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    Oh My Veggies » Vegan Recipes » Gluten-free Vegan Recipes

    Garlic And Herb Vegan Cheese

    Published: Sep 19, 2021 · by Nicole · Updated: Feb 9, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This garlic and herb vegan cheese is easy to make at home, spreadable, fragrant, and perfect for serving as a snack or appetizer. It's an amazing dairy-free soft cheese alternative that's great on bread or crackers of your choice.

    Garlic and herb vegan cheese

    I present to you my new favorite dairy-free garlic and herb cheese! This fantastic vegan alternative to cream cheese has been my newest obsession - whenever I make it, it barely lasts a day in the fridge! So, if you're bored of store-bought vegan cheese, I suggest you give this recipe a go. You'll love it if you miss cheese, and are on the lookout for a delicious plant based alternative.

    Vegan cheese with garlic and basil

    This vegan garlic and herb cheese is made with cashews, basil and lots of garlic. You can rest assured that it will taste gourmet! It will impress even non-vegans and fussy eaters. Despite this, it's incredibly easy to make vegan soft cheese at home. The hardest part is probably waiting for it while it's in the fridge. Aside from that, it requires just a few simple steps and a handful of ingredients.

    Cashew cheese with basil and almonds

    What does vegan cashew cheese taste like?

    If you've never made vegan cashew cheese before, you may be concerned that it tastes like cashews. But rest assured that if you flavor it properly, you won't run into that problem. Cashews by themselves are very neutral in flavor, especially after soaking. So, they end up taking on the flavor profile of whatever other ingredients you add to the cheese.

    Bagel with dairy-free spread

    This vegan cheese is made with garlic and fresh basil, which creates a wonderful herby flavor with a savory undertone. The addition of lemon juice adds a subtle hint of tanginess, and the overall result is so versatile: the flavor goes well with anything, whether bread, crackers or even a salad.

    How to make garlic and herb vegan cheese

    Start by soaking your cashews. If using a high speed blender, soak them for an hour or simmer in a saucepan for 15 minutes. Otherwise, I would recommend soaking for 4-8 hours.

    • Vegan cheese ingredients in a blender
    • Vegan cheese mixture in a blender

    Drain and rinse the cashews, and transfer them to a blender. Next, add salt, cumin, onion powder, olive oil, water, garlic, lemon juice and basil. Blend until smooth.

    Place a sieve over a large bowl, then place a cheese cloth inside. Put the cheese mixture inside the cheese cloth, and wrap it up tightly.

    • Dairy-free cheese in a cheese cloth
    • Vegan cheese in a cheese cloth

    Place a heavy object on top of the cheese, such as a couple of cans of beans, and leave it in the fridge overnight, for at least 8 hours. Then, remove it from the cheese cloth and shape according to your preference before serving.

    Recipe tips and substitutions

    Vegan garlic and herb cheese with almonds
    • Make sure to use raw, unsalted cashews. Roasted cashews will interfere with the flavor.
    • Blend the mixture really well, for at least a few minutes, to make sure that there isn't any graininess.
    • Add any other spices of your choice. For instance, add paprika for a hint of spice, or garlic powder for an even more garlicky flavor.
    • You can also add other fresh herbs of your choice, such as cilantro or parsley.
    • You can make baked cashew cheese by placing the cheese on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Then, simply bake for 45 minutes at 180 degrees C/350 F.

    How to store homemade vegan cheese

    This vegan garlic and herb cheese lasts in the fridge, covered, for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for 2-3 months, and allow to thaw fully in the fridge before using.

    Dairy-free cheese with basil and garlic

    How to serve vegan garlic and herb cheese

    The great thing about spreadable vegan cheese is that it's so versatile! You can:

    Bagel with homemade vegan cheese
    • Spread it on homemade cinnamon bagels.
    • Spread it on toast or crackers.
    • Serve it as part of a vegan charcuterie or cheese board.
    • Add a couple of dollops to any salad of your choice.
    • Use it as a topping for pizza.
    • Stir a couple of tablespoons into one pot chickpea pasta.

    Other vegan snacks and appetizers

    • Vegan zucchini fries are always a good idea!
    • You can't go wrong with broccoli wings.
    • Try out spicy cauliflower with peanut dip!
    • My easy vegan cashew cheese is super versatile.
    Garlic and herb vegan cheese recipe

    If you give this vegan garlic and herb cheese a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram and leave your feedback in the comments below together with a star rating!

    Click here to pin this for later

    Recipe

    Garlic And Herb Vegan Cheese

    This garlic and herb vegan cheese is easy to make at home, spreadable, fragrant, and perfect for serving as a snack or appetizer. It's an amazing dairy-free soft cheese alternative that's great on bread or crackers of your choice.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
    Resting time: 8 hours hours
    Total Time: 8 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine: Vegan
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: basil, Cashews, Cheese, earth of maria, garlic, lemon, move completed, vegan cheese
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 175kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Equipment

    • Blender or food processor
    • Mixing bowl
    • Strainer
    • Cheese cloth

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb cashews soaked
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp cumin
    • ½ tsp onion powder
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • ½ cup water
    • 3 cloves garlic
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 1 ½ cups fresh basil tightly packed
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Drain and rinse the cashews after soaking, then transfer them to a blender. Add salt, cumin, onion powder, olive oil, water, garlic, lemon juice and basil. Blend until smooth.
      1 lb cashews, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp cumin, ½ tsp onion powder, 2 tbsp olive oil, ½ cup water, 3 cloves garlic, ¼ cup lemon juice, 1 ½ cups fresh basil
    • Place a sieve over a large bowl, then place a cheese cloth inside. Put the cheese mixture inside the cheese cloth, and wrap it up tightly.
    • Place a heavy object on top of the cheese, such as a couple of cans of beans, and leave it in the fridge overnight, for at least 8 hours.
    • Remove the cheese from the cheese cloth and shape according to your preference before serving.

    Notes

    This vegan garlic and herb cheese lasts in the fridge, covered, for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for 2-3 months, and allow to thaw fully in the fridge before using.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 175kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 77mgPotassium: 202mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 120IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 2mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
    « Pistachio Muffins
    Vegan Sweet Potato Pasta »

    10 Ingredients or Less, Earth of Maria, Gluten-free Vegan Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegan Side Dishes, Vegan Snacks, Vegetarian Recipes basil, cashews, cheese, garlic, lemon, Vegan cheese

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    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

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