Hey there, food lovers! I’m beyond excited to share a recipe that’s going to revolutionise your plant-based cheese game. Let’s talk about Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese – yes, you heard that right! This dairy-free delight captures the creamy, smoky essence of traditional Gouda but with all the goodness of plant-based ingredients. Whether you’re vegan, lactose-intolerant, or just curious about dairy-free alternatives, this smoked Gouda is a game-changer. Perfect for sandwiches, cheese boards, or just enjoying on its own, this recipe is surprisingly easy to make and packed with flavour. Let’s dive in and create some cheesy magic!
What is vegan cheese made out of?
Vegan cheese is made from a variety of plant-based ingredients that replicate the texture and flavor of traditional dairy cheese. Common ingredients include:
- Nuts and Seeds: Cashews, almonds, macadamias, and sunflower seeds are popular bases for creamy, rich vegan cheeses.
- Coconut: Coconut oil or cream can provide a fatty, smooth consistency similar to that of dairy cheese.
- Soy: Soy milk or tofu is often used to create a firm, sliceable texture.
- Nutritional Yeast: Adds a cheesy, umami flavor.
- Starches and Flours: Tapioca starch, potato starch, and arrowroot powder help thicken and give stretchiness to the cheese.
- Agar-Agar: A gelatinous substance derived from seaweed, used to firm up vegan cheese. This is really important if you want a firmer cheese to slice.
- Fermented Ingredients: Like miso paste or rejuvelac (a fermented liquid made from sprouted grains), which add depth and tanginess.
- Vegetables: Sometimes vegetables like carrots or potatoes are used, especially in cheese sauces, to add color and texture.
- Flavourings: Smoked paprika, garlic, onion powder, and other spices enhance the taste.
Combining these ingredients in various ways allows for a wide range of vegan cheese types, from soft and spreadable to firm and sliceable, all while being entirely plant-based.
How do you make vegan cheese melt?
To make vegan cheese melt, ingredients like tapioca starch or arrowroot powder are often added for stretchiness and a gooey texture. Coconut oil also helps with melting. It’s important to cook it over low to medium heat and to stir constantly until it reaches the desired consistency. However, for this recipe we are not trying to make a melting cheese. This a sliceable cheese.
Can I make vegan cheese without nuts?
Yes, you can make vegan cheese without nuts! Alternatives include soy milk or tofu, coconut milk, seeds (like sunflower or pumpkin seeds), and vegetable bases like potatoes and carrots. These alternatives are great for those with nut allergies. In this recipe, there are no nuts.
How do you make vegan cheese taste like real cheese?
To achieve a cheesy flavour, nutritional yeast is often used. Adding ingredients like miso, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and spices like garlic or onion powder can enhance the flavour. Smoked paprika or liquid smoke can add a smoky taste, mimicking cheeses like smoked Gouda.
Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese
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Love smoky cheese but want a dairy-free and healthy alternative? My Vegan Smoked Gouda Cheese is bursting with flavour while being totally sliceable – making it perfect for ‘cheese and crackers’.
Ingredients
1 400ml Coconut Milk
2 tbsp Nutritional Yeast Flakes
2 tbsp Agar Agar
1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt
1 tbsp Liquid Smoke
1 tsp White Miso
1/3 cup Filtered Water
Directions
- Place all ingredients except for the miso into a medium pot on the stove over low-medium heat. Whisk until combined.
- Stir frequently until the mixture turns more solid. This may take up to 10 minutes, but likely less. This depends on your stove settings. Remember to mix in the miso at this stage. Then turn off stove.
- Grease a container that you will place in the cheese mixture. Then pour in and flatten with a spatula.
- Place the cheese into the fridge for a few hours or until set. Then slice and enjoy on crackers.
Recipe Video
Notes
- You can find agar agar in most local asian supermarkets and only costs a couple of dollars per sachet.
