This is my love language.
Ooey, gooey, stretchy, melty, where have you been all my life- vegan mozzarella. I'm pretty sure I just made all my vegan dreams come true. I made this recipe four times this week, FOUR. That's how amazing this is. Just dip some tortilla chips in this bad boy and welcome to heaven.
You can also use this anywhere you would like a melty mozzarella experience, which is, um, everywhere! Let's see... pizza, lasagna, grilled cheese, dips, the possibilities of deliciousness are endless.
I haven't even gotten to some of the best news yet. This takes only 7 ingredients, one of them being water. It takes only 15 minutes to make, AND it doesn't even have any oils or "bad stuff". Can you tell I'm excited? I'm SO excited.
So what makes it stretchy and gooey. Tapioca! Who knew right? It's the main ingredient in Daiya, a well-known brand of vegan cheese, and I found that Somer McCowan from the blog Vedged Out also used tapioca starch in her Fresh Moxarella Cheese. She is one smart cookie, er.. well some smart cheese, because she knew what was up. I adapted her original recipe to make a mozzarella that suited my own taste buds but be sure to try her original recipe and check out her blog. So many delicious vegan recipes to be had!
Back to tapioca. Tapioca provides this amazing stretchy, melty quality that any good vegan cheese deserves. It is an absolute must for this recipe. Any other starch will make a thick sauce, but only tapioca will give it that stretch. If you can't find it in stores you can pick it up on Amazon here.
This recipe will stay in a melty stretchy state, even when cold, but if you are looking for a grate-able cheese, try my recipe for The Best Vegan Mozzarella.
To make melty stretchy gooey vegan mozzarella:
Watch my video to see how it’s done, or skip directly to the step by step photos below!
To make Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Mozzarella: Boil the cashews for 10 minutes until softened. Then toss into the blender with the remaining ingredients, and blend until completely smooth. It will be very watery, don't worry, it will get cheesy!
Pour it in a small sauce pan, and heat over medium-high heat. Stir to keep anything from burning. You will start to see clumps forming.
Then all of a sudden, magic! Everything comes together and makes this cheesy, melty, deliciousness. Keep stirring and cooking for another minute or two, to make sure it's finished firming up. It should take about 5 minutes to cook total. That's it! Done. So easy.
If you want to save it for later, store in an air tight container in the fridge. It won't firm up like a hard cheese, it will stay pretty soft, but let's get real, who needs hard mozzarella anyways?
Serve as a dip, spread onto some toast, dollop onto pizza, do whatever your creative cooking spirit tells you. Don't worry if you eat it all in one sitting (cause I would never do that), you can always make more.
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Melty Stretchy Gooey Vegan Mozzarella
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews, softened (see step 1)
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons tapioca starch (also called tapioca flour)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Softening the cashews:
- Softening the cashews first helps them blend. If you have a high-powered blender you may be able to skip this step, but if not, this step is important to get a smooth cheese. You can either boil or soak the cashews. To boil the cashews (the fast method): add the cashews to a small pot, cover with water, and boil for about 10 minutes until the cashews are very tender. To soak the cashews: add the cashews to a bowl, and cover with water. Let soak for 4 hours or overnight until tender. Drain and rinse cashews before using.
To make the vegan mozzarella:
- Add the cashews along with the 1 cup of water and all the remaining ingredients to a blender. Blend until completely smooth. It will be very watery.
- Pour into a small saucepan and put over medium-high heat. Continually stir. The cheese will start forming clumps, keep stirring and it will continue clumping until the mixture turns from watery to a thicker melty cheese sauce. This takes about 5 minutes. Serve hot or allow to cool and store in an air-tight container in the fridge for 2 - 3 days. The cheese will get thicker as it cools but will stay in a melty state.
Notes
*If you want to return the cold mozzarella back to dipping consistency, reheat over medium heat while stirring constantly so it doesn't burn. Once it is hot and bubbling it might have thickened up too much. You can thin it out by adding a splash of water at a time, stirring it in until desired consistency is reached.
*To ensure a smooth cheese, you may also want to pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth before cooking to remove any cashew bits that didn't grind up. This will ensure a smooth cheese texture.
Nutrition
R Young says
Loved this recipe!!! Thank you so much!!! I followed it to the T except I used red wine vinegar and arrowroot starch because that's all I had on hand!! I also omitted the nutritional yeast (didn't have any in my pantry) and it still tastes great!
Mike says
At least you followed it to a T.
Andre says
I am going to try and use it as a fondue cheese. I hope it works out.
Ann Marie says
This is a great recipe. I don't boil the cashews but let them soak overnight and use my Vitamix blender. I add 1 tsp red pepper flakes when cooking on stove, after it begins to thicken a bit. It gives it a nice 'pepper jack' flavor!
Fefe says
The recipe looks very nice! Will try it soon 🙂
I'm making a new menu with vegan options, i got all the ingredients but i have some hydrated tapioca starch powder from before, is it okay to use it on this recipe?
Shani says
Just had this in a toastie! Thanks for making it easier to be vegan -and satisfying those craving 🙂 Keep doing what you're doing, Sam!
Lisa says
I’ve made your sunflower cheese and your sharp cheddar multiple times since I discovered your website in October. Both are delicious!!
Which mozzarella recipe would you suggest for lasagna? This one or the shredded one or doesn’t it matter?
Thank you for providing such great recipes!
Cindy says
I Love this vegan version of poutine. This "cheese" is the pretty close to the real stuff. I had to copy and paste this recipe to a word doc because this website takes forever to upload and when it does there are way too many distracting pop-ups and advertisements. However, I am gratemful for this recipe thank you for tha!
Avery Bollinger says
Hi!!! I was wondering if there is a yeast-gluten free substitute for nutritional yeast in this recipe? I can have those so it’s hard to know what can substitute, but I want to try this sooo bad!!!!
Malin Pegenius says
Try some miso paste? Good luck!
Karen says
Just wanted to say that I’ve made this multiple times to perfection! I use arrowroot flour as a 1:1 replacement for the tapioca, otherwise I follow the recipe. Delicious and stretchy, it blows my mind every time. Great addition for our Friday night pizzas!
Sandra says
This is a really great cheese, and it's so easy to adjust to your liking just by putting in a few spices and such. It's actually my non-vegan roommate's favorite!
I also discovered that you can freeze it easily in the ice cubes BEFORE you heat it up, so when it's still all watery. Makes it super easy to use exactly the amount you need; for example, if I want a cheese sandwich, I just pop out two of the cheese-icecubs, heat them up until it's thickening and I have the perfect amount. So now I have two ice trays full of this mozzarella, waiting to be cooked 🙂
Ren says
Has anyone tried using soy milk in place of the cashews/water? Maybe I should just add a bit of oil to it to counter the fat content in the cashews? 🙂
Sandra says
I've tried it with soy-based cooking cream instead of water and it turned out delicious. I recommend!
Ren says
Awesome thank you!
Theresa says
This is amazing! Thank you!
Christina says
This is the first time I have used cashews to make cheese, I normally avoid it because cashews can be so expensive! But I decided to try this one for a vegan parmesan dish I was making and didn't want to buy vegan cheese.
I did have to order the tapioca flour online but found a good price and hope to find other recipes to use it with 😉
This recipe was so easy to make and my goodness, I was really impressed with the flavour!!! So simple but spot on!
Thanks!
Krystal J. says
Hey Sam I made this cheese and it was bom! Way better than store bought.
Martyna says
I've just had the best vegan pizza using this mozzarella! I only added a bit more salt 🙂
Allie says
It's hard to find good vegan cheese, but this came together quickly and tastes great! I upped the nooch 2x (cuz I love nooch), but other than that I followed the recipe. This is a great recipe for a pizza or a fundido dip.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed!!
Allison says
I can't have cashews, almonds, or sunflower seeds. Would macadamia nuts work for this? Could I use macadamia butter to save the soaking/blending step? Or would tigernuts possibly work? And same question using tigernut butter, or even tigernut flour?
ROB says
Yes, you can use macadamia too. More pricy if I'm correct but honestly better for vegan cheeses. You can increase chesiness with little white miso, and some liquid from lactofermented veg.
Yetişkin sohbet says
You have great shares, I like to follow thanks
Cindy Bass says
I love this "cheese" so much!!!!
Maggie says
I LOVE this recipe!! & your site! I'm making it today for the ?4th time... &(this time only) IN the blender it becomes SUPER-thick! I'm wondering 1-is my blender the problem? & 2- what can I do to fix the already super-thick cheesy-sauce I have!
Amy says
It may have gotten thick in the blender if you blended too long especially if you have a vitamin that heats up. Also in the notes above she mentioned if it’s thick then add spoonful of water at a time to thin to your liking
Freddy says
I love this recipe, just made it tonight for pizza. Best vegan cheese I've ever had. I wonder if you can use almond milk instead of water? Love you Sam!
Jeannie Miller says
How do you spread the Ooey gooey mozzarella cheese on pizza?
Carol Anne says
I love this recipe! I like to modify it a tad to creat a queso dip: I double it, reduce the tapioca a little bit, add a little smoked paprika, a dash of turmeric for color, and a can of mild rotel with green chiles. I love it and it’s been a hit with friends and family as well! I love to eat it with blue corn tortilla chips 🙂 thanks so much for this!!
kels says
Carol Anne: That sounds delicious! Do you add the rotel after blending? and do you drain the rotel first??? (I know you posted months ago, but, well, I'm slow...)
Lo McEllin says
My guess is she drains the rotel first and adds it at the very end to combine. It would be too runny otherwise.
Lindsay says
This looks so good! Can you use salted, canned cashews for this recipe?
Marie Roberts says
no- all nut sauces need raw, unsalted nuts.
Danielle Liddick says
I use roasted cashews for everythingand they come out delicious. The only thing i dont use roasted for is cheesecake.
Eve says
We love your recipes and cookbook. I need help though. I have to use almonds instead of cashews due to allergies and both times they have come out grainy. Tried your nachos and mozzarella recipes and boiling the almonds. Both yummy just want to improve the texture.
Sam Turnbull says
You may need to boil the almonds a little longer. Make sure the blend as well as you can, and then I would recommend pouring the mixture through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer before cooking to get any leftover bits out. Hope that helps!
Marie says
A better alternative for cashews In sauces is raw sunflower seeds.
VeggieTater says
You can also try reducing the dry almonds to a powder first in the blender, then soak in the one cup of hot water for a few hours or even overnight. Or better yet... add a spoonful of active plain yogurt or other probiotic to a cup of WARM water to soak your almonds... and let it ferment on the counter over night or longer. (hot water will kill the microbes... cooking does too, but by then they've done their job!) Not only does it help break down the fiber if you can't strain them,(straining will still yield the smoothest result) but adds a wonderful "cheesy" depth of flavor without the addition of the vinegar. (I even do this with cashews for the flavor boost!)
Lynn says
We also have to use almonds due to allergies. I found using blanched almond flour (we buy at Costco) helps to make the texture more creamy and reduces steps since you don't need to boil and peel first. Hope this works for you as well.
