"I would go vegan except for cheese".
I have heard this said many times, and I have three responses to this. My first is: "well then go vegan except for the cheese"!
This idea that you have to be all or nothing is not helpful. It's so much better to eat mostly plant-based, and have the occasional animal product, than it is to eat animals products at every meal, just because it's too difficult to be fully vegan. Doing something is a whole lot better than do nothing at all! If you are on a path to a more plant-based diet, that's totally awesome, and I support you. High-five my friend!
So that's my first response.
My second response is to explain how dairy is physically addictive because it contains the opiate casomorphin. Yeah notice the "morphin" part of that word. Look familiar? All animal milk contains casomorphin, even human milk! It's thought to be there, so that the infants will want to drink milk, and thus grow into healthy babies who will eventually wean off of milk... Somehow humans decided weaning was no longer necessary, just switching to another species milk is the way to go! Weird when you think about it.
Back to casomorphin. A big problem is that cow's dairy has about 20 times the amount of casomorphin than human milk does, and then when you compress that into cheese, it's even more dense. So yes, cheese is physically addictive. It takes about a month for your body to get rid of this addiction, then you might even start to realize that yes cheese really does smell like feet, and no, that doesn't make you want to eat it. The amount of times I have to hold my breath when sitting near a cheese plate at a party... (and this is coming from a former cheese addict).
Don't believe me? Check out this video, and prepare to have your mind blown.
My third (and I think most scrumptious) response is, you don't have to give up cheese! Vegan cheese is totally a thing, a totally delicious thing. Woot woot!
Don't believe me, just take a look at this. ↓↓↓
More and more stores are selling vegan cheeses, and we are starting to see some really tasty ones on the market. So you can totally buy those. Or amazing bloggers from around the web have created so many cheese recipes that will totally blow your socks off (but your cheese won't smell like feet).
These cheese recipes vary in technique, ingredients, flavours, and textures so you are sure to find your new favourite dairy-free goodness. Get your cheese knives ready! Time to dive into all of that vegan cheese goodness.
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): The Best Vegan Mozzarella
Ceara's Kitchen: Nut Free Vegan Cream Cheese
Fragrant Vanilla Cake: Raw Lavender Lemon Chevre
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Nacho Cheese
Lands & Flavors: Basic Almond Cheese
Lands & Flavors: Sharp Vegan Nut Cheese
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Homemade Vegan Mac & Cheese Powder
Green Evi: Vegan Tofu Feta Cheese
Green Evi: Walnut and Herb Vegan Cheese
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Quick & Easy Vegan Cottage Cheese
Peppers & Peaches: Spiced Cashew Cheese
Baked in: Vegan Pepperjack Cheese
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Cranberry & Thyme Vegan Cheese Ball
Jennifer's Kitchen: Vegan Mozzarella Cheese
Avocados and Ales: Mozzarella Aquafaba Cheese
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Baked Almond Snacking Cheese
An Unrefined Vegan: Vegan Roasted Garlic & Fresh Herb Cream Cheez
Yes I am Vegan: Sliceable Vegan Cashew Cheese
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me!): Vegan Cashew Cream Cheese - 3 ways
Elephant Journal: Chickpea Cheese
It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken (that's me): Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Mozzarella
Bon Appetegan!
Sam.
AngelaKin says
Can't wait to try this. Really much needed stuff for a pure Vegan. Thank you for sharing this.
Anne Hernandez says
What a great collection of CHEESE! I still consider myself in the transition phase since my husband and I still have fish on occasion but have cut out all other meat and dairy. Cheese really was the hardest thing to give up so THANK YOU for this.
I am just a little (actually, a lot) confused about the cheese labeled "FRAGRANT VANILLA CAKE: RAW LAVENDER LEMON CHEVRE" - is it cheese or cake? If it's cheese, I want a vegan vanilla cake recipe, too, please.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Anne, so great that you are reducing your animal products so much, congrats! This post is a collection of recipes found on various different blogs. I listed the name of the blog, followed by the name of the recipe. So the name if the blog is "fragrant vanilla cake" and the recipe by that blog is called "raw lavender lemon chevre". Hope that clears it up! I have a recipe for vegan vanilla cake here which you can try. I also have even more vegan cheese recipes here. Enjoy!
Gina Caracci says
Cant wait to try these!
Any chance on a vegan provolone? lol
Your Rock Sam!!
