Smoked Cashew Cheese Recipe [easy healthy vegan cheese] (2024)

FAQs

Is vegan cashew cheese healthy? ›

The cashew-based cheese alternatives were the most likely products to be low in sodium (Table 1). Over 80% of the cheese alternatives were low in calories, while only 2% were high in fat.

A resounding yes, it sure does, not all of it, but vegan cheese does melt and melt well. Just like non-vegan cheese, there will be some that aren't created to melt, nor do it well, it's just the same. Make sure to cook vegan cheeses on a lower heat than you would normally and keep an eye on them.

If you're avoiding regular cheese because of the saturated fat, you may not need to. Recent research shows cheese may actually be good for your health and reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease. Vegan cheeses are typically lower in fat, protein and calcium than regular cheese and are likely gluten-free.

Substitute for cashews: cashews are my preference as they are creamy and mild in flavor, but if you need to substitute them you can use macadamia nuts, blanched almonds, or raw sunflower seeds. All of these nuts and seeds will need to be boiled for about 15 minutes to ensure they have softened.

Some of the more processed types of vegan cheese contain large amounts of refined oils, preservatives, color additives and sodium while being mostly void of substantial nutritional value. In general, foods like this should be consumed minimally, if at all.

They also often lack other important micronutrients found in dairy cheese, such as iodine, vitamin B12, and vitamin D. While the occasional slice of vegan cheese is unlikely to do any harm, relying on it as a replacement for dairy could have costs to your health.

The main reason to try vegan cheese is if you are vegan or vegan-curious. Vegans choose not to eat foods made with animal products, for reasons both environmental and ethical, so by definition vegan cheese contains no such substances.

Which cheese is healthiest? Cottage cheese is probably the healthiest cheese, Rizzo says. “It's lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than most other cheese,” she explains. Rizzo recommends reaching for the low-fat variety, noting it still tastes good.

Why is vegan cheese so expensive? ›

The production of vegan cheese can be costlier than that of traditional dairy cheese due to the higher price of plant-based ingredients and the additional processing steps involved.

Raw unsalted cashews are what most recipes use. They produce the creamiest and smoothest texture when soaked. They also have an ideal neutral flavor that is perfect in recipes such as vegan ranch dip and cashew mayo.

Almonds are the most similar to cashews. They can be used in trail mix, granola, vegan cheese recipes, cream sauces, and made into milk. What is the best way to replace cashews in vegan cream sauces? If you're going for a nut-free alternative, try silken tofu or cauliflower for a cream sauce.

Nuts were a game-changer for vegan cheese because they provide a lot of fat: 100 grams of cashews have 44 grams of fat, versus 6.4 grams of fat in the same amount of soybeans. This allows for richer flavor and texture that gets closer to imitating animal milk dairy.

As a plant-based food, it's very low in saturated fat and has zero cholesterol (compared to 25 milligrams of cholesterol in an ounce of goat cheese). The short story is this: Cashew cheese can be a healthy option, depending on what you're trying to add or avoid in your diet.

Fermented foods offer a ton of health benefits, too. For instance, cultured cashew cheese is full of healthy probiotics (much more than you get from a standard supplement), which aid in digestion and improve overall gut health.

Nutritional Info: Per serving: 2 tablespoons, 180 calories (130 from fat), 14g total fat, 2.5g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 125mg sodium, 9g carbohydrates (1g dietary fiber, 0g sugar), 6g protein.

It heavily depends on the other ingredients. If your cashew cheeses ingredients are: water, cashews, potato starch, coconut oil, preservatives, colourings, etc. Then it is healthier to buy a regular dairy cheese that is made with only milk.