Do you want to try vegan pizza cheese recipes but lack vegan cheese? You can use vegan mozzarella cheese, which tastes almost like real mozzarella. It is stretchy and delicious, taking your pizza to a new level. Our article discusses the 6 vegan pizza cheese recipes that you can make at home.
The result will be chewy, stretchy, and melt like real cheese. We recommend these vegan cheeses for people who want to make healthy pizzas, as they are plant-based and easy to make. You can incorporate them on your pizza, vegan grilled cheese, or lasagna. So without wasting time, let's make them!
1. Easy Vegan Mozzarella Cheese Recipe
Image Credits: lovingitvegan.com
Ingredients
- A cup of raw cashews
- 1/4 cup of a non-dairy liquid
- 2-2 1/2 Tbsp. of nutritional yeast
- 4 Tbsp. of tapioca starch
- 1/2 Tsp of sea salt
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. of lemon Juice
- 1 Tsp of garlic powder
Instructions
- Soak the cashews in hot water for an hour. Alternatively, you can soak them in cool water for 6 hours before this procedure. Cashews are the perfect base for plant-based cheeses as they are creamy and blend easily.
- Drain the water thoroughly.
- Add the cashews to a high-speed blender alongside your non-dairy milk(or water), lemon juice, almond milk, salt, nutritional yeast, and tapioca starch.
- Blend the mixture until it attains a creamy and smooth consistency.
- You can taste it while blending to add any missing flavor.
- Ensure you use more nutritional yeast to increase the cheesiness, enough salt for a salty flavor, lemon juice to increase the acidity, and coconut milk or yogurt to add creaminess and tang.
- After the cheese gains a creamy, smooth, pourable texture, you can transfer it to a saucepan or a skillet and heat it over medium-low heat while you whisk it.
- It will start to bubble and thicken or look a little clumpy.
- Continue whisking, and the mixture will gain a ball-like shape within 4-5 minutes.
- You can lower your heat if you notice that the cheese thickens too quickly, then switch to string with a wooden mixing spoon.
- Stir until the cheese ball loosens, then transfer to a small mixing bowl.
- At this point, you can now use your cheese or cover it until it cools.
- You can scoop ball-like mozzarella when you're preparing your vegan pizza recipe.
- Optional: If you want to add an extra salty flavor to your vegan mozzarella recipe, you can:
- Prepare a saltwater brine by adding 1 1/2 Tbsp. of sea salt to 2 cups of hot water, then stir until the salt dissolves.
- Add some ice cubes to chill the solution.
- Add your vegan cheese balls or curds to the salt bath to add extra salty flavor.
- However, you need to drain the salty water, which causes the cheese to take up more liquid and become too moist.
2. Vegan Margherita Pizza with Cashew Mozzarella Cheese
Image Credits: lovingitvegan.com
Ingredients
For Pizza Dough:
- 1/2 tsp active yeast
- 1/2 cup of warm water
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. semolina flour
- 1/3 tsp of salt
- 2 tsp of olive oil
For Pizza Sauce
- 1/4 cup of unsalted tomato paste
- 1/3 cup of water
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove of minced garlic or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp each of dried oregano and dried basil
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme or rosemary
- 1/8 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- dash of black pepper.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 435 degrees F
- Make your pizza base by mixing warm water with yeast and a tbsp. of flour.
- Stir thoroughly and let it sit for 2 minutes.
- Mix the salt and semolina into your all-purpose flour.
- Add the flour and oil to your yeast mixture
- Mix till all the ingredients are fully combined, then let it sit for a minute.
- Oil your hands and knead your dough until it has a smooth texture. You can add some flour or water if you don't reach the desired consistency.
- If the dough is smooth enough, you can cover it with a towel and let it sit near the oven for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, you can use our previously discussed vegan mozzarella recipe to prepare your cashew mozzarella cream.
- Then, prep your pizza sauce by mixing all ingredients in a bowl. You can add salt or sweetener for extra flavor.
- Oil your hands and transfer your pizza dough to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Dust the dough with flour, shape it into a ball and spread it with your hands.
- Keep spreading to make one large pizza, or divide the dough into 2 to make 2 small pizzas.
- Ensure you spread the dough thin since it will rise a bit during baking. On the other hand, if you spread the dough thick, you might have a bready crust.
- Spread the pizza sauce over your spread dough and add some fresh basil.
- Place tomato slices over the basil, then sprinkle a pinch of salt.
- Optional: You can add some thinly sliced veggies.