Sam Turnbull says
I'll add it to my idea list! Thanks!
Kleanthis @ Yumbles Vegan Team says
Great article Sam! Most of the recipes look absolutely delicious. I will definitely try a few of them in the coming weeks. Your cranberry and thyme cheese ball recipe looks particularly interesting. I wonder if you have tried it with other dried food. I am considering raisins as an alternative.
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks so much! Raisins would be good too. 🙂
BRENDA says
Wow, this list makes me want to open a vegan cheese shop! Cheese is probably the most difficult to give up..alternatuves are often soy based..Thanks! I'm also looking for an alternative to grilling cheese.
Sam Turnbull says
I don't use soy in any of my cheese recipes. 🙂 Are you looking for a grilled cheese sandwich?
Karen says
Hi Sam,
I just discovered your blog this week. Oh yeah!! I'm what I like to call a "vegan-leaning vegetarian," i.e. not totally vegan, but on that end of the spectrum. The thought of drinking a glass of cow's milk makes me feel queasy. Cheese, however, is a conundrum. I really appreciate your thoughts on doing as much good as you can, without the requirement of being perfect. I'm also not a "preachy" vegetarian, as my husband will attest. 😉 I'm drooling at all these vegan cheese recipes, and can't wait to try them. The ones in the stores, in addition to being ridiculously expensive, have so many extra ingredients, it doesn't seem any more healthy than the "real thing." Looking forward to trying your gooey mozzarella tonight, and the Cranberry & Thyme Vegan Cheese Ball for an upcoming dinner party. Whee! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! Welcome, Karen! Thrilled you found me, I hope you enjoy the recipes very much. That cheese ball is one of my faves 😀
piepie says
I love your "first response", I have been Vegetarian for 17 years and periodically vegan. In those 17 years, I even ate meat 3 or four times. My grandma forgot I don't eat meat and spent hours in the kitchen, so I ate it. And still consider myself a vegetarian.
The idea that you have to stop eating all animal products at once and forever is actually harmfull to veganism. I think many more people would at least try if those few obnoxious people who treat veganism almost as a religion weren't often screaming louder than the huge group of reasonable people. So I love how chill you are on that issue.
Im almost sorry I have to bring up the casomorphine thing. It shouldn't be the most important reason to stop eating cheese anyway,I get that you're not a doctor and got the information from an expert you trust, but many scientists disagree. That doesn't mean cheese is good for you, it's just not the casomorphine that's the problem.
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks, piepie! Glad you enjoy my approach 🙂
Jennifer Peters says
Can't wait to try all of these... I need a melty cheese replacement for monterry jack cheese. Something that I can use in a quesadilla or my favorite green chili cornbread recipe that layers the peppers, monterrey jack cheese and then cornbread batter. I will have to try the melty mozzarella and see if that would work.
Sam Turnbull says
I think that will work wonderfully. 🙂
Marta says
Srsly woman, you want me to quit my day job and start to cook literally EVERYTHING what's on your blog?!
:)))
I can't find decent vegan cheese in UK (or they all taste to me very artificial but it's my personal opinion) - so I guess it's time to make my own cheese! yay!
btw, I agree with your first response - better to do something than do nothing at all; not everyone can become vegan overnight!
xxx
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! I hope you find a cheese recipe you love. Personally, I love my homemade mozzarella, and my cheese ball more than any store-bought cheese I have found 🙂
Destiny says
Agreed!
Heather says
I grew up in Eastern Iowa. I loved cheese more than life. But I have to smalls, one with a dairy allergy and one dairy sensitive. We decided to switch the whole family to a whole food plant based diet for our health. I do still miss cheese so much and fried food :(. Which cheese would make the best grilled cheese and say.....a mozzarella stick baked in the oven? I might just be living in a fantasy world of hope
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Heather! I would recommend my nacho cheese for grilled cheese and my mozzarella cheese for cheese sticks (you should probably freeze it and then slice it to make the sticks). Enjoy!
Heather says
Thank you so much.
Kimberly says
Is there such a thing as a block of vegan sharp cheddar? I've been vegan for over 2 years and still long for a big ol' block of aged cheddar. I have tried several brands, most of which were tasty, but not anything close to that sharp, creamy block of cheddar.
Sam Turnbull says
I have a recipe for nacho cheese which has a sharp cheddar taste, but it is melty and stretchy and not in block form. Hope that helps!