An says
THANK YOU!!! I am about to eat all of this straight from the pan with a bag of chips ha! But I'll save it for our grilled veggie panini's later. We also had your tofu bites for lunch! Thank you so much for the great recipes!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! You're welcome 🙂
Brandee says
Can I use agar agar instead of tapioca flour?
I don’t have tahani nor miso paste.
I do have nutritional yeast, Bragg soy sauce, and agar agar.
Help!
I’m trying to work with what I have for a pizza.
How do I learn what I can substitute with or what to have in my pantry? Do you have a video or book on that?
Wee says
I so miss grilled cheese on pizza. Kappa carrageenan is not easily available in my country and dolloping this on a pizza is lovely and stretchy by the grilled factor is missing. I'm wondering if I freeze this and grate it whilst frozen and then use it as a topping on a pizza prior to baking, will it work?
Molly says
Awesome recipe! So easy to make and delicious. I made a chickpea flour frittata with sautéed veggies and poured this cheese on top. My husband has made various vegan cheeses before and he gushed over this cheese! Thank you.
Carrie says
Can you sub The tapioca flour for arrowroot flour?
T
Niki Nelson says
I cannot find tapioca flour can I use Cassava flour instead? Also is there an alternative to nutritional yeast as I can’t tolerate it?
cindy says
cassava is the same as tapioca!
Doug says
This is so easy. Why have I waited so long to try making it? I will be using it in your Vegan Lasagna Soup.
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing! SO happy you love it, Doug 🙂
shan says
This recipe is sooooooooo good. I've been making it once a week since I first acquired tapioca starch =D
I cook it until it sort of solidifies though and then use it all week like it's a fresh ball of mozzarella.
I've also found that if you add 1-2 tsp of liquid smoke to the mix it gives it a good smoked cheese flavor that's really really good if you use this to make a grilled cheese sandwich.
it's just soooooooooooo crazy good!!!
Chris says
What!?! I’ve been making vegan nacho cheese for sometime but this changes everything!! Just crazy that a few simple ingredients can taste like cheese!! Awesome!!! Turned out great. Super simple. Only thing I’d change is next time I’m gonna double or triple!
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful! So thrilled you enjoyed, Chris 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Delish! So happy you enjoyed, Shan 🙂
Simone says
Hello. This is probably quite a dumb question, but I have recently become fully vegan. I do not miss cheese in any recipes except for one. I used to put mozzarella in my korean ramen and let it melt. Of course I can't use any vegan cheese for that purpose, but I was wondering how this cheese would work if I poured it into hot liquid. I'm assuming it probably wouldn't work, but I wanted to ask.
Best,
Simone
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Simone, yes it will work. It will just be cheesy meltiness. Enjoy!
Karen says
Hi Sam your amazing! So far all your recipes are FANTASTIC I love em! Thank you ...... Keep it up your the best!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thanks Karen!
Emilie says
This is amazing. The best vegan cheese recipe i've tried so far. Looking forward to trying your other cheese recipes. Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww wonderful! I hope you love them all 🙂
Mandy says
Easy and absolutely DELICIOUS!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!!
Leah says
Can I make this a day ahead of time and then use it on pizza? Will it affect the flavor/consistency?
Sam Turnbull says
Absolutely! It gets a little stiffer when chilled in the fridge so you can either just dollop it on the pizza and have spots of mozzarella, or you can thin it back out by whisking extra water into it when reheating. Enjoy!
Kirby says
Just made this minus the nooch because i hate it and predictably ot was bland. Any flavours i could add to keep is cheesy but more flavorful?
Georgiann says
Try adding in some miso paste instead of nooch.
I would recommend trying nooch in thing in smaller amounts to get used to it. Many people do not like nooch at first, (myself included) but when you just put in small amount, the flavor isn't as noticeable and you may find yourself adding in ore and more as time goes on... I used to use it very sparingly and now I throw it in by the handful! I love it now and so glad I gave it a chance!! 🙂
Brie says
Had anyone tried using this as pasta sauce for mac n cheese?
Sam Turnbull says
That would work. My nacho cheese or my mac & cheese powder will be a more traditional flavour tho 🙂
Bianca says
Hi Sam! Did this twice for pizza and loved it! I wanted to turn this into fondue this time, but I thought it would be nice to incorporate white wine somehow to make it taste more like tradicional fondue. Any ideas in regards to the amount of wine I could add without compromising the texture?
Bianca says
Ok, so I experimented with a few tweaks and the result was amazeballs! Anyone looking for a fondue recipe, I highly recommend the following:
- 150 grams of cashews
- 350 ml of water
- 1 tbsp of light oil (canola, sunflower, etc)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 3 tbsp tapioca starch
- 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 100ml of white wine
Same thing: boil the cashews, drain them, then blend with everything else.
You're gonna fool people with this "cheese" fondue!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Bianca, you can just sub some of the water for the wine. I would start with a couple of tablespoons and if you need more you can always stir some in later on 🙂
Chris says
Hi Sam,
Given the thick consistency of the finished and cooled cheese, should I heat it up and then spread on my pizza crust (almond flour base) or can I spread it cold onto the crust and heat for 10 minutes like a regular pizza with the rest of the toppings?
Sam Turnbull says
I would recommend dolloping it on 🙂
Erin says
All I can say is “Wow”! Used as a topping on our pizza as well as in a vegan spinach and artichoke dip. Ah-may-zing!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!!! Thrilled you love it, Erin 🙂
Mary says
OMG. We are not vegan, but we are trying to have a couple of days a week eating vegan meals. I am good with it; my significant other needs some convincing. Trying the Lasagna Soup and made this as a topping...all I can say is wow! The taste is amazing. I can see myself making this as a dip to serve during football games. Thanks for the recipes!
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful, so happy you loved it, Mary!
Nir says
Hi Thank your for the recipe, how long will it last in the fridge?
Can in be frozzen and than used for toast?
Sam Turnbull says
It will last for 3 - 5 days in the fridge, and yes, it can be frozen 🙂
Melanie says
I thought this was good and has so much potential. I found it a bit powdery tasting (from the tapioca starch). Does anybody know how to avoid that? I followed the recipe exactly.
Also; do you think there’s a possibility of making this a sliceable cheese by setting it with agar (or gelatin, for nonvegans)?
Sam Turnbull says
I have a solid mozzarella recipe here. The powdery taste should get cooked out. Try cooking a little longer next time to see if that helps. Enjoy!
Jessika Fairbarn says
I was wondering this exact thing. I just made it for the first time, put on a pizza and am in love!
Sara says
I'm allergic to garlic, do you think it will taste the same without?
Sam Turnbull says
Not the same, but still good!
Georgiann says
Maybe try adding some miso paste in place of the garlic?
Val says
This did not work. I was hopeful but disappointed with the outcome. Mine was like a thick sauce but nowhere near stretchy, ooey or gooey. The only thing I omitted was the nutritional yeast. It never clumped but I also whisked it almost constantly, would that have been the reason it didn't work? I didn't STIR like I maybe should have??
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, stirring, not whisking is required. The nutritional yeast shouldn't affect the texture. Watch the video to see how it's done.
Alexandra Abraham says
I am really, really new to becoming vegetarian/vegan. I haven't fully given up meat yet, but I'm gradually getting there, so please bear with me!
I recently read a report that cashew nuts are not very ethically-sourced. The shells contain a toxic element which blackens and poisons the fingers of the women who pick, shell and sort them. The vast majority of the people who process these cashews are women, and they are massively exploited and grossly underpaid, so because it's difficult to find ethically-sourced cashews in the uk, can I use peanuts or other nuts instead? (Please don't take my comments as any criticism of your recipe ingredients, I'm not trying to send you on a guilt trip here. I'm just telling you the difficulty I have in the UK.)
Lynn says
Alexandra Abraham, a previous commenter said she used hemp hearts and it worked wonderfully! I'm glad to hear that. I buy certified organic cashews and know about the issue you mentioned. It's unfortunate but almost everything we buy will have some kind of dark side. Eventually, I'll probably phase cashews out of my diet. They're expensive! I can't wait to try this tomorrow with hemp hearts! I can buy those domestically, rather than cashews shipped across the world 🙂
Jef says
Do you know how much hemp to substitute for the cashews?
Lynn says
I imagine it would be half a cup of hemp? Since it's half a cup of cashews. I tried it first with cashews and it didn't work. I'll try hemp next! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
You can sub macadamia nuts or blanched almonds 🙂
Courtney Kohout says
INSANE! I’ve made many vegan “cheeses”, but this is the best! I’m so impressed with the texture and taste... it’s like real cheese! Do you think this could be used for a Mac and cheese dish? Going to try tomorrow!
Sam Turnbull says
Yes it absolutely could! Enjoy 🙂
Andrea Ball says
I made the recipe exactly as written and it was melty, stretchy, gooey, and mozzarella-y, just as advertised. I do, however, have two questions. First of all, how do I stop eating the whole batch myself? And second, what kind of sorcery is this? ♀️
Sam Turnbull says
Bahahaha! Love it!!
Hannah says
I use this to make lasagna and it is the best thing in the world! I make a triple batch for a full sized lasagna. Truly the best thing I make and the most requested thing I make!
Sam Turnbull says
Oh that's so awesome, Hannah!! Thrilled you love it so much!
Carrie says
This is legit! I don’t know who came up with this nut cheese idea in general, but thanks to them, and to you for these amazing recipes! Mine’s in the fridge setting up and will be sliced onto my pizza later! Yum!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed, Carrie! Just a heads up, this cheese will stay in a melty state, even when chilled. So it's not really sliceable. You will be able to dollop it only your pizza tho 🙂
Christine says
I just made this replacing hemp hearts for the cashews and it worked out great! I’ve also tried with raw sunflower seeds which was also very yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful!! Love the alternative options, thanks for sharing Christine 🙂
Jenjen says
Did you soak the hemp hearts at all ?
If so for how long ?
My partner is allergic to all nuts sunflower and pumpkin seeds so I am experimenting using hemp as a substitute . Thank you. Jenjen
christine says
I didn’t soak them first, just substitute the for the same amount of cashews. I replace hemp hearts for cashews in tons of recipes and it works it well!
Amanda says
I’ve made this a few times. It is so easy and amazing each time. So happy to find your cheese recipes. Definitely saves money on Daiya.
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome! Thrilled you love it so much, Amanda 🙂
May says
I put it on a pizza!! It was sooo good!!!
My only suggestion is that in your post, maybe instead of pointing people to Amazon, you could suggest another online retailer such as nuts.com (that's where I got my tapioca starch for this gooey delight), and save us all from Jeff Bezos getting yet more money and power.
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing, so happy you enjoyed, May! Of course, feel free to shop wherever you like. 🙂
Susan says
Amazon also employs many people, my son in law included. He and thousands of others are able to care for their families because of Amazon.
Maureen Cram says
Back in the US where I can get my hands on plenty of tofu so I made omelets (tofu and chickpea flour mainly) for supper last night and then filled them with this recipe and some left over pasta sauce. You can use this for sooooo many dishes. And always make a double batch and freeze half!