- Add the desired amount of cashew mozzarella cream to your pizza.
- Drizzle a tsp of extra virgin oil, then bake for 13 to 14 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and add fresh basil and a dash of pepper.
- Slice and enjoy your vegan cheese pizza.
3. Liquid Vegan Cheese Pizza Recipe without Nuts or Cashews
Image Credits: the plantbasedschool.com
If you are a vegan who is allergic to nuts, you can try this vegan cheese on your pizza. This recipe is the perfect vegan cheese topping for your homemade pizzas. The cheese browns in the oven and has a stretchy texture. It even melts when you microwave the leftovers.
The trick to this delicious vegan cheese recipe is to use any non-dairy milk you prefer or what is available. For instance, you can alternate with almond milk if you dislike soy milk. Likewise, if you don't like nuts, don't use cashew nuts, and if you lack tapioca starch, you can substitute it with potato starch, flour, or arrowroot starch.
Equipment Needed
- You will cook this sauce on a stovetop, but any other means of heat will be fine.
- Use a small saucepan-preferably non-stick, but any can do.
- A silicon spatula- a wooden spoon, a plastic heatproof spoon, or a metal spoon will still do the job.
Ingredients
- 2 batches of a non-dairy cheese base made from tapioca starch and any non-dairy milk of your choice.
- Miso: This is a fermented soybean paste. Go for the mild white one, which works best for this recipe. It gives a tangy fermented flavor similar to lactic acid in dairy cheese. However, if soy-free, you can substitute for two times the amount of fermented sauerkraut brine.
- Vegan Mayonnaise: Mayo adds some cheesy tang to the whole recipe. It also adds some fat that may be lacking n the chees base. However, if oil-free, you can omit the mayo and include extra miso or sauerkraut brine.
- Garlic: Since pizza is an Italian dish, garlic is a basic requirement for the whole recipe. We recommend you use granulated or garlic paste. Large garlic pieces will make your cheese sauce chunky.
- Use any salt apart from black salt.
Instructions
- Use a whisk to whip the vegan cheese base in a large bowl
- Stir in the rest of the ingredients except the salt.
- Transfer the mixture into a saucepan, then stir on medium-low heat until it becomes gooey or stretchy.
- Remove the cheese pizza sauce from the heat and pour it directly onto the pizza.
- Then sprinkle with a dash of salt.
- It is best served while hot since when it cools down gets gloopy and slime-like, making it harder to form an even coat of a vegan cheese pizza.
4. Vegan Cheese Recipe with Potatoes
Image Source: loveandlemons.com
This vegan cheese recipe is delicious, unlike the processed vegan cheeses you will find at grocery stores. It is easy to prepare and includes easy-to-find ingredients. Here's what you will need to prepare it:
Ingredients
- ¾ cup peeled and diced Yukon gold potato
- ¾ cup peeled and diced sweet potato
- 2 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Boil your sweet potatoes and Yukon gold potatoes in a saucepan.
- Reduce the heat and simmer them while uncovered for 8 to 12 minutes.
- Drain and transfer your potatoes to a high-speed blender
- Add nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, cashews, and vinegar
- Add water, extra virgin oil, and a pinch of salt.
- Blend the mixture until it is smooth and creamy.
- Add more liquid if it is still thick. Enjoy.
5. Quick and Easy Vegan Cheese With Coconut Oil Recipe
Image Credits: thecheaplazyvegan.com
This is the easiest and quickest method of making homemade vegan cheese. The result is a creamy and delicious cheese that will satisfy your craving. Also, this vegan cheese is cheaper and better than most processed store-bought vegan cheese.
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw cashews softened
- ⅓ cup refined coconut oil melted
- 2 tablespoons green olive brine
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- Optional add-ins: any herbs or spices of your choice
Instructions
- Soak your cashews in water to make them soft.
- Add them to a pot, then cover them with water.
- Put the pot over high heat and bring the cashews to a boil. You can boil the cashews for 10 minutes until they are tender.
- Alternatively, you can soak the cashews by covering them in a water bowl for over 6 hours or overnight.
- Drain the excess water before you use your cashews.
- Add the cashews, coconut oil, brine, garlic, and salt to a food processor.
- Blend the mixture until it turns into a smooth paste. The texture should be creamy and sticky.
- You can scrape off the sides of the blender using a spatula if the paste sticks on it.
- If the blender gets warm, it's probably because of friction.
- Line two small bowls with a square of cheesecloth.
- Divide the cheese among the two cheesecloths you have lined.
