Savini Gauri
- Apr 18, 2022
- 3 min read

Vegan Cheese in Under 15 Minutes

Updated: Sep 13

By Savini Gauri

This 7 ingredients Vegan Cheese is as good as dairy cheese. It's easy to make and you'll love its taste.

I have been on a hunt for the perfect Vegan Cheese for a very long time. Most ready-to-eat options you find in the stores have this chalky mouthfeel that I don't like. So after a million recipe tests and trials, and an equal number of taste tests, I have finally zeroed down on the perfect Vegan Cheese recipe that requires minimal effort and preparation, limited ingredients, and no fancy cheesecloth or tools.

Why Make Thai Curry Paste at Home

Just because you practice a vegan or dairy-free lifestyle, you don't have to miss out on the goodness of cheese.

Here's why you'll love this cheese:

It's quick and easy. You only need 7 ingredients and less than 15 minutes. Using simple tools, this cheese can be made by beginners and experts alike.
It's versatile. You can spread it with a knife, grate it, or even melt it. Once you try this recipe, you may even start preferring it over regular dairy cheese (I know I do!) I personally love spreading it on my Flax and Sesame Crisps.
And most importantly....it tastes amazingly good.

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For those of you who are new to the blog, may not know this. But, through this blog, I aim to share recipes that are simple and easily implementable by people with all skill levels. In addition, I also try to develop and share recipes that are suitable for multiple dietary preferences and practices.

When you opt for a vegan lifestyle or even simply go off dairy products. One of the most difficult things to give up is CHEESE. Especially on pizzas, pasta, tacos, and stuff like that. So with this Vegan Cheese Recipe, I bring to you a cheese option that requires minimal time and effort. Also, it is a foolproof recipe with almost no room for disaster.

Ingredient Notes

This Vegan Cheese is made of 7 ingredients (including seasonings and water). So it's basically five ingredients and can be made in less than 15 minutes. What else does one want?

Cashew Nuts - No particular type, as long as they are peeled
Nutritional Yeast - It gives the cheese its cheeesyyyy flavor
Tapioca Starch - The starchiness comes from the starch. So don't skip it.
Vinegar
Salt
Garlic Powder - optional, though it adds a nice umami flavor
Water - Use room temperature water to ensure the cheese comes out smooth

See? Simple ingredients! Nothing fancy or difficult to pronounce.

Easy Instructions

My recipe is pretty easy and direct.

Prep the cashew nuts. It starts by boiling the cashew nuts in some water. Drain the water and let it cool down.
Prepare the cheese mixture. Put the cashew nuts along with all the other ingredients into the blender or food processor. Mix until it becomes a smooth liquid. Then, pass it through a sieve to ensure it is nice and smooth.
Cook the cheese. Pour this silky-smooth mixture into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Then we cook it on medium heat while continuously stirring it using a silicone spatula. In 2-3 minutes you will notice that the mixture will start turning thick and slightly chunky. Then it will come together as one piece.
Finish it off. Take it off the heat and transfer it into any heat-safe bowl. Nicely cover the surface with some plastic wrap and refrigerate. Voila!

You've got perfect vegan cheese. and believe it or not, it really is that simple and straightforward a recipe.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Cook on low heat.
Dont skip any ingredients.
Serve it fresh. When this cheese is fresh and hot, dip nachos in it and enjoy the cheese like a dip.

Does Vegan Cheese Melt?

Absolutely! If you put this cheese on a pizza and bake it in the oven, the starch in it melts making it all stringy and gooey.

How does Vegan Cheese Taste?

It tastes very similar to dairy cheese, if not better. The initial step of boiling the cashew for a few minutes helps get rid of the raw taste and makes it very similar to dairy cheese. You can always play around with the flavors by adding herbs, spices, and seasonings.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo #cookwithsavini on Instagram so we can see. Cheers, friends!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I enjoyed testing and tasting it!

Happy cooking!

Recipe FAQs

How should I store this Vegan Cheese?

In case you don't plan to use it immediately, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. This dairy-free cheese keeps well in a closed air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Does this Vegan Cheese melt?

Does this vegan cheese taste like the ones you buy in supermarkets?