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome! So happy you enjoyed 🙂
Joe says
Hello! This was absolutely amazing. I think it's my favorite discovery since switching to a plant based diet. My question is, how would I tweak the recipe if I wanted to make it a little less solid and a little less stringy/stretchy ? I only ask because I used it with pasta and it was a little hard to mix cause of how solid it was. I can't wait to try it as is on pizza though, that's for sure. Thanks,
Joe
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome!! You can always add more water to thin it out to the desired consistency. Hope that helps!
Kayla Denic says
Hi! I'm so excited to make this after seeing all of the positive reviews! How long would you say the cheese can be stored?
Sam Turnbull says
A couple of days in the fridge or longer in the freezer. Keep in mind that the cheese will remain in a gooey state even when chilled so it is best served hot. Enjoy!
Cassandra Bachrodt says
SAM!!! Oh my god!! I just made this and literally had to stop what I was doing to come post this review. I've made several cheese sauces/dips over the years since going vegan and have always been disappointed for one reason or another. Too nutritional yeast-y, too garlicky, too tangy, not gooey enough. I was fully expecting this to be another fail, but holy cannoli this mozzarella recipe is ridiculous in the absolute best possible way. I didn't change a single thing and it is PERFECT. I just texted my husband that I can't believe *I* made this... not to mention in only 15 minutes! It's going on pizza tonight, and I'm already trying to come up with more excuses to make this again asap.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! Amazing, Cassandra! So incredibly flattered you loved it so much 🙂
Kari says
Amazing! You could probably breaak the internet (in the best possible way) if you teach us how to make/pack this into a portable "string cheese"! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
OOooohh that's tricky but I love that idea!
Michelle says
Is this shreddable after it gets cold?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Michelle, no it's not, but you can try my recipe for The Best Vegan Mozzarella which is designed to be grateable. 🙂
Soul Sista Shakti says
I just made this (and ate half) and I was VERY pleased. What I was NOT pleased with is seeing you dip a blue corn tortilla chip in this cheezy delight...what's wrong with you girl! I baked some sea salt rosemary crackers beforehand and the whole thing was super delish! Not to mention more filling than I thought, which is a good thing 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
What's wrong with blue corn chips?
Cyndi says
Maybe because corn is GMO? Dunno??? Weird thing to say.
I'm making mine for pizza and spinach artichoke dip.
I’m trying says
I’ve been brewing over your comment for days. Just because you’re a vegan (maybe carnivore) who doesn’t eat GMO foods doesn’t mean that every other vegan or person should. This wonderful lady shared a recipe for you to try or not, or share your unique take on it. You don’t need to push your “holier than thou” attitude on anyone. We will never be enough. Where does it stop? Shame on her for not buying organic, shame on her for shopping at Walmart, shame on her for not riding her bike to the store. Shame on her for not sourcing the products locally.... I am sorry that you are missing out on blue corn GMO chips, or the yellow corn (probably GMO) chips that I tried this dip with. You might be in a better mood if you didn’t try to be perfect all the time.
Vincent M Harry says
I'm not trying to say for or against anything, but sweet potatoes are the world's first known GMO. Just as some vegan food is unhealthy, it's possible some GMO is good.
Toni says
So, I'm guessing you think blue corn chips are dyed or genetically modified or in some way artificial? Actually, do an online search if you like, but blue corn is a very old heritage corn, Native American tribes especially the Hopi and Cherokee have cultivated it from, like, forever. Generally more diverse plants, different colors, shapes and sizes, are often really old types, at times containing actually even more beneficial bioactive chemicals than the standard varieties. Diversity Forever! Good for you for making cool crackers. If short on time blue corn chips work. And if they are organic, they can't legally be a GMO corn crop, so, all bases covered! If that's an issue, which for some of us, it is.
Lindsey says
I have the unfortunate situation of being both lactose intolerant AND I have an issue with cashews. Is there another nut you would suggest to substitute?
Nina says
try almonds
Sam Turnbull says
I would suggest my new recipe for mozzarella which is nut free. 🙂
Mari says
Can I use roasted cashews? I don't have any raw ones on hand
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Mari, roasted cashews are oily and dry, whereas raw ones are tender. The results won't likely be very good with the roasted cashews so I would recommend waiting until you have some raw cashews. Hope that helps!
Colleen says
Try raw sunflower seeds. I sub these for cashews in everything, however I haven’t tried this recipe yet.
Becca says
How much is a serving for the cheese?
Sam Turnbull says
1/4 of the recipe, about 1/4 cup. You can see the info at the top of the recipe. Enjoy!
Michelle says
I am a brand new vegan, and seriously, you have saved me. I miss cheese most of all, and this stuff is unbelievably awesome. Thank you so much for all you do: for your positive attitude, your cheeriness and your delicious recipes. You're the best.
Sam Turnbull says
Awwww shucks, Thank you so much, Michelle!! Thrilled that I have been able to help you in some small way 🙂
Vanessa Harmon says
I doubled this recipe the second time I made it and omitted the teaspoons of tapioca because I wanted a different consistency. I put it in a mason jar and mixed it with leftover pizza sauce to make a pizza dip. It was SO good. I loaded up on unsalted cashews because I plan on making this every week! Hoping to try different mix-ins next week.
Sam Turnbull says
Ooooh pizza dip, sounds delish, Vanessa!
Alex says
Wow Sam, this recipe was amazing! Both me and my husband were in love at first bite. And the mozzarella, OMG! I am sure it will become a staple in our house. Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
That's awesome! So happy you enjoyed, Alex 🙂
Kiki says
Yum! Thank you Sam!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Kiki 🙂
Marta says
This was so good. At first I thought it a bit bland but I remembered that mozzarella isn't an explosion of flavour. It was a great fast and easy cheese fix. Kept going back to the fridge for bites. I think it would make a good spread after refrigeration.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it Marta! Yes, mozzarella is very mild. If you are interested in a punchier flavoured cheese try my nacho cheese 🙂
Renae H says
This was pretty good. The only thing I would do is add just a little more salt. I’m curious to see how it melts.
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you enjoyed! You can always add more salt to taste. This cheese stays in the melty form and will brown nicely when baked. Enjoy!
Josiah Brush says
Oh my this was so good! It actually did taste quite a bit like dairy mozzarella and the taste/texture combination were exquisite. I used about 2/3 of my batch on my pizza and ate most of the rest straight off my spatula . Thanks once again!
Sam Turnbull says
that's wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it so much, Josiah 🙂
Josiah Brush says
I tried some leftovers on a Beyond Burger tonight and wow! Don’t tell anyone I said this but it was the best burger I’ve had in a long time, vegan or not. Your mozzarella cheese made the burger extraordinary. Happy tummy 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
A great topper 🙂
Joshua Austill says
We made this tonight and ab'd it on pizza vs daiya shredded mozzarella and it won hands down. The only thing I did differently was I dropped it in an ice-cold salt brine for an hour after cooling it down, that made it spreadable on the pizza dough.
I would point out that your metric measurements aren't quite right The tapioca just says 55 with no unit, it comes out to around 27g in reality. The nutritional yeast is 5g per tbsp, not 15g. And the salt measures out to around .8g not 1.25g. That could be a difference in types of salt though?
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it, Joshua 🙂 Thanks for your notes on measurements. My wonderful assistant is currently working on converting all of my recipes into metric, so I will bring this to her attention to make sure it's up to date. 🙂
Jenna says
This recipe is SO GOOD I have it memorized. You will find yourself making it over and over again.
Thanks Sam!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! That's awesome, thrilled you enjoyed it so much, Jenna 🙂
Jenny says
Used this inside homemade garlic dough balls - amazzziiinnnggggg! Thanks so much x
Sam Turnbull says
Ohhh that sounds epic!! 🙂
Irina says
Hello! Can you write mesures in Metric pls?
Sam Turnbull says
Working on it!
Pam says
Loved, Loved this recipe. Used it on veggie lasagna.
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!!! Thrilled you enjoyed it so much, Pam 🙂
Betty says
Can this be frozen and shredded? I read that some people have thought about it but want to know if you have actually tested it?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, it can be. Personally, I don't find it worth it as it melts very quickly and turns back to the gooey texture, so you need to grate directly onto your dish. Personally I just like dolloping it on the dish instead. Enjoy!
Marta says
Oh good idea.
Maureen Cram says
Had to let you know how I used my frozen cheese (I always make a double recipe and then freeze half of it).
Had to take something to a big family (of daughter in law) Christmas Eve breakfast where yes I was the only vegan. So I chopped up a shallot and a package of button mushrooms, a clove of garlic and sautéed until soft and the juice from the mushrooms had mostly cooked off. Added some dried thyme and into the turned off heat pot I plopped the frozen cheese and put the lid on and walked off. Came back a bit later, mixed it all in and mashed it in and added some home made breadcrumbs. In the fridge overnight and this morning I made mini mushroom and cheese (sausage) rolls which got baked at my son's house while I stood out in the garden to get away from the non vegan breakfast food smells. They turned out so well everyone had at least one and most people had two of them. And people asked for the recipe :). Thank you thank you and thank you again xxx.
Sam Turnbull says
Sounds delish!!!!! Wish I could try 🙂
Carol says
I used this recipe from your book with the first flavoring alternative. I am so excited about the results, I just can't calm down at all! I have been unable to eat dairy cheese for most of my life and whenever I did it made me really sick. But I remember the taste and texture and this recipe captures it exactly. I can't believe it, and when I think of all the possibilities lying ahead. Thank you so much for making this available to the general vegan public. This recipe alone is worth the money spent on the book.
Sam Turnbull says
Oh that's so awesome, Carol! So happy you are enjoying my recipes so much 🙂
Angela says
Hi Sam! I scrolled for so long to reach the end of the page because there are so many comments What can I substitute garlic powder for this recipe? Because I can't eat garlic and onion :))
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Angela! The garlic powder is just a flavour enhancer, so you could skip it and replace with any spice you enjoy. Maybe celery salt would be nice?
Essa Grey says
It has been a long time since this recipe was posted, but I have to say thank you!!! I have never ever commented on a recipe before but I have made this 3 times now, and this last time I mixed in chopped banana peppers and replaced a few tablespoons of the water with banana pepper brine. Crazy yummy in black bean quesadillas, and my carnivore partner requested this "cheese" instead of real cheese 🙂 you have made choosing vegan options so much easier! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
That's so wonderful! I'm honoured that this recipe inspired you to leave a comment. And even happier to learn that I'm making it easier for you to go vegan, Essa 🙂
Kara_western says
I’ve made this recipe a few times now and although I like it for taste and ease, it just doesn’t get stretchy or melty. I just have a thick paste that globs together but doesn’t stretch. I cook it for a few minutes until it firms up and gets really thick. I love in France and have only found Tapioca starch (it’s not a flour, more like a sandy grainy texture). Is this the problem? I thought they were the same.
Sam Turnbull says
Sounds like it's the tapioca starch as that's what makes it stretchy. The one I use here is a very fine powder like flour. Maybe try grinding it finer in a high-speed blender or coffee grinder. Hope that helps!
Rob says
Your thoughts on this cut and paste?
When it comes to recipes it really varies by the author or cookbook on what it is called, but if a recipe calls for tapioca starch, you can easily use tapioca flour, since they are the same thing. Tapioca flour comes from the root of the cassava plant. ... Tapioca flour/starch adds structure to gluten free baking.
