Top Five Vegan Cheeses

By Camille Lamb Tue., Nov. 20 2012 at 7:01 AM

2. Faux Feta and Bleu Crumbly "Cheeses"
I just tried Vegcuisine's organic soy bleu cheese for the first time less than a year ago, and it rocked my world. It crumbled like the real thing, had an authentic tangy bleu cheese flavor, and melted into a creamy mouthful of yum when eaten on crackers or in salads. The feta is equally good. They're made from all-organic ingredients, including soy milk, olive oil, and chia seeds (one of my favorite superfoods), and you could eat an entire brick of the stuff for a measly 150 calories, making them one of the healthier cheese alternatives. These two would make a great addition to holiday cheese plates alongside fresh fruit and some nice red wine or sparkling cider. Who said that being vegan means you have to forgo the finer things in life?

1. Tapioca-Based "Cheese"
Many vegans already know about Daiya cheese because it is hands-down the cheesiest non-cheese around. It seems to be the first-choice cheese alternative for many vegan restaurants, and for good reason. The tapioca and arrowroot flour-based cheese alternative is not only dairy-free, but gluten-free and soy-free, making Daiya a good choice not just for vegans but also for those with food allergies. Daiya comes either shredded (my favorite for recipes) or in sliceable wedges (good for cheese plates) in flavors like cheddar, mozzarella, pepperjack and jalapeno garlic havarti. Daiya cheese gets the number one slot for its flavor and versatility - not because it's the healthiest anti-cheese. It contains a lot of oil - both canola and coconut - but its flavor and texture are so convincing that I'd call it the best non-dairy cheese on the vegan market.

So there you have it: my favorite widely-available vegan cheeses. If you're a serious health vegan, though, you'll probably want to make a nut-based cheese at home. Cashew and almond cheeses are favorites. Just be sure to plan ahead; many recipes ask you to soak the nuts for 12 or more hours.

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Tags:

Galaxy Foods, Tofutti, Vegan Gourmet

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brian.jennifer.jones

This is useful for people who have recently discovered that dairy causes them to have migraines or other adverse effects. Thanks!

CheeseDefender

These are not cheese, with all respect to my vegan friends. They're processed foods that co-opt the name cheese... but they're just not. And to frame cheese as unhealthy in the article while then promoting processed foods is another example of why America doesn't understand wholesome, healthy and natural foods.

Real, artisan cheeses are made with little to no processing, the best with healthful raw milk, nutrient dense with HEALTHY fats, proteins and great digestive aids.

For vegans- eat what you will, I have no problem with that, but for the author, let's not further promote out-of-date thinking about real cheese. I'm off to enjoy a healthy slice of Isle of Mull Cheddar ;-)

CLowPlus

1 Like

@CheeseDefender Hi there, thanks for your feedback. I think I make it clear throughout that these cheese substitutes are not health food, but should be reserved for when a vegan is craving cheese but still does not want to go back to eating animal products for ethical reasons.

CLowPlus

@CheeseDefender Also, the soy bleu and soy feta are rather decent for you... as I state at the bottom of the article, you can make your own healthier cheese alternatives from nuts if you have the drive. They can be very delicious and healthy.

facebookdavidellis

Cheese is made from milk, no matter how " artisan " it is. Dairy cows suffer more than any other animal to appease the billion people with an addiction to moldy, puss...ijs