505357 www.buteisland.com
Sheese: Blue Style, Cheddar w Chives, Cheshire Style, Edam Style, Gouda Style, Cheddar Style, Mozzarella Style, Smoked Cheddar Style
Redwood Wholefood Company 01536 400557 www.redwoodfoods.co.uk
Cheezly: Greek Style, Mature White Cheddar Style, Mature Red Cheddar Style, Added bacon style, Garlic & Herb Style, Nacho Style, Mature Cheddar Style with Cranberries
Super Melting Cheezly: Mozzarella Style, Cheddar Style, Gouda Style, Edam Style
Florentino 01322 337711 www.mhfoods.net
Parmazano (can be sprinkled on foods)
Vegusto
UK and Ireland: www.vegusto.co.uk
Other European countries: www.vegusto.com
Cream Cheeses:
Bute Island Foods 01700 505357 www.buteisland.com
Spready Sheese: Cheddar Style, Chives, Garlic and Herbs, Mexican Style, Original