Alicia Cromwell says
Well I have tried a handful of vegan cheeses and this is the only one we really like! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Sam Turnbull says
That's awesome! Thrilled you like it so much, Alicia 🙂
Zaden says
Would the recipe work if I made it like this?:
- 1/2 cup coconut cream
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons tapioca starch (I'm trying to go keto so is there a way to reduce carbs?)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (I was gonna try to find a bottled one)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon mixed herbs (including thyme)
I replaced the cashews because of FODMAP content, which is also why I replaced the garlic. Both give me IBS, as does ACV. Dairy makes me hurt so that's why I want to use this. I also have a lot of fatigue so the quicker and easier this is to make and clean up after the better. Do you have any further suggestions to make it simple and easy? Things you might take for granted take an immense effort for me :/. I'm guessing with the coconut cream no soaking or boiling is required before blending. Am I able to use a Nutribullet to blend? I'm not sure if coconut makes me sick, I'm hoping it doesn't, but any alternatives that are similarly easy would definitely be appreciated. I was going to use this for pizza, nachos, and vege dip but is there a way to make it harden? This is so it can be used as a taco shell during keto.
Sorry for all the questions, please try to reply to all of them (too many times I've had people only reply to the last question and it's frustrating). Thank you ^^.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Zaden, I can't know if it would work just by looking at it, but if you want to experiment with your own recipes, for sure, give it a try! I hope it works for you.
Laura says
Hi Sam - I mixed spinach powder in and have started spreading it on a bun for my office lunch - thanks for the recipe! Healthy, yummy and portable
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you enjoy, Laura 🙂
Jes says
So could I use gluten free flour ( it has tapioca flour in it).. instead of just tapioca flour?
Sam Turnbull says
No I would recommend using straight tapioca flour.
Nicole says
I made this today for my pizza. I put1 tea spoon of nutritionfacts.org’s Dr Greger’s savoury spice blend and 1 teaspoon of light miso instead of the salt. It came out wonderful! Added it to our pizza and will see how it turns out when its out the oven! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome, so happy you enjoyed!
James says
Hot Tip: Freezing this cheese and then thawing it for a few minutes gives it a perfect texture for grating. Works very well on pizza.
Sam Turnbull says
Great idea!
shakila says
hi Sam. I have a question and I appreciate if you help me. since tapioca starch is not available in my country I decided to replace it with Salep flour which is accessible here easily. Salep is used in ice cream and pudding to mack it gooey and for thickening desserts. do you think it would work? and how much Salep flour should I use to result in gooey pizza cheese like yours?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Shakila, I've never cooked with salep flour so I have no idea, but start with the same amount and see how that works. Enjoy!
María says
Hey Sam! Tried this recipe right after the seitan pepperoni one. Neither me nor my boyfriend are vegetarian, but we are both blown away by them, I just had a bread roll filled with those two for breakfast and cannot wrap my head around this sorcery... 2 out of 2 delicious, affordable and easy alternatives that have me checking your site for the next wonder to test! Thank you SO much
Sam Turnbull says
Oh wow! I love that you are so adventurous in the kitchen and enjoying these vegan foods! I hope you enjoy many more to come 🙂
María says
I just placed an order for Kappa Carrageenan and found Kala Namak in a local store, so there are at least 2 more ahead this weekend!!! We're trying to eat more consciously and your site is so great I keep on recommending it and inviting my colleagues and friends to try what I cooked. Again, thank you so much from this Spaniard living in Germany <3
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much, María! I very much appreciate it 🙂
Julie Nguyen says
If I could give this recipe a million stars I would. Based on the ingredients and short instructions I wasn't expecting much, if anything, but this recipe is amazing!!! So simple to make. I never liked cheese but I could easily eat tubs of this; it's that good. Definitely best when served hot though because otherwise the texture is more gloopy/congealed than stretchy. Also boiling the cashews (or having an amazing blender) is a must. Absolutely a fantastic recipe that I'd recommend to anyone!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!!!! So very thrilled you love it so much, Julie! Thanks for the fabulous review 🙂
Jessica says
I made this last night... 2nd time... I couldn't find the tapioca starch, so I used potato starch.. it came out good... the one with tapioca was probably better! 🙂 I kind of had to because I had all the other ingredients ready to go... oops.
I had to use extra vinegar because it tasted really bland... after sitting for an hour or so, it tasted pretty good...
Jersey Robinson says
This looks amazing! I'm thinking I'm going to try it in a lasagna, do you think that would work, baking it and all? Will it still be gooey and stretchy? And about how much does one batch make? Thanks for the super cool recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Yes it will work just fine, I have a lasagna recipe in my cookbook which uses it! I like to add about 1/3 cup more water to the recipe so the cheese is thinner and I can just pour it on. It will thicken further in the oven. Enjoy!
Jersey Robinson says
Ok thanks!
Jersey Robinson says
About how much does one batch make? I'm wondering if I should double it for the lasagna...
Sam Turnbull says
About 1 1/2 cups.
RoseAnne says
Oh, Sam. This is sooooo good. And I love finding a recipe that works perfectly (to suit my taste buds) first time out: no "tweaking" required.
If there's one thing I've been missing as a vegan newbie, it's cheese. This hits the spot.
Tanks a huge bunch!
XOX
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful!!! So happy you no longer have to miss anything! 🙂
Rebecca says
Hi Sam, I just wanted to let you know how much me and my daughter LOVE your recipes! Everything we've made so far from both your book and your on line recipes have been amazing. Tried this mozzarella recipe for the first time this week and it's a game changer. Unbelievably good. We've put it on pizza, pasta, tofu mcmuffins, sooo good!! Fuss Free Vegan is by far our favourite cookbook right now. Keep up the great work!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww that's so awesome! I'm so delighted you are enjoying my recipes so much!! Thank you so much, Rebecca 🙂
Deborah Rene says
Can this cheese substitute be used in eggplant parmesan? I haven't tried it yet, but I will this weekend.
Sam Turnbull says
Absolutely!
Emily says
Can I use corn starch instead of tapioca flour (since I don't have any atm)? Also for the nacho cheese one can I use soy sauce instead of miso paste?
Thank you
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Emily, for the starch, read the notes on the recipe. 🙂 Soy sauce would make the cheese a bit brown and will not provide the same flavour as the miso. Enjoy!
Jamie says
I used corn starch, and it turned out fine. Not as stringy as tapioca starch would be, but still smooth, thick, and delicious. Perfect for pizza night, and a really fabulous alternative to processed vegan cheese. Thanks for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you enjoyed!
Emilie Perron says
I just tried this recipe. I tasted it and it taste great. I will put it on a faux chicken parmigiana tomorrow. Thanx so much for thé recipe i was looking for a great homemade vegan cheese. Sorry for my english, from Montréal.
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you enjoyed!
Karen Ackerman says
I tried to post a question about whether the Mozzarella Cheese may be frozen---tried to post---response= "looks like you already sent that." NO I DID NOT.
Sam Turnbull says
Yep, I see both of your comments! Yes you can freeze it. Enjoy!
Christina says
Hi! I am making this "cheese" in order to put together the Spinach Artichoke Dip. I noticed that this online recipe and the one in your (AMAZING) cookbook are slightly different (amount of nutritional yeast, olive brine vs. cider vinegar)...since the cookbook is more recent, should I go with that recipe? Do you prefer the one in the book with the modifications? Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Christina, both recipes are great and it will depend on your flavour preferences, but the cookbook has my new and improved version. Enjoy!
Sonia says
Just made this for pizza! I am not vegan (vegetarian for 40+ years though) but trying to cut back on dairy and looking for special recipes to make for vegan friends. It came out great on the first try (not my usual experience for vegan cheeses!). It looks like it would easily make into balls (maybe with a scoop into ice baths) and I'll definitely try that in the future. texture and "meltability" was good (it browned, but didn't spread-melt, so I'll spread it more evenly by hand next time), or cook it less so it is gooier to begin with if it's for pizza); taste was excellent! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
Thrilled you enjoyed it so much, Sonia! You can scoop it into balls, simply by pouring it into a container and letting it chill in the fridge. It will still be pretty soft but scoopable. For using it on pizza, check out the method I use in this pizza recipe. Adding 1/3 cup extra water to the cheese so it is a looser sauce. Then you just pour it onto the pizza and it will firm up more in the oven. 🙂
Gabriella says
Sam, this looks so delicious (AND EASY)! I've just subscribed to your page and will be trying this out to take to my girls' night this weekend!!
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing! Welcome, Gabriella, I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Christina says
Hi! Do you have an alternative to cashews that would work? My boyfriend has a nut allergy. I was thinking maybe garbanzo beans?
Sam Turnbull says
I've heard people had good success with sunflower seeds. I think it does give it a green tinge tho.
Amy says
Would pine nuts work? My daughter is allergic to cashews.
Sam Turnbull says
I have never tried pine nuts, but blanched almonds work well.
Jennifer Loula says
How big is a serving? And how long does this cheese last for?
Sam Turnbull says
I would say roughly 6 tablespoons a serving and it will keep when covered in the fridge for a few days. It stays in the gooey state but does get a little firmer.
Karen Ackerman says
I did not see any information about whether the Mozzarella Cheese could be frozen. Please respond.
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, it can. Enjoy!
Linda Ferris says
I have just made the mozzarella, the cheese sauce and the cheese ball. All are fantastic and the mozzarella
will enable me to eat "real" pizza which I have been missing for a long time. Thank you for these incredible recipes. I was surprised that my local supermarket had tapioca flour.
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Linda!! Thrilled you enjoyed them both so much 🙂 I try my best to always use easy to find ingredients so that people don't have to go to fancy healthy food stores, so glad tapioca was right in your regular grocery store 🙂
Alex says
Wow! This is the best vegan cheese I've ever made! I'm usually hesitant about using nutritional yeast because my family really dislikes it but they all loved this on pizza. Thank you so much for this easy recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
That's awesome! thrilled you and your family loved it so much, Alex 🙂
Kristi says
Hi Sam - I noticed the recipe here and in Fuss-Free Vegan are a bit different. Is the one in the book your new favorite go to for mozzarella? I want to make one to use on little pita pizzas and have some left for grilled cheese, but not sure if I should choose one over the other. Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Kristi! Both recipes are great and it totally depends on your flavour preferences which one is better. The one in my book is my newer version. 🙂
Mary says
Hi Sam, yes it is Bragg's. Ingredients are: inactive dry yeast, niacin (B3), pyridoxine HCI (B6),riboflavin (B2), thiamin HCI (B1), folic acid, and vitamin B12.
Mary
Sam Turnbull says
You're good to go!
Jennifer Bushee says
OH MY GOD. I have been meaning to make this for ages. Today after second guessing buying an expensive artisanal cheese I instead grabbed a bag of Tapioca Starch and so pleased I did. SO DELICIOUS. The nutritional yeast was perfect proportion to add umami but not overpowering. It tastes like mozzarella for real! I made it for a pizza tomorrow but already ate several glops and had to walk away to write this!
