{"id":49756,"date":"2022-08-13T04:47:01","date_gmt":"2022-08-12T18:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chefspencil.com\/?p=49756"},"modified":"2023-10-31T23:48:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T13:48:08","slug":"cheese-substitutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chefspencil.com\/cheese-substitutes\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Delicious Cheese Substitutes That Everyone Can Enjoy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who doesn\u2019t love cheese?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin once said that all he needs is \u201ca good sharp knife and a good sharp cheese, and I\u2019m a happy man\u201d. On that same note, writer Avery Aames believes that \u201clife is great; cheese makes it better\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have to agree; there\u2019s just something about pairing a nice glass of wine with a delicious bit of cheese<\/a> at the end of a long day. But what if your body doesn\u2019t tolerate cheese very well? What if you\u2019ve decided to switch to a vegan diet? What if you\u2019ve become sensitive to dairy but are still unable to imagine your life without any cheese in it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not into dairy but still want a bit of consistency and protein in your dishes, worry not. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from nowadays, so you don\u2019t have to deny yourself a cheesy guilty pleasure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, check out some of our favorite cheese substitutes below, and give them a try the next time you\u2019re out grocery shopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Cashew Cheese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Cashew<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of our absolute favorite cheese alternatives is cashew cheese. It\u2019s a great non-dairy option usually made of blended cashews, water, nutritional yeast<\/a>, and some seasoning. Cashew cheese tastes nutty and salty and has a consistency similar to ricotta or hummus<\/a>, so it works great as either a sauce or a dip, in vegan mac & cheese, or as a spread on crackers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can make your own, or try vegan cheese brands like Treeline Treenut Cheese, which use cashew nuts that are naturally cultured and aged to perfection!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Sweet Potato Sauce<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sweet
Credits: @pleantyfood<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another delicious option to use instead of cheese is sweet potato sauce! This creamy alternative is super easy to make; you just need to mash up some sweet potatoes, add some carrots, onions, some lemon juice, white beans, and finish with some salt and pepper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This saucy concoction is also great in vegan mac & cheese, or as a delicious, healthier option to dip your nachos into. If you want to pack in some extra flavor and make your sweet potato sauce a bit more smokey, you can also add some soy sauce, paprika, liquid smoke, or garlic powder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Vegan Pesto <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Just the thought of a nice, hot bowl of perfectly-cooked pasta covered in delicious pesto is enough to make our mouth water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you\u2019re vegan or want to avoid dairy in your diet, you might want to steer clear of store-bought pesto. That\u2019s because, usually, pesto<\/a> is made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, spices, and freshly-grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t worry; you can make your own vegan pesto and still enjoy your delicious pasta recipes without worrying about dairy. Just use basil, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and walnuts or pine nuts. If you want that extra \u2018cheesy\u2019 flavor in your pesto, add some nutritional yeast, as well, and voil\u00e0 \u2013 dinner is ready!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Tofu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tofu\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you like a firmer texture to your vegan cheese, or want to find a healthier, non-dairy alternative to mozzarella to throw on your homemade pizza, give tofu a try. It\u2019s incredibly easy to find in most grocery stores and comes in many flavors and seasoned with different spices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tofu will not melt like cheese<\/a> does, so you won\u2019t really be able to use it as a dip or a spread, but because of its firmness, it\u2019s a great replacement for a meat protein in different dishes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want some extra consistency in your vegan or vegetarian dishes, tofu can provide that high-protein, low-fat kick. You can think of it as a great substitute for feta cheese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Hummus <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Hummus\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not yet a fan of hummus, then you\u2019re definitely missing out, especially if you\u2019re looking for a delicious alternative to cheese. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hummus works absolutely wonderfully as a spread, and even as a sauce for pasta or a pizza topping. It has a rich and salty taste and a thick, creamy consistency that makes it ideal as a cheese substitute in a meal, or as a healthy snack throughout the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The great part is that hummus is easy to find at most grocery stores or food markets, and it comes in a variety of flavors. You can also make your own homemade hummus<\/a> and dip your chips in it, and you can even mix it with some vegan pesto for a bit more flavor.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Zucchini Cheese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Credits: @gilbertiesorganics<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If cashew cheese is not your thing, then maybe you should give zucchini cheese a try and see if that works better for you. It\u2019s also a great alternative if you\u2019re allergic to nuts, or if you like a more solid consistency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because you can make your own delicious slices of zucchini cheese, and throw them in a salad or enjoy them as a snack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You just need to steam and blend your zucchini and throw in some lemon juice, coconut oil, some salt, nutritional yeast, and gelatin, and refrigerate the mixture in a pan. Then you just take it out of the fridge, slice it up or cut it up into cubes, and add to your favorite recipes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something to note is that zucchini cheese is non-dairy but not vegan, since it requires gelatin (an animal-based product) in the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Tahini Spread<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tahini<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tahini spread is one of the easiest, tastiest cheese alternatives to make at home and add to your salad, sandwich, dip, and any other recipe you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s made of just sesame seeds and a bit of olive oil, and has a creamy, spreadable consistency. It works great as a salad dressing, with hummus<\/a> and baba ghanoush<\/a>, and plenty of other Middle Eastern<\/a> and Mediterranean dishes<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have the time to grind sesame seeds yourself, there are plenty of options that you can find in health food stores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you’re looking for substitutes for certain types of cheeses, we got you covered. Check out the links below to a wide range of cheese substitutes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n