- You can add fresh herbs by sprinkling them over the cheese and using a chopstick to swirl the herbs into the cheese.
- Smooth the top of the cheese using a spatula and fold the cheesecloth over the cheese.
- If you want your cheese hard, you can refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight. You can then unwrap it and enjoy it!
6. Easy Vegan Blue Cheese Recipe
Image Credits: nytimes.com
It will take you less than 20 minutes to prepare this delicious vegan blue cheese recipe. This vegan cheese is dairy-free, creamy, and tangy. Let's make it!
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw cashews
- ¼ cup refined coconut oil, melted
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons white miso paste
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon spirulina (for blue-green veins)
Instructions
- Soften your cashews by soaking them overnight in water or boiling them for about 10 minutes.
- Add the softened cashews alongside coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, miso, paste, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder to a food processor or blender.
- Blend the mixture to a smooth paste while stopping to scrape the sides of the blender.
- Line the mold with parchment paper or use a silicone mold.
- Scoop 1/2 of the cheese mixture into the molds and spread it out.
- Sprinkle half of the spirulina across the surface and add the remaining cheese mixture.
- Stir the cheese in the mold 2-3 times using a knife to create veins in the cheese. Avoid overmixing.
- Smooth the top of the cheese with a spatula, then cover and chill it in the fridge for 6 hours to make it firm.
- If you want to enjoy it when it is firm, you have to eat it immediately; it is out of the fridge as it softens once it sits out.
How to Handle Leftover Vegan Pizza Cheese
If you use leftover cooled cheese sauce for this vegan pizza cheese recipe, it will be gelatinous and might put you off. The result is due to the effects of chilling heat-activated tapioca starch. Anyways, you don't have to worry, as the results are reversible.
- Add a spoonful of ice cream to the pizza and watch it melt beautifully.
- Bake the cheesed pizza at 480F for 15 minutes until it bubbles and browns.
- You can continue baking it for 5 more minutes if you use refrigerated cheese.
If you have any leftover vegan cheese sauce, you can pop it into a sealed container and refrigerate it. It will be fresh for the next 3-5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions on Vegan Pizza Cheese Recipes
1. Where else can I use vegan mozzarella cheese?
1. On grilled Cheese
You can spoon the cheese between the two slices of vegan bread and grill for a delicious cheesy flavor.
2. Lasagna
You can spread your vegan mozzarella cheese all over your lasagna within the last 20 minutes of baking it in the oven. Bake it covered with the cheese and broil it to brown.
3. Pizza
Spread your vegan cheese pizza on top of your pizza alongside your other preferred toppings, then cook as you normally do. You can also spread it all over the pizza, but it works when the mozzarella is fresh.
4. Vegan Quesadillas
Image Credits: contentednesscooking.com
Spoon the vegan cheese between your favorite wheat tortillas, then heat in a non-stick skillet on both sides to enjoy.
5. Caprese Salad
Refrigerate the cheese for a couple of hours to firm, then pull off some pieces and toss them into your salad.
6. Party Dip
Take your healthy baked tortilla chips and dip them in your vegan mozzarella cheese sauce, then enjoy.
2. How can I make brown vegan mozzarella in the oven?
The fascinating thing about vegan mozzarella cheese is that it browns and bubbles in the oven., like real mozzarella. To achieve the brown color, spray the cheese with a little oil, then broil the pizza for 5-10 minutes.
The brown effect works well when you spread the cheese on casseroles like lasagna or pizza.
3. Why should you try vegan cheese pizza recipes?
1. They are Vegan
You will love these vegan cheese recipes since they suit people who are lactose intolerant, allergic to dairy cheese, or can't consume animal products. Also, vegan pizza may make you healthier.
2. They are Easy to Make
You can find this vegan cheese sauce's ingredients at home or any convenience store. These recipes use no expensive equipment, and the instructions are easy to follow.
3. They are Fast
You don't need to set these melty vegan cheeses overnight or prepare them earlier. For example, if you decide to cook pizza, you can use these recipes to prepare your vegan cheeses in less than 10 minutes.
4. they are Tasty
They are not only vegan but bring out a taste that is hard to find!
5. They are Allergy-friendly
You can try out these vegan cheese recipes if you are non-dairy and lactose-free. Most vegan cheeses contain cashew nuts or milk products; these ones are quite impressive and all-inclusive to favor people with allergies. However, if you are completely out on cheese, you can try the 5 best cheese-less pizza recipes and still enjoy pizza without cheese.
Featured Image Credits: biggerbolderbaking.com