I never comment on blogs because honestly never feel compelled to but you are the sole exception, Sunshine Girl. Not only are your recipes spot on but you are the real deal. It's really important to have open hearted and non judgmental people like yourself to help people who might have a more difficult time understanding that you can completely eat a plant based diet and be healthy. You are doing the good work!
<3
Sam Turnbull says
Sunshine Girl!!!! How did you know, my gang name is "Sunshine". I know, I'm so tough. (It's a long story and I'm not actually part of a gang). Hahaha! Thrilled you skipped the expensive store-bought vegan cheese to try your own. Homemade food is the best food! Completely flattered that you are loving my work so much, Jennifer!
Jillee says
Exactly!
Theresa says
I very rarely leave comments, but this was so delicious that I felt the need to put in my 2 cents. I've made vegan cheeses before and was always let down. EVERYTIME. This was not one of those times. It was absolutely delicious!!! It works really well in pizza and I could hardly stop sneaking in spoonfuls. My 4 year old loved it too! I'm going to try it on a grilled cheese tomorrow! Well done!
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing!!! So happy you loved it so much, Theresa 😀 Thank you for the wonderful review!
shakila says
hi Sam
thanks for sharing this amazing cheese. I was looking for a delicious vegan pizza cheese for so long and I am so happy to find it here. But unfortunately I could n`t find tapioca in my country for home sale. all of them was in big mass and for industry use. Is there any other substance which could be replaced with tapioca in this recipe and still result in a gooey pizza cheese?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Shakila! So happy you like the recipe! Tapioca is key in that it's what gives the cheese it's stretchy gooey quality. You can use another starch such as cornstarch, but the texture will be more of a sauce and not so stretchy. Enjoy!
Diana Sleiman says
This sounds like a great recipe! Would I be able to replace the tapioca starch with arrowroot flour? I am intolerant to Tapioca for some reason.
Kayla Phillips says
I just finished making it with arrowroot it turned out goofy and melty as expected!
Sam Turnbull says
Any other kind of starch or flour will just make a sauce, the tapioca will give it that stretchy quality. So if you are ok with just a sauce, go for it!
Barb says
Do you think this would freeze ok? Or does it become firm in the fridge that you could grate it? Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Barb, it does freeze fine. It stays in a melty gooey state when in the fridge. Enjoy!
Regina says
I made this this weekend. Came together just like you said. I spooned it into deep dish muffin tin pizzas. Loved it and I am very picky!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha awesome!!
Sophia says
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I recently became vegan and needed a way to serve cheese to non-vegan party guests while still sticking to my vegan values. I was completely blown away at how tasty and melty it was. I’m never one to leave a review but this recipe totally deserves it. Will definitely make again!!!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!! That's so awesome. Thanks so much for the review, Sophia. Thrilled you loved it so much 🙂
Madison says
I really appreciate this website and the help with identifying what vegan substitutes I can have. I have a ton of food allergies, so being vegan is most compliant for me. However, I am also allergic to nuts, which I find in a lot of vegan foods. Any suggestions for vegan cheeses that do not require the use of nuts?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Madison, and welcome! If you scroll through the comments, lots of people have tried substitutes for nuts in this recipe. I believe the best results were with raw sunflower seeds. I haven't tried it myself, so I can't say how it turns out, but others seemed to be happy with the result (although it did give the cheese a green ting). Hope that helps!
Linnea Hanson says
I use this all the time. Thanks so much!
Sam Turnbull says
So glad it's a fave!
Nelli says
Hello Sam, thank you for the recipe. My daughter is allergic to cashews as well as dairy. Can anything else be used instead of cashews in this recipe?
Sam Turnbull says
Blanched almonds work well. You just have to boil them a little longer 🙂
Grace says
I use sunflower seeds instead of cashews. They give a slightly nuttier, less sweet taste, but work well for most dishes. I tend to add a little extra salt and sometimes even a tiny bit of sweetener to balance the harshness.
Sam Turnbull says
Great idea!
Sam says
Some times with cashew recipes you can use sunflower seeds too. I'm doing the regular recipe but it's worth the try
ama says
Fantastic recipe...thank you! Used it on pizza.
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it, ama 🙂
Claire says
Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe Sam!
It's definitely the best vegan cheese recipe I've tested so far! I was amazed how quick and easy it was to make. No fancy method needed here and the 'gooeyness' is real! Besides the taste is quite addictive. I actually found myself putting a spoon several times in the pot to get a taste...
Love your blog! Cheers from France
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful! Thrilled you love it so much, Claire! Cheers from Canada 🙂
Sonya D. says
I've made this and tasted just before cooking and Wow! I simmered mine for 30 min and the cashews blended creamy and perfect. It was stringy but cooled semi firm. I'm going to cut mine and use in my vegan rellanos. Ty for sharing this recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderufl, so happy you enjoyed, Sonya!
Barbara says
Hi Sam! this looks so delicious and I want to try it asap! I am not sure if you are still replying to the comments here, but I was wondering if I could use roasted cashews instead of raw ones?
Sam Turnbull says
I try to reply to all questions 🙂 Raw cashews break down into a smooth creaminess, whereas roasted cashews are dried out and won't have the same effect, so I recommend raw.
Barb says
Thanks a lot for your reply! I just did it and it is awesome!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!
Heather Renee Holloway says
Ok...this is AMAZING! I made 3 versions. The original then I subbed 1/4c white wine for part of the water and it was gooey delicious! THEN I added a little fresh garlic and fresh jalapeno for queso fundido so GOOD!!!
Sam Turnbull says
Amazing! Great ideas for playing around with it too 😀
Courtney Ransom says
YUM! I've been looking for a yummy mozzarella replacement and this sure hit the spot on my pizza earlier! I love Jasmine from Sweet Simple Vegan and she recommended your blog on Instagram earlier today-so I decided to check out your site. Wow, I'm so impressed! I'm new to the food blogging world, but I'm so passionate about creating and sharing yummy and plant powered recipes with the world. I've subscribed to your blog and I'm so excited to follow along on your journey and try your yummy recipes 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thanks so much, Courtney, thrilled you love the cheese so much and my blog. Welcome! Excited to have you here 🙂
Maria says
Hello! Awesome recipe, I was shocked when it actually stretched! Hehe, but I had a little "problem": it was all going perfectly but when I lower the heat and added a little more salt (to my taste), the stretchiness was gone. I tried adding an 1/8 teaspoon of tapioca starch, but to no result. It still tasted great, but after I took it away from the heat, it was no longer stretchy, just like a thick cheesy sauce. What did I do wrong?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Maria! So happy you loved it. Hmmm... that's weird, I have never had that happen before. Next time I would add the extra salt with the other ingredients, and remove from the heat once cooked. Hopefully, that helps!
Molly says
I made this today for your spinach artichoke recipe (which I haven't tasted yet...having a party tonight, made it ahead and haven't baked it yet). I snuck a taste of some of the cheese stuck to the pot after I mixed the other recipe up...omg! It's delicious, stretchy, cheesy...the garlic was pretty prominent to me, but holy cow! Now I want to try this on a pizza! And so many other things! I also couldn't believe how quick/easy it was. Thank goodness I found tapioca starch at my local fancy grocery store. 🙂 I will definitely be making this again.
Sam Turnbull says
So thrilled you loved it so much, Molly!! You can always reduce the garlic to taste 🙂
Tiffany says
I went vegan last year and have been experimenting with different brands of vegan cheese. After some major GI issues I realized I’m allergic to tapioca. I’m also allergic to nuts. Is there any substitutes for these ingredients or can you recommend any other recipes I can try?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Tiffany, people have tried various different replacements in the comments that you can check out, or try checking out my post for 16 vegan cheese recipes. Perhaps there is something there you can enjoy.
Mary says
I can’t wait to try this!
Christine says
Sam, this is glorious! Thank you so much!!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! You're most welcome, Christine 🙂
CC says
By the way, this works also when substituting aquqfaba-based mayo in place of the cashews. A little lazy of me, but works in a pinch.
JoAnn M Lakes says
Can you explain what you're talking about (i.e. recipe)? I'm not getting it! Sorry!
Sam Turnbull says
Interesting! I've never tried that!
Cassy says
Hi, I can't consume dairy, and really wanted to have cheese in my diet still, so I started looking into vegan cheeses. I was wondering, if this recipe would work with almonds just the same, or if there is something special about the cashews? Hoping to hear from you soon. Thank you
Sam Turnbull says
Cashews are the best because they are the creamiest. Blanched almonds will work as well, but they will need a bit more time to soften, and they are not as creamy so I would recommend trying raw cashews first. Enjoy!
Cassy says
Thanks for the reply, I thought the cashews would be best, too, but my partner doesn't like them .
Molly says
Raw cashews blended into things like this don't taste at all cashew-y, if that helps!
Cassy says
Since I was keen for a cheese alternative and we had almonds on hand and no cashews... I went ahead and tried with the almonds, I am delightfully happy with how well this has turned out I can't wait to try it with cashews, but I can't say I'm disappointed with the almond attempt. I am just so happy to have a dairy free cheese!
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you enjoyed!
JoAnn M Lakes says
I was looking for almond mozz also but I'm going to try this with almond flour/meal since I have a ton of it that needs to be used.
Matilda says
How did it go with the almond meal?
Terri says
I was happy with the flavor, but my cashews didn't break down completely. I used a Ninja food processor. Is there a trick to get the cashews to break down better? I soaked them properly. I am determined to make a successful cheese for pizza. Your pizzas look soooo good! I am not a fan of the Vegan cheese at the store. I
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it, Terri! I've never used a Ninja but I am sure it will work just fine for this recipe. Next time I would try boiling or soaking the cashews even longer so they are extra tender and blending a little longer to ensure the cashews break down. Enjoy!
Terri says
I think that I didn't use fresh cashews the first time. I bought a new container from Costco and my last three batches, yes, three, have turned out great! I have made lasagna, used it on pizza, and made queso with it! We love it. Thank you so much!!
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful! You're most welcome, Terri 🙂
Celeste says
Going to make this tonight, so I haven't actually tried it. Just wanted to say older beans and nuts need to soak a lot longer. Also, nuts should be stored in the fridge or freezer to slow them from going rancid.
Jessica says
The cup part works a lot better, I attempted this and a sauce with cauliflower and the food processor didn't break it down enough.
Molly says
I have a Ninja too, and I find that for things like this (I made cashew cream for green bean casserole at the holidays), the blender works MUCH better than the food processor at really getting it smooth. The individual blender cup is even better than the big blender, but that's not always realistic for the volume of stuff in a recipe. 🙂
Libby H says
Just tried this with potato starch and subbed lemon juice for ACV. Worked great! Love that it's oil-free.
Sam McBride says
This is so delicious and melty. So satisfying! I'm going to use this on everything
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo!
Rosann Ashe says
Hi Sam, I love your website and recipes. In addition to being vegan, i also have to do low acid so cannot use vinegar. Are the vinegar in your cheese recipes imperative to creating consistency due to the acid interactions or just for flavor? If flavor, I can substitute by using sumac water which has worked well for me in the past. I want to experiment with this yummy sounding vegan mozz. kind regards, Rosann
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Rosann, the vinegar is just for flavour so you can absolutely skip it. Feel free to tweak the spices and flavours as needed. Enjoy!