Janet says
Going to try your cheeses. My husband is basically vegan due to a program he is doing for his diabetes. The commerical vegan cheeses have so much "stuff' in them. Plus the price! Not to mention I am a total cheese addict.
on another note: it amuses me that there is alwats a pop up ad on the bottem of your vegan blog for Hormel pepperoni 😉
Sam Turnbull says
I hope you and your husband enjoy the cheese! Ah yes, that's annoying! I do have blocks on animal product ads, but unfortunately, they sometimes sneak through. I can't catch them all from my end because they change based on location and search history. If you wish me to have the ad blocked, just email me the link the ad takes you to when clicked. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the cheeses, one of my favourites to start with is my Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Nacho Cheese. Let me know if you have any more questions!
Muriel de Jong says
Was 30 jears vegetarian. Now i'm busey become Vegan. And i had a bad CHEESE adiction. So i'am hungry for Vegan cheese recepies
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! I hope these help 🙂
Karina says
I'd just like to let you know that this particular article is now my go-to for making vegan cheeses 🙂 I tried the Mozzarella melted cheese in OMG!! Mind blown!!! Before going vegan, cheese was a huge part of my life (I also looooved the blue cheeses!) and I'm not going to pay through the nose for store bought vegan cheese if I can make it just as good at home!! Thank you so much and keep up the great work xxx
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!!! So thrilled you love this list so much 🙂
Jamie says
My older sister just found out her 4 month old daughter is servely allergic to milk and because she is breast feeding she now has to cut out ALL dairy products and not being able to eat cheese is killing her. Lol. I on the other hand havent ate any dairy products in years but love these recipes!
Sam Turnbull says
Hopefully she will be able to kick the cheese addiction soon, and hopefully these vegan cheeses help 😀
John says
I absolutely respect your right to not eat cheese, I'm trying to eat a more plant-based diet as well. However, I do disagree with your statement that casomorphins share morphine's addictive properties simply because it contains the root "morphin".
Cheese has not shown to be addictive (at least not any more addictive than other high fat foods). In fact, all studies save one have found that casomorphins do not act on opioid receptors the way morphine does. Saying that casomorphin is like morphine because it contains "morphin" is as simplistic as saying polyethylene glycol (a laxative) must have similar biological effects as ethylene glycol (antifreeze).
If you care about the science, here are some case studies:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030294769988
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0024320581902976
http://www.gjpsy.uni-goettingen.de/gjp-article-tharoor.pdf
Sam Turnbull says
Hi John,
From what I understand casomorphin is an opiate, and all opiates are addictive. I highly recommend this speech from Dr. Neal Barnard that explains the effect. You might also find this speech by Dr. John McDougall on "The Perils of Dairy" interesting.
John says
No, casomorphin is not an opiate. And neither of these are peer reviewed studies, they're a single person's unlikely claims.
You can believe what you want, but it's not founded on science and gives veganism a bad reputation, which is a shame.
Sam Turnbull says
Regardless if cheese is addictive or not, there are countless scientific studies proving that dairy isn't good for our health, so I certainly wouldn't consume it for that reason, along with the animal cruelty, and the environmental impact. I highly recommend watching the documentary Forks Over Knives and reading the book The China Study. I also recommend checking out NutritionFacts.org. This site looks at all the scientific studies specifically focused on nutrition. Great stuff!
JonG says
I am afraid that Casomorphins (plural - they are not a single chemical entity) are in no way opiates. Morphine is chemically an alkaloid, casomorphins are polypeptides (chains of amino acids) from the breakdown of caseins (cheese proteins). Casomorphins are therefore chemically far closer to, say, insulin than to morphine, anyone telling you otherwise is scientifically illiterate, and deserves to have any other scientific claims they make treated with extreme scepticism.
Furthermore, it is virtually impossible for orally-ingested polypeptides to have psychotropic properties, because to be absorbed, they are first broken down to their component amino acids. There may be a few specific polypeptides that have their own absorbtion transport mechanism, but in general, only single amino acids or very short linkages of two or three can be absorbed. For exactly the same reason, insulin cannot be given by mouth - it has to be injected, or it will be digested and denatured.
There are many good reasons for a vegan diet (for example, anyone who claims to be a vegetarian for animal welfare reasons should be seriously reconsidering their dairy consumption) but I really cannot see how claims that are scientific nonsense will reasonably promote the vegan approach.