Nancy Nurse says
Hi Rosann, did you know that vinegar actually turns alkaline in the body?
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome!
Brittney says
Can I soak the nuts overnight instead of cooking them in the boiling water? Or will they be too soft?
Sam Turnbull says
Yep absolutely, it's just slower. 🙂
Brittney says
does this recipe double easily? Can I just use 2x of everything? Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Yep! Exactly. 🙂
Kevin says
I made this recipe replacing the cashews with chickpeas and half the water with liquid from the can of chickpeas. It turned out great. The color was a little off so I will add some turmeric next time and see what happens.
Sam Turnbull says
Awesome!
Jennifer Maron says
Wow thank you for this recipe. I just made it and am going to freeze it to make the spinach dip for Christmas. It was just as simple as you set out. Lumps and then perfectly smooth and gooey. It tastes great. I cannot wait to serve it. Do you have any suggestions for additional effort once it is un-frozen?
Sam Turnbull says
Thrilled you love it so much! Once it's thawed you can heat it back up in the pot, adding water as needed to reach the desired consistency. Enjoy!
Shawn says
This is the best and easiest vegan cheese I have Ever tasted. I added an extra tbl spoon of nutritional yeast for extra cheesy goodness:)
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo! Thrilled you love it so much, Shawn 😀
Diana says
Hi there! I LOVE this recipe - real game changer for me as I transition from vegetarian to full vegan! I think I may add a bit more sourkraut for more tang next time, but otherwise, it was perfect! I have three questions for you:
1. How long will leftovers keep in the fridge?
2. Would it mess up the ratios if I were to cut the recipe in half?
3. If I'm using for pizza, should I return to a melted state before adding to the pizza, or can I just plop it onto the pizza cold/at room temp before cooking? I cook my pizzas on a very hot pizza steel at very high temp.
Thanks again! Love your site AND your cookbook (which I purchased a couple weeks ago).
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Diana! So happy you love it so much. It should keep for I'd say 3 - 4 days in the fridge. You can cut the recipe in half but your blender might have a difficult time blending the ingredients smoothly unless you have a mini blender. Since you have my book, there are already directions in there for how to use it on pizza. But yes, you can use it either way, hot or cold. Enjoy!
Joyce says
It works great with peanuts as well!! Cashews here where i live are 5 times more expensive than peanuts. Thank you a lot for this awesome, easy and now very cheap for me recipe. I was surprised at the results ♥♥♥ thank you!
Just in case, tapioca flour is also called "polvilho doce" here in Brazil, and when named like this, it's usually cheaper 😉
Sam Turnbull says
Interesting! Did the cheese have a peanut taste for you? So happy you enjoyed it!
Shawn says
Thanks for posting that. I never thought of using cheap peanuts. I will give it a try.
Jessica S. says
I liked this very much. I had to special-order the tapioca flour starch before I could make it (and then I found out my local Safeway DOES carry it). I liked it on tortilla chips and I'm looking forward to trying it out on pizza. Your instructions were very clear, there were no surprises. I used my NutriBullet for the blending.
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful 🙂
Melissa says
I am new to veganism and I have to say this just tastes like flavoured dough. Maybe it's better in recipes that use only a little but in the spinach artichoke dip it was just too much doughy-bland. The search continues but not sure that vegan cheese is possible.
Sam Turnbull says
Too bad you didn't enjoy it.
Carrie says
Try adding a lot of sea salt and pepper. Those spices will drawl out the doughy flavor and make it more mozerella like. Also add a little more nutritional yeast than called for in the recipe to really make it cheese like!
Nancy Nurse says
Carrie, there are some amazing vegan cheeses; just google them... some are now extremely successful commercial types but are amazing! Just google them... you will find them! Don't give up!
Jackie says
This is incredible! i made it with the spinach artichoke dip for thanksgiving. My non vegan family enjoyed it as well. I would like to use this in a zita receipe. Do you suggest i double the receipe to get 1.5 cups cheese? Do you suggest adding some water to make it less stretchy so it mixes well with the pasta? If so, how much?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Jackie! So happy you enjoyed. In my cookbook Fuss-Free Vegan, I water the cheese down a bit with 1/3 cup of water when using it for pizza or lasagna so it is easier to spread and bakes up nicely. Enjoy!
Jackie says
Thank you! I look forward to purchasing your cookbook. ❤️
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!!! 😀
NewbornVegan says
Taste is ok, but what's great about it is it can be used as cementing paste, the mortar was coming lose in my bathroom tiles and I used this to glue them back, just fabulous...
Sam Turnbull says
Sorry you didn't enjoy!
Rachel says
Hi!
Firstly can I say I ADORE this recipe, I've used it tons of times with almonds and cashews and it's always delicious! I can't thank you enough 🙂
I want to make enchilladas this weekend and pour the cheese in it's liquid form (beofre cooking it and making it strechy and gooey, then bake it and hope it comes out the texture and consistency I'm looking for. Do you think that's a horrible idea? Have you tried anything similar before?
Please let me know if you have any ideas 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoy it, Rachel!
I would recommend cooking it fully first, but add a bit more water to make it a pourable consistency. That's what I do for my pizza recipes in Fuss-Free Vegan 🙂 Enjoy!
Rachel says
Ok, brilliant! I'm going to do that! Thank you 🙂
Emily Hansen says
OMG, Sam!
This stuff is so heavenly! My family loves it! I'm planning to make more of these for a vegan pizza recipe I'm doing this weekend. Hope it goes well!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha, awesome! So happy you are enjoying it. Enjoy the pizza!
Nicole says
Hello,
We have to avoid cashews. Is there a substitute for the nut? Thanks
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Nicole, you can use blanched almonds or macadamia nuts. If you need to avoid nuts altogether, I haven't found a substitution I have loved but if you look through the comments, other readers have tried and enjoyed different replacements. Hope that helps!
The most creative name says
I've heard of using tofu as a substitute.
Catherine says
Hemp seeds are supposed to be a good sub for nuts in vegan cheese recipes. I'm going to be trying t myself since I am allergic to nuts and I would be happy to share my results :).
Emily says
Sunflower seeds are a great replacement but make sure they are raw.
Mylène says
Hi, I've been wanting to experiment with tapioca starch for a while now. My favorite vegan cheese has it as its main ingredient (dayia - it melts and stretches). I tried your recipe for and put it on a pizza. The stretchiness was nice but I didn't get the 'oily' texture I like when the cheese actually melts. The cheese I am trying to imitate has water, tapioca starch and coconut oil as the 3 main ingredients. If I wanted to try and add oil (and reduce the amount of cashews) to this recipe, at which step would you suggest I do? I'm afraid if I put it in the blender, the tapioca will start to cook/thicken because melted coconut oil is hot. But then if I add id in the pan I don't know if it will mix properly. Also worried about the taste (I dont want my cheese to actually taste like coconut). Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Mylène, you can try adapting the recipe as you like, but as I haven't tested your version before I am not really sure what the results would be. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
shan says
Congrats on the cookbook. Hope there will be more to follow.
Love this recipe so much! Noticed that you've used sauerkraut/olive brine in your cookbook. Is there a big taste difference?
Sam Turnbull says
Thanks so much! It just has a little more flavour punch 🙂
Destiny says
Wow! If you haven't already read the hundreds of other comments this is AMAZING! and Im a new vegan, past cheese fanatic so you have to believe that my mind was blown when I tried this recipe. Not only while eating it was i in amazement but it is stretchy, gooey and melts like real cheese I couldn't stop thinking of the endless possibilities.. It arguably tastes BETTER than cheese! CHEAPER than a ball of mozeralla! and SO EASY! Thank you so much Sam! I can't wait to fool my friends and family with a lasagna.
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha! You're most welcome, Destiny! So very happy you enjoyed it so much. Pretty cool right!? 😀
Audrey says
Hi, how did your lasagne turn out. I would like to make one and freeze it. What do you think.
Ali says
Hey there! My flatmate is a vegan and I'd like to be able to cook more food she can eat. We don't have a blender that could make anything near smooth enough for this though. Do you think we could get away with thinning some cashew butter down with a bit of water?
Sam Turnbull says
I haven't tried it myself, but it might work. If possible, I would recommend picking up a cheap blender. It will make cooking much easier, and you can make all sorts of things like smoothies, soups, and sauces 🙂
Jessica Kelsey says
Just fyi, I know high end blenders also have a high end price, but I was able to fund the jamba juice quiet blender on Amazon for between 65 and 98 dollars and it works so well I don't even have to soak the cashews for any of the recipes I use. I know country of delivery may change cost/availability but I hope it helps!
STACEY says
This was AMAZING! How long will it keep in the fridge?
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it. I would say about 3-4 days in the fridge, a month in the freezer.
Nyeva says
Yay! This was my first time making vegan cheese and not only was it quick and easy but it was delicious! I put dollops of it on some pizza I made. And then had 4 pieces haha. Thank you for the recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
That's wonderful! SO happy you loved your first vegan cheese experiment, Nyeva!
Angela says
I love the way you present this recipe. It's so much fun. I have made so many dishes with this cheese and it's perfect every time. It's become my most shared recipe. Thank you so much for sharing.
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! Thank you! So happy you love it so much 😀
Nicole says
I just made this and I plan to use it to make loaded baked mac and cheese for dinner! I'm so excited!
My plan is onions, peppers, broccoli, macaroni missed with your cheese topped with bread crumbs and baked! Does anyone have suggestions if I should cook the veggies before or put them on raw and let them cook while it bakes.
Thanks! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
I would cook the veggies and boil the pasta ahead of time, then mix it all together with the cheese and bake. 🙂
Mary A Burkhalter says
Made a double recipe last night and used it to make lasagna. OH, MY ... it was fantastic. (Needless to say it also makes fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches, etc., but it made the lasagna.)
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! Thrilled you love it, Mary 🙂
corie says
if i prep this ahead of time, can i just blend it and leave the heating until later? really excited to try it!
Sam Turnbull says
That should work fine, you might just want to give it a quick blend again before cooking in case stuff settles to the bottom. Enjoy!
Kim says
I put it in a pitcher or bottle with a screw lid, and give a ooh shake before I cook it. It's so great to have it always ready, and I can pour out as much or as little as I need.
Erica Vermette says
This works great for pizza! After some experimentation, I've found what works best for me is to pour it on the pizza right after blending so the final cooking step happens in the oven. Thanks for this!!
Sam Turnbull says
Oh that's cool, never tried that! So happy you like it, Erica!
Maile says
I will have to try that! I was so excited to use it for pizza, but struggled with spreading it. I found that if I spread it out to desired thickness on a piece of foil (or, lately I just cut open my flatzza package and use it as a "template" for size ), stick it in the freezer for 10-15 minutes- it peels right off and can be payed on top of sauce before baking.
Nicole says
Can I use coconut flour instead of any starch?
Sam Turnbull says
Only tapioca starch will give it the melty stretchy gooey texture.
Stacey E. says
I'm curious why all vegan cheese recipes end up being so garlicy? Is it because the "cheese" would have almost no taste at all, otherwise? I know it's possible for vegan cheese to not taste like garlic, because I finally found a package of "Follow Your Heart" gouda cheese, and it wasn't garlicy at all. I've never had packaged fake cheese before, and decided to try it because it happened to be there. But that carrot potato mix everyone posts tastes strongly of garlic, and this one does, too. I am currently baking a pizza with this on it, so maybe the garlic taste won't matter. I did like the texture, though. Was surprised how rapidly it started to solidify once it got going. Just removed it from the oven, and the cheese puffed up a whole bunch. I had it cooking on the top shelf, so that may have been what caused that. Anyway, I wonder if it would work without adding garlic, or would it be too bland? Either all vegans are into garlic, or else that's the only taste that comes through with these recipes. I'd really rather not spend $5 or more for fake cheese, but none of the recipes I'm trying are working. That potato carrot thing is really awful. At least so far, this stuff is a little like cheese. Don't know how it tastes in a recipe yet.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Stacey, you can add (or not add) garlic powder to taste. If you find it bland you can add other spices. Enjoy!
Sarah Brown says
Hey Stacey! I'm allergic to garlic and onion so I take it out of every recipe ever. I sometimes add in some paprika or liquid smoke but usually I don't notice the absence.
I hope that's in some way helpful 🙂 x
Eve says
What sorcery is this?!
I don't know where to start lol. My son has kinda severe CMPA, so I tried another recipe previously and we both almost died of the yuckiness because the nutritional yeast was TOO much. I was VERY VEERRYY skeptical about this cheese, braced myself for disappointment BUT!!!! I loved it! My mom likes it which means it's BOMB and she didn't even know it wasn't cheese! The best part is my DS loves it. He ate it with a spoon out of the pot. He is an extremely (not even close to his level) picky eater. I am so happy for this recipe. I put it on a pizza and that was a winner. Saved the recipe. I managed to hide some lol! That will be his cheese sandwich tomorrow. I am excited he can eat this because he had been begging did cheese since he could talk.
Thank you soooo much.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! So very happy it was such a surprise hit for you, Eve 😀
[email protected] says
HEllo there! I am excited to try this recipe this weekend for pizza! Just a few questions...Do I have to let it cool down before putting it on my pizza and will baking it for a long time (45min) over cook it? Thanks in advance!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Amber, you do not have to let it cool down, and can use it right away. I normally bake my pizzas for about 20 - 25 minutes, and the cheese gets lightly golden on top, so I would think 45 minutes would be too long depending on the temperature. Hope that helps!
Lindsey says
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! This stuff is so delicious. I made it with almonds. I purchased raw almonds so I had to blanch them. It was very easy. After that I cooked them for about 25 minutes. Once I put it in the pan and started cooking it took no time at all and the cheeze was ready. Even my 18 year old omni son said "Wow". Thank you for an awesome recipe!!!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome, Lindsey! So very happy you and your son enjoyed it so much 😀
Emily B. says
Love this recipe! The first time I made it I used raw cashews according to the directions. The 2nd time, I used 1/4 cup of pre-made cashew butter and had great results!
I saw a couple people asking about it this so I thought I'd share my experience. My blender isn't the greatest, bless its heart, so it's hard to get the cashews blended enough. The cashew butter made it super smooth. I did add a bit more vinegar and a touch of yellow mustard to compensate for my cashew butter being slightly sweetened. I didn't find the resulting cheese to be any oilier than when I used raw cashews. Hope this helps someone!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy to hear that cashew butter worked for you, Emily! I must try it myself 🙂
Hadar says
Wow!! Amazing!!
(And im not a vegan)
Just yumyyyy
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo! So happy you enjoyed it, Hadar 🙂
lovethescents says
Very late comment considering the initiall posting date, but we recently just made this and were floored. We had never tried stretchy vegan mozz so didn't know what to expect. This is absolutely delicious! Our 6 year old and 9 year old were eating it with a spoon and wanting more. Although cashews are expensive, we compared the cost of making this vs buying dairy cheese (we are only on about an 95% vegan diet so far), and it is cheaper too. Thank you for helping us get one step closer to eating plant based foods only.
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo! Love that you and your kids enjoyed it so much!! Yes, raw cashews are expensive, but if you can find places to buy them in bulk such as online, or in bulk food stores, you can save money for sure. Thrilled you enjoyed it so much 🙂
lovethescents says
I avoid buying anything from those bins in the bulk food stores due to pantry moths. It took us nearly a year to get rid of those little pests. Overall, the cashews we found at Costco, which happily did not come from China, are still cheaper than dairy options, not to mention that they are wonderfully cruelty-free.
What we are looking for are nut-free possibilities for the children to take to school for snacks. This is always a challenge.....
Thank you so much for your quick reply....
Heat says
Hi there. I have a child with severe peanut & treenut allergies, so I know this struggle very well. For other recipes which call for cashews, I sub white kidney beans or sunflower seeds.
Haley says
This was so good! It is my first time ever making vegan cheese, and I was a bit intimidated by it, but it was so easy and deliciously melty. I am wondering whether there's a way to it up to slice it for caprese salad (tomato, basil, mozzarella slices with balsamic vinegar)? Would I need an entirely different recipe, or is there a way I could modify this one to make it more solid?
Thanks again!
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it, Haley! You could try adding agar powder to the recipe, but I'm not sure of the amounts, and it would make the cheese less melty and gooey. EnjoY!
Chrissy says
I made this last night and it was easy and quick to make. When I first tasted it I thought, yeah its ok then noticed I couldn't stop dipping tortilla chips in it. It was delicious and fun!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! So happy you enjoyed it, Chrissy!
Emma says
Made this today and it was pretty good! Didn't put in the apple cider vinegar. Didn't add enough water though I think, so it didn't make as much and almost thickened immediately, it also kinda stayed blobs on my pizza in the oven, but overall I really liked it, will try to make a grilled cheese with it tomorrow! My dad tried it too and thought it tasted ok, I mean it doesnt taste like actual mozzarella (but then, how much of a taste has that) but as a cheesy thing its definitely good!
Sam Turnbull says
The apple cider vinegar will help it taste more like mozzarella, and using the right amount of water will help it be more melty and gooey and less blobby, if you ever test it out again. Happy you enjoyed it!
Angela Moore says
Hi!
Have you attempted to make mozzarella sticks with this cheese? If so any tips?
Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
I haven't, but that's a great idea! I will add it to my list 🙂
Kari says
This is amazing! I could eat it every day...and have been for the past week 🙂 today I wanted to mix it up a bit, so held the garlic, added a pinch of onion salt, and a heaping teaspoon of dill weed. Tasted great!
Sam Turnbull says
Oh yes, the seasoning combos are endless!! So happy it's become a new staple for you, Kari 😀
Paige says
This is so good. I make sure to have some prepared in my refrigerator at all times. I put it on everything! Quesadillas, burgers, paninis, you name it!! I can't wait to thin it down a bit and use it for Mac n' cheese! I know you have Mac n' cheese recipes, but this tastes so good, I'm just going to figure out how to make it work!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww yay!! Thrilled you love it so much. Yes, my fave mac and cheese recipe is in my new cookbook 😀
Michelle says
This sounds really good and I wish I could try it, but I can't eat nuts or other fatty foods. They make me ill. Are there any other recipes for this kind of cheese that have a substitute for cashews? I am getting pretty desperate for a good vegan cheese!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Michelle, some other people in the comments have tried coconut milk, potatoes, and sunflower seeds. Personally, I have never had much success with those, but you are welcome to try. You could also try making mac & cheese with my cauliflower based sauce. Hope that helps!
Michelle says
Thank you for your quick reply, Sam. You strike me as the adventurous, determined type! I bet in time you'll come up with some. In the meantime, I will just have to save my pennies up for some Daiya cheese, but I have tried cauliflower sauce before and it's good.
Yesterday was my first visit to your blog, and the fact that you actually reply to your comments is a motivating factor for returning ( besides your wonderful recipes, of course:)
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thank you so much! Glad you are enjoying my blog 🙂
Kristi says
Hey Michelle!
I've made this five times (once, I quadrupled the batch)...and *all* times I used raw/organic sunflower seeds.
The first time I had just got finished making sunflower seed milk (which I didn't much care for, btw), and didn't even see that it was supposed to be unstrained...so I threw in 1/4 cup of the seed-pulp I'd just strained at the last minute...and it turned out perfectly.
The last few times I made it, I've made 'double batches' (and that quad batch), but for the double batch which should be 1 cup of sunflower seeds, I've been really happy with just 3/4 a cup (why add calories and/or use what you don't have to, eh?)...but others have said it works just perfectly 'as written'...and I'm sure it does!
I add a few pinches of mustard powder (always makes nutritional yeast a bit cheesier), and add a bit more ACV for my taste.
So far in all my vegan cheese making I've found I can sub sunflower seeds for cashews without problem (just a slight difference in taste).
Happy Melty Cheese!
Sam Turnbull says
Great tips, Kristi!! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Queen says
Its four servings, what is the serving size?
Nyssa says
Hi Sam,
I want to try making this recipe this weekend but I'm wondering - can I make it in advance? How long does it last in the fridge in your experience and would it be best to keep in wrapped in plastic like cheese or in a tupperware?
Thanks! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
The cheese stays in a melty state, even when chilled. Store it in a tupperware container, and follow the tips on how to reheat it in the note section under the recipe. Enjoy!
Debbie says
I just made this and it turned out perfect and tasted delish...just one thing wrong it had a kinda powdery taste like the flour hadn't disolved properly or combined properly. Can you tell me why this might have been and how I could make sure it doesn't happen for the next batch? it is seriously the only thing that went wrong with this otherwise seriously delicious recipe.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you enjoyed it, Debbie! It can taste a bit powdery if the tapioca starch doesn't get fully cooked. So next time, try keeping it on the heat a little longer. Once the cheese is formed, I usually keep stirring and cooking it for an additional minute or two to ensure it is cooked through. Enjoy!
Ashley says
I wonder if you could freeze this somewhat for the purposes of grating it and then put it on pizza?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, other readers have tried that. You can do that, but it melts almost instantly once grated so make sure to grate directly onto the pizza. Enjoy!
Oli says
Hey! Nutritional yeast is super hard to find in the uk, so I was wondering if anyone knew whether this still works without it? I'll be able to source some online but since that'll take a while to get here we wondered if there were any alternatives. Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
It will work without, but it might be lacking in flavour, so I would try amping up some of the other spices a bit. Enjoy!
Joanne says
Do you have a Holland & Barret anywhere near you? I found it there and my local one is a small branch so I would imagine any H&B will have it. It's made by Marigold under the name Engevita. HTH!
Imdad says
Order off Amazon! Cheaper than H&B 🙂 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Engevita-Savoury-Yeast-Condiment-Pack/dp/B00A4C48LQ
Mel says
Holland and Barrett or Amazon both sell nutritional yeast 🙂
Laura says
I just finally made it! 😀 I am so pleased and will make it again and again. Thank you Sam!!!!!
What I did was use 3/4 C cashews, was a bit heavier handed on the spices and added onion powder and a pinch of curry powder, and in place of water used 1/2 C coconut milk fat cream from the top of the can, and 1/2 C of the coconut milk water (bottom of can)
It cooked up almost immediately because the pot was so hot from having just boiled the cashews really well!