I'm afraid that I am not convicend by the "China Study Theory" either. Given that any deaths related to diet will depend on dietary factors in the decades leading up to the early 70s (when the death rates used in the original research were recorded,) then correlations based on what subjects were eating in the mid 1980s have to be treated with a degree of suspicion. They May be reliable, but it is certainly far from cast iron proof. And, of course, there is the whole question of how applicable evidence - no matter how reliable - gathered from rural Chinese subjects is applcable to those of us who are not rural Chinese. Remember Burkitt's Fibre hypothesis of colorectal cancer, based on very carefully collected data, but which turned out to have missed confounding factors. And for every fringe idea that eventually gathers enough hard evidence to oust the mainstream, there are hundreds that time proves to be wrong, and which get quietly forgotten.
Having had a good moan, some of those recipes look fantastic, and when my daughter is home again, I am sure that we will have a lot of fun trying them - many thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Goodness. You have a lot to say apparently, haha. I recommend hashing out these arguments with the scientists and not me, a food blogger. I'm not a scientist, doctor, or even nutritionist, and I would never claim to be any of those things. I'm simply quoting the scientists and doctors I follow. If you are interested in a more up to date source of nutrition information I recommend picking up the book How Not To Die by Dr. Michael Greger. I hope you and your daughter enjoy your vegan cheese.
Karen says
I love love love what you said at the beginning to go vegan except cheese. One day I want to be fully vegan but I live in a very animal product oriented house. I am vegetarian but not yet vegan and I love how nice you are. I see a lot of vegans that are rude. I cut out a lot of animal products but I still eat yogurt and eggs sometimes. I guess I'm just saying thank you for being nice and understanding. I cannot wait to try these recipes!! :))
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks so much Karen, and you're very welcome! They way I see it, is that every little bit helps, and so I want to encourage all those little bits! You don't win friend by yelling at them. 😉 I hope you enjoy the cheese recipes, and let me know if you ever have any questions or need any support 🙂
Bob says
It's understandable to not have all the patience in the world when people are making excuses to keep paying for animal torture and death. Doesn't it seem completely trivial that you live in a 'animal product oriented house' compared to the torture and death animals have to go through? There isn't exactly a nice way to go about it, or about any of the other excuses people make. A lot of people boast about baby steps, but that's because it's less effort than adult steps. We're not babies. If you were able to stop eating meat, there's no reason you can't stop eating eggs and yoghurt. They're no different from meat. Some would say they're more cruel than meat, because at least 'meat animals' aren't kept alive for years in miserable conditions, enduring yearly rape, etc.
It's a very serious moral issue. It's only a sign that you're still letting yourself be speciesist if you allow yourself to be wishy-washy about this issue, but not about others (like rape and murder of humans). People are gonna be right whether they're nice about it or not, and it's only up to you to change or stay the same (don't chalk it up to "vegans are rude so I won't go vegan" like some people do).
Karen says
Bob
I understand, I actually don't eat eggs or yogurt anymore. I cut out dairy because it gives me really bad reflux. I cut out dairy a while ago actually. And I only consume dairy or animals products if they're in my grandparents cooking or whatever which is rare because most of the time, I make my own food.
I know that not all vegans are rude. I actually think that's a stereotype. Although in all honesty, you don't know me so you could be nicer. I tried to only eat vegan in my house but that left me not getting enough calories and I dropped a lot of weight that I didn't need to lose. I'm still cut way back on animal products and still not eating meat.
I know that this may seem like an excuse but I'm going to go fully vegan when I live on my own. I deal with a lot of health issues and half the time I am too fatigued to make my own food and my family adds animal products. And don't dare tell me going vegan will cure my health issues. I've tried switching them to vegan burgers and vegan hot dogs and I buy dairy free milk and all that good stuff, but I am still a teenager and I don't have a lot of money. But I do eat these for myself.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy to hear that you are making so much progress Karen! Congrats.
Bob, while I totally see where you are coming from, I ask that you not direct negative comments at any of my readers. My blog is all about supporting any and all efforts towards veganism. Thank you.
Cassie says
Amazing! Took me 3 years to stop craving cheese. In other words, 3 years until I felt like I could be in a regular pizza place without putting my life in jeopardy... dairy allergu.
Sam says
Haha oh no! Well, I am so happy you were able to kick the addiction, and now you have have all the vegan cheese you like! 🙂
Lisa Favre says
Wonderful post, my best friend is a vegetarian and is looking to go vegan - so this round-up would be totally great to share with her!