Next time, being me, I might season even more. As it first cooled I was a little concerned it was a bit too rubbery, but now I don't think so. I am interested in how altering the amount of cashews or cook up time will effect the texture. It does sort of have a very slight sweet taste, presumably from all the coconut, but it's really not bad at all. It has a very good savory taste and you can't taste the coconut flavor at all.
Has anyone tried soaking the cashews instead of boiling them?
Laura says
oh also next time I will try lemon juice instead of apple cider to see how that is, and I realized maybe it's the amount of tapioca that effects the texture? It's a good texture though!
Sam Turnbull says
Glad you enjoyed it! The texture is getting rubbery from the extra 1/4 cup of cashews you used. Try 1/2 cup as suggested, and I bet you will like the texture better. You can definitely soak the cashews, it won't make a difference in the cheese as far as taste or texture goes tho. Enjoy!
Amber says
Hey! Thanks for the extra tips.... how did it go with the lemon juice substitution? We have a lemon tree and apple cider vinegar is really expensive here, so would be perfect if it worked out.
Sam Turnbull says
Lemon juice will work for sure, just a slightly different flavour. Enjoy!
Carol says
I used cashews that had been soaked and frozen. I used them in the Vitamix straight from the freezer and it worked perfectly.
anthony says
First of all... love the recipe! Tastes delicious and is stretchy. I made two batches to compare. The second batch I used Arrow Root flour instead (without adding the additional +2 teaspoons) and did not put in the garlic powder.
I heated a garlic clove and rosemary in a teaspoon of olive oil first then poured in the mixture in the sauce pan. Firmed right up and just as stretchy!
HOLY DELICIOUS CRAP! I've decided to pull out the rest of my ingredients, make a pizza shell and top it off with this!
Thank you so much for sharing. Terrific recipe! #ThankYou for the #Vegan #Cheese
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! You're most welcome Anthony! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Ashley says
I was just wondering if anyone tried it with arrowroot. That's all I have and dying to make this for pizza! Thank you! Going to try it with arrow root
Sam Turnbull says
Arrowroot will make a cheese sauce, but only tapioca will give it that stretchy texture. Enjoy!
laura says
does it mess it up to leave out the yeast? 🙂
anthony says
Yup. Nutritional Yeast is not the same type as a baking or rising yeast. It's the "Parmesan" of vegan and it's healthy and tasty and cheap! You can put it on anything.
Sam Turnbull says
The nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavour, so without it, the cheese might be pretty bland.
Tammy says
Hi, I tried the recipe after all the comments being so positive and excited over this. Well, I guess I am in the minority as I did not care for it. On the plus side, it was super easy to make. I got it done in very little time and it came together just as you described. I would describe the taste as pretty salty. I did not care for the garlic taste at all, I would leave that out the next time. I would probably do something other than water, because the creaminess of a really good quality mozzarella was lacking. Maybe I'd try the full-fat coconut milk like another reader suggested. What I think was most off-putting for me was the texture. Yes, it was stretchy but where mozzarella has a rubbery-type stretchiness this was more gluey and "gloopy" for lack of a better word. I actually felt a bit ill after a few bites. If I could improve on the mouthfeel and overall texture I think I'd like it a whole lot better. I'm sorry for any negativity, I just SO wanted to love it like so many other people did. I'm a true cheese lover so trying to find alternatives has been a big struggle.
Sam Turnbull says
Sorry the recipe wasn't to your taste! I hope you find one you enjoy.
Joey says
I agree. I made this at it seemed gelatinous, it was mucousy not gooey.
Sharon says
Same. I was disappointed, Might try it with coconut milk instead of water & cut down on the tapioca. Glad others have like it though.
Victoria says
This is amazing! First time I ever made vegan cheese (after buying 5lbs of raw cashews this weekend to make a vegan cheesecake). So delicious. This will definitely be a repeat recipe. My boyfriend devoured it. It was so gooey and flavorful. I made it exactly as your recipe says, wouldn't change a thing! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo! Thrilled you and your boyfriend loved it so much, Victoria 🙂
Amber says
Have you ever tried it with something other than cashews? I have a tree nut allergy, so I'm looking for a suitable replacement!
Sam Turnbull says
I know almonds work well, but I don't think that would work for you. If you scroll through the comments, other readers have tried everything from coconut milk, to potato, to tofu, and say they have been successful. I haven't tried however, so I can't guarantee results. Hope that helps!
April says
To reheat can this be microwaved so I can take left. Overs to work?
Sam Turnbull says
Yep, that should be just fine. 🙂
Wanda J says
Sam, have you tried this recipe in mac & cheese, or any other recipe where it's baked? Just curious if it would still be gooey.
Sam Turnbull says
Yes! It works wonderfully. Enjoy!
Anna says
Hello!! I just made this and it is AMAZING!! I didn't have tapioca starch on hand, so I substituted glutinous rice flour and it came out perfect! Cooked a bit faster than 5 minutes though, so if you're using glutinous rice flour just a heads up! 🙂 Thank you so much for this yummy recipe!! Making your artichoke dip now with it 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Wow, that's an interesting sub! So happy you love it so much and it turned out perfectly for you 🙂
Sloane says
If I were to freeze it, how long would it stay good? I'd like to make a big batch of this and be able to use it whenever I get a cheese craving. Thanks!!
Sam Turnbull says
I think it would last about a month in an airtight container. Enjoy!
nathan nobis says
I just made this complete in a Vitamix. I just put all the ingredients in (and doubled the recipe), without soaking the cashews, and I think it turned out fine! It got cooked in the Vitamix.
The only challenge is getting it all out, but that's OK.
Sam Turnbull says
Very cool! Good to know 🙂
Julia says
Hi Sam, I'm not sure if you check the comments here anymore but I have a question. I've made this cheese twice so far and every time it comes out slightly gritty. Like there are tiny cashew pieces that haven't disintegrated in the food processor for some reason. Is that normal? Should I process the cheese a bit longer? I was thinking maybe putting it through a strainer might help. Thanks!
CBZ says
Putting the cashews through a strainer is one of the notes.
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Julia! Yep, still answering comments all the time. (Although this one is a bit delayed as I just got back from holiday). Yes, if you check out the notes on the recipe it recommends straining the liquid after blending if you don't have a high-powered blender (such as a Blendtec or Vitamix) to ensure a smooth cheese consistency.
Alannah says
Can you bake this? I want to make a lasagna by the I don't know if I should put on the cheese on before or after I bake it.
Sam Turnbull says
Yes absolutely, prepare the cheese then spread onto your lasagna and bake away!
Kayla says
Just made this cheese as a topping for vegan meatball subs.......... phenomenal. My boyfriend said "this cheese is SO gooey, how did you do it???" Thank you so much for this recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Boom! Can't get a much better review than that!! So happy you and your boyfriend loved it Kayla!! 🙂
celeste says
I want to use this in an aubergine and tomato sauce bake - do I add it straight from the blender and skip the last stage, or cook it in the pan and then add it in between my aubergine layers? I want it to be gooey when I take it out of the oven!
Sam Turnbull says
Oooo sounds delish! Cook the cheese first then use it. You might want to add a bit more water to the cheese to make it a bit easier to spread. It will come out fabulously gooey! Enjoy!
Patty says
Hi Sam! Can I use potato starch instead of tapioca starch? What is the difference?
Sam Turnbull says
Hi Patty, if you read the post or recipe, it explains that any other starch will not get the same results.
Virginia Wiemken says
Can I put regular tapioca in my Vitamix and make tapioca flour?
Sam Turnbull says
Yes, you can!
Karissa says
Oh my gosh. This is AMAZING. I could eat it by the spoonful.
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo! So happy to hear that 🙂
Dana Lasswell says
Ugh...our football team, the Seattle Seahawks, JUST got knocked out of the playoffs. Time for Games Night and Sam's artichoke dip...with a spoon!!!! 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! Well at least the artichoke dip is enjoyed!
Farah Yasmina says
Waaaaaah this is AMAZING!!!! For anyone wondering: I made this with arrowroot flou rinstead of tapioca and the result was magnificent!! Maybe not as crazily stretchy as with tapioca, but the gooey texture is certainly there and it does stretch a bit.
Delicious. Easy, Healthy, thank you 🙂
Sam Turnbull says
Woohoo! So happy you loved it Farah 🙂
Jess says
Thanks for sharing. I made this with corn flour (because I didn't have any tapioca) for an eggplant lasagna and it turned out amazing! https://www.instagram.com/p/BPA4NEKhi1U/
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy you loved it 🙂
Christina Bauer says
I was hoping to find someone who tried this with corn flour. That's all I have at home, so I'll give it a shot!!!
Sam Turnbull says
Corn flour would make a cheese like sauce, but only tapioca starch will give it that stretchiness.
Polly says
My children wanted Rotel dip on New Years Day. I did not want to buy one more block of Velveeta! I'm done with junk/fake food. So I made your "cheese" and added a can of Rotel tomatoes.
THEY LOVED IT!
In between bites, my daughter said the taste was different. My son just inhaled it. He loves any kind of nacho cheese.
They aren't so keen with it on pizza. We'll have to work on that one.
Thanks so much!
Sam Turnbull says
Hahaha, that's awesome! So happy everyone loved it, so much healthier for them too. You might be interested in next trying my Vegan Nacho Cheese recipe. Enjoy!
Nathan says
Can this be cooked entirely in a Vitamix? You don't say how long to blend it all so I wonder if it can just stay in the Vitamix and get cooked that way.
Sam Turnbull says
You blend it until it is completely smooth. My guess is that it wouldn't work to get cooked in the Vitamix, but you are more than welcome to try!
Maria says
I just made it!!! Soo good! I put 2 tbsp of agar flakes. First I activate the agar and then I mixed with the other ingredients. Looks more stretchy than your pics though. Let's see how it sets. The taste is sooo good!
A big thank you very much! !!
Maria
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! Glad you love it! Yes, agar will definitely change the texture. Let us know how it sets and re-melts for you! Enjoy 🙂
Trevor Gillian Doge says
Hey can I use macadamia nuts instead? I don't like chashews
Sam Turnbull says
Yes you can! You will likely have to soak or boil them for longer as they don't soften as quickly. Enjoy!
fran says
Hi! Is there a way to store this cheese as a solid? All the pictures only show it melted, thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
Hi fran,
The cheese will always stay in a melty form, think of it as more of a melty gooey sauce. 🙂
fran says
Thanks for responding! I'm thinking using this recipe for a vegan cheese fondue? any thoughts or ideas? Maybe add some white wine to make it a little more tart and fondue like? Thanks:)
Sam Turnbull says
I think that would be delish! Traditionally kirsch is used in fondue (which is a clear cherry brandy), so that would definitely be the right flavour. The cheese used in fondue is also a bit tangier than mozzarella, so maybe upping the apple cider vinegar and garlic powder a bit might help. You can add the flavours in at the end so that you can taste test, it just takes more stirring to incorporate. Enjoy!
Wayne says
could you freeze it in wax paper or something so you could then grate it to spread it around a pizza or something? or how do you best put it on a large surface area?