Lisa Favre
http://marblecrumbs.com
Sam says
That's great Lisa!! So happy you love the post and are sharing it around 🙂
Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says
Thanks so much for including my cheese Sam! I am drooling over all of these delicious vegan cheese recipes!!!
Sam says
Totally drool worthy! Haha! You're very welcome Ceara 🙂
Omar @ Lands & Flavors says
This is such a valuable recipe roundup, Sam! Very nice...I want them allllllll! Thanks for including my recipes, too! 😀
Sam says
You're very welcome Omar, so happy you enjoy the post!
Emilie @ Emilie Eats says
This is seriously the round-up of my dreams!! When I was 10, I called myself the "cheese queen." Later on in my teens, I remember saying I could do vegetarian, but not vegan because of cheese. Well....here I am, vegan. A vegan blogger even, LOL. And I honestly haven't had any killer cravings. I've made your mozzarella a few times and it never disappoints - I want to try all of these!! I also really want to try Kite Hill products. Thanks Sam!! <3
Sam says
We have very similar dreams, haha! I too am a former cheese addict. I would come home from school or work and make myself a cheese plate with prosciutto or salami as my snack. My how things change... Just the thought of it makes me feel so sick!
I am so interested to try Kite Hill as well, I have heard many good things! So happy you love the post Emilie 🙂
Evi @ greenevi says
Yay, vegan cheeses! Absolutely love every recipe here! Thanks for including my recipes too 🙂
Sam says
You're very welcome, and I agree with you, yay vegan cheese! Haha
Nea says
Love when you do these type of posts!! The hearty vegan salads was my fav and very useful.
Sam says
Aww thanks Nea!
I am aiming to do a post like this every month, so I am so glad you like them. Let me know if you have any ideas for collections 🙂
Betty G says
I really love this list. Thank you so much!
Most of them are going in my "recipes to-do", I hope to test and taste them soon :D.
I've made the melty stretchy mozzarella about 3 times but the last time I finally used nutritional yeast. My husband was mind-blown. He was complaining so much when we had to go to an unusual store to find it XD It was worth it, though.
I was wondering if freezing to keep them longer would do something to the texture. Have you done it?
Thanks for the inspiration!
Sam says
Yay! So happy you enjoy the post Betty, and even happier you love my mozzarella recipe 🙂
You can freeze the mozzarella just fine and it should bounce back no problem. Actually, one follower froze it, then was able to grate it to use on her pizza which I thought was a neat idea!
Betty G says
I see a freezer stocked with vegan cheese in my near future 😀
I did use the cheese on pizza, though its stretchy quality made for a hard time arranging it "correctly".
Thanks again!
Sam says
Haha! Yes, hopefully that helps 🙂
LaTalullah says
OK Two Things:
One: I don't see MGSV Nacho Cheese on here. I think that's sacrilege. I've developed an addiction to that.
Two: What is your best tool to make puree?
I have a cute little food processor that I love, but my MGSV Nacho Cheese is more like a chunky cashew spread - Help! I need something so I can make purees for cheese recipes and ice cream recipes, etc, etc, etc
Thanks, Sam!
XOXO
Sati says
For us not familiar, what's MGSV Nacho Cheese? I used to love that fake nacho cheese, despite how much it doesn't resemble cheese or even food. Guilty pleasures...
Sam says
It took me a minutes, but I am pretty sure LaTalullah is referring to my Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Nacho Cheese recipe 🙂 You can totally have your guilty pleasure again!
Sam says
Haha, thank you LaTalullah!
I have two tools that I use, I am in love with my Blentec Blender it's truly amazing. I use that for all of my melty cheeses. If I want something a little more textured, I will use my Kitchen Aid Food Processor. Hope that helps!
Arlene says
Wonderful article, Sammi. All three responses are right on, and I also think animal milk cheese smells like feet, I always have, even though I'd eat it. It was repulsive and irresistible at the same time. Now we know why. Right this very minute I am trying not to eat the whole bowl of your Almond (instead of cashews) ricotta. It is so delicious, I can't believe it. Actually, I can. Yummmmmmmy.
Sam says
Thanks Arlene! I totally agree, cheese (especially blue cheeses which were my favourite), were repulsive and irresistible at the same time! So happy you are enjoying my ricotta recipe